Welcome back to the Gospels “four” you blog series! Today’s information was shared by guest writer, Sue Steege, and is on the Gospel according to Luke.

Gospel name: Luke

Who wrote this gospel and what was his relationship to Jesus/disciples?

• Luke
• Luke was not one of the 12 disciples

What was significant about this particular author’s background and how it impacted his writing style?

• Luke was a physician
• He pays special attention to healing stories. He is also very calculated in documentation. He often mentions historical facts to nail Jesus’ story into history.

When was this gospel written?

• Around 55 – 60 AD. Luke also wrote the Book of Acts. They are really Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the same story.

What is unique about this gospel book?

• Where Matthew pays special attention to the Jewish audience, Luke wants the reader to know that Jesus came for ALL people, Jews and Gentiles.
• There are some unique stories in Luke’s Gospel: The Prodigal Son (ch. 15), Zaccheus,(ch. 19); the Good Samaritan (ch. 10), Healing of the 10 lepers (ch. 17), etc.
•  The birth of Jesus is told from the perspective of Mary (ch. 2) and is the most famous Christmas scripture
• Luke pays special attention to prayer.
• Luke outlines Jesus journey to Jerusalem very carefully.

What is similar between this gospel book and the others?

Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the “synoptic” (“same eyes”) Gospels because they tell the story of Jesus’ life from a similar perspective. Many parables, sermons, and miracles are told about in all three. 

Welcome back to the Gospels “four” you blog series! Today’s information was shared by guest writer, Sue Steege, and is on the Gospel according to Mark.

Gospel name: Mark

Who wrote this gospel and what was his relationship to Jesus/disciples?

• John Mark
• Most scholars think that John Mark was writing for Peter, who was one of the 12 disciples. This is the same John Mark that traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13).
• He was not one of the 12 disciples.

What was significant about this particular author’s background and how it impacted his writing style?

• John Mark was an attendant and scribe for Peter.
• Although not a disciple, he was clearly in an inner circle of people and an eyewitness to Jesus.

When was this gospel written?

• Around 50 – 60 AD. Most scholars believe Mark’s Gospel was written first because all but 31 verses of it appear in other Gospels.

What is unique about this gospel book?

• Mark is the shortest Gospel (16 chapters).
• Mark focuses more on Jesus’ actions (as opposed to His words) than any other Gospel.
• There is an urgency in Mark’s Gospel. He uses the word “immediately” no less than 40 times.
• Mark gives the least flattering picture of the disciples. They are often confused and hard of heart (Mark 4:13; Mark 7:14-19; Mark 