Study 23 - Luke 9:1-17

1. Verses 1-6. A new development in the work. Picture the twelve itinerating as here described. What lessons would they themselves learn, and what would be the impact on those who saw and heard them?

2. Verses 10-17. What light do these verses throw upon the unselfish love of Jesus, and on His concern for both physical and spiritual needs? Putting yourself in the place of the disciples, what would you have learned from the incident?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 22 - Luke 8:40-56

1. Verses 43-48. Try to enter into the woman's hopes and fears. What made her touch different from that of the rest of the crowd? Have you any experience and testimony similar to hers?

2. What do these two stories teach us of the importance and nature of faith, and the need to continue in faith?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 21 - Luke 8:22-39

1. Verses 22-25. 'Where is your faith?' In what way was their faith defective? What did they learn from the incident?

2. Verses 26-39. Compare the man's condition before and after he met Jesus. What evidence can you find of the reality of the change? What may we learn from this about Jesus' power to save?

3. Verses 35-39. What caused the different reactions to Jesus of the cured man and his fellow-countrymen? Why did Jesus grant the request of those who wanted to be rid of Him, and refuse that of the man He had saved?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 20 - Luke 8:4-21

1. Verses 4-15. What sorts of people do the four kinds of soil represent? What experience have you of the truth of this parable in yourself and in others?

2. Verses 16-21. What do these verses teach of (a) the responsibilities and (b) the priveledges of Jesus' followers?

3. Why did Jesus now adopt the method of teaching by parables (verses 9, 10)? Do verses 4 and 18 provide a clue?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 19 - Luke 7:36-8:3

1. Compare the Pharisee's attitude to Jesus with that of the woman. How did Jesus answer his criticisms of verse 39? How did the parable of verses 41, 42 appply to him?

2. What made the woman act as she did? Have you a similar incentive? How can it be expressed?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 18 - Luke 7:18-35

1. Verses 18-23. What exactly was the doubt in John's mind? Do you find a clue to this perplexity in 3:16,17? What is the significance of Jesus' reply?

2. Verses 24-35. How had the Jews gone wrong in their reaction to John's preaching? What had they failed to see? What does Jesus' estimate of John teach us concerning the greatness of our priveledge?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 17 - Luke 7:1-17

1. Verses 1-10. What are the characteristics of the centurion's approach to Jesus? What can he teach us about a right attitude in prayer?

2. What do we see in these two stories of the character of Jesus (a) of His appreciation of, and love for, people, and (b) of His unique authority?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 16 - Luke 6:37-49

1. Verses 37-42. What sort of attitude towards the fault of others does Jesus prescribe, and why? What positive actions are here enjoined?

2. Verses 43-49. On what does effectiveness and stability in the Christian life depend? What is the remedy for a weak or inconsistent Christian life?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 15 - Luke 6:12-36

1. Verses 20-26. Contrast Jesus' picture of a blessed life with the world's idea of happiness. Why is a Christian happy in such circumstances? What makes the difference?

2. Verses 27-36. A picture of unselfish love. What should be the source and pattern of our love (verses 35, 36)? Think of practical cases in your own situation to which the principles laid down in these verses apply.

3. Verses 12-19. Note the increasing pressures on Jesus (verses 17-19). What two special actions did He take?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 14 - Luke 5:27-6:11

1. These verses record four encounters with the scribes and Pharisees. What were the grounds of their growing opposition to Jesus? And what were the truths and the principles (as His answers reveal) determined the actions of Jesus?

2. 5:36-39. What happens when formal religion encounters the new life which Jesus brings? How do the incidents in today's passage illustrate the truth of these verses?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 13 - Luke 5:12-26

1. Compare the faith of the leper with that of the friends of the paralytic. Of what was the former uncertain? And how did the latter display their faith? What can we learn from these miracles about prayer?

2. Verses 21-24. What claims are implied in Jesus' answer to the scribes' challenge?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 12 - Luke 5:1-11

1. Put yourself in the place of Simon. Trace the development of his attitude to Jesus in the successive phrases of the story. In what ways is he an example to us?

2. Jesus needed fellow-workers. How and where did He find them? What marked out Simon and his colleagues as suitable? What were, for them, the conditions of being used?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 11 - Luke 4:31-44

1. What two factors about Jesus particularly impressed the people in the synagogue? Note also the even more discerning testimony of the demons (verses 34, 41). Why did Jesus silence this?

2. This passage illustrates the busy-ness and urgency of Jesus' mission (see esp. verse 43). Why then did He retire to a lonely place (verse 42)? What may we learn from this example?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 10 - Luke 4:14-30

1. Verses 16-21. Jesus speaks to the people of Nazareth, His own home town. What does His use of Is. 61:1, 2 teach them of His mission? Why is the claim of verse 21 so startling?

2. Verses 22-30. The people were moved but not convinced (verse 22). How did Jesus interpret to them their unspoken thoughts (verse 23), and what did He go on to imply ( verses 25-27)? What made them so angry?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 9 - Luke 3:23-4:13

1. Notice the time of temptation, immediately after the revelation of 3:22, and at the opening of Jesus' ministry. What light does this throw on the devil's challenge, 'if you are the Son of God' (4:3,9)?

2. Consider the special subtlety of each temptation, and the means by which Jesus in each case parried the thrust. What does this teach us for our own defence against temptation?

3. What may we learn from this passage of the nature of temptation? Note, e.g. at what times temptation may come, what sort of circumstances the tempter may use (4:2), etc. How does the passage show that temptation is not sin?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 8 - Luke 3:1-22

1. What, according to the preaching of John, are the cause (verses 7-9, 16, 17), nature (verses 8, 10-14), and outcome (verses 3, 15-17) of repentance?

2. What did Jesus' baptism, and the voice from heaven, mean (a) to Jesus Himself, and (b) to the others present?

3. Consider the fearless honesty of John. Note also its result (verses 19, 20).



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 7 - Luke 2:40-52

1. Verse 49. What was the consequence in His life of Jesus' unique relation to God? In what way does this truth applay to us, as sons and daughters of God?

2. How does the story illustrate the truths of verses 40 and 52?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 6 - Luke 2:21-39

1. What did the appearance of Jesus mean to Someon and to Anna? What, according to verses 30-32, was supposed to be the scope of His work?

2. Verses 34, 35. What was to be the effect of Jesus' coming on different classes of people? What would be the cause of men's falling and rising?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 5 - Luke 2:1-20

1. What may we learn from the circumstances of our Saviour's birth, and the status of His first worshippers?

2. What do the angel's message and the rejoicing of the heavenly host teach us of the importance of the birth of Jesus? How is the shepherds' response to this message an example to us?

3. Verses 1-7. How do these verses illustrate that God controls all human affairs, effecting His own purpose through the free actions of men?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 4 - Luke 1:57-80

1. Trace in the song of Zechariah the successive stages in the unfolding of God's plan of salvation through the Old Testament and up to the coming of the Messiah. How does it reveal the unity of the Old and New Testament?

2. What, according to this song, is the purpose of salvation? Is this your experience?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 3 - Luke 1:39-56

1. What does Mary's song reveal of (a) the character of God (see esp. verses 49, 50) and (b) His way of working among men (verses 51-53)? How were these facts demonstrated in the manner of the Saviour's coming?

2. What features in Mary's character are revealed in this song? What may we learn from her example?



Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 2 - Luke 1:26-38

1. Verses 31-33, 35. How many features of the person and mission of the promised Child can be discerned in the words of the angel? List them.

2. Contrast Mary's reception of the angel's messagewith that of Zechariah (see previous study, question 2) What did Mary's response involve? Are you prepared similarly to ask the Lord to fulfil His word in you?


Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.

Study 1 - Luke 1:1-25

1. What was the mission assigned to John the Baptist? What was to be the nature of his greatness (verse 15)?

2. What was the cause of Zechariah's punishment (verse 20)? What made him hesitate to believe the angel's message? What similar temptations to unbelief do you face? Why ought Zechariah to have believed, and why ought we to believe?

3. Verses 1-4. What do these verses tell us of (a) the source of Luke's information, (b) the importance which he attached to giving a truthful record, and (c) his purpose in writing the Gospel?


Stibbs, A. (1949). Search the Scriptures: The Study Guide to the Bible. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.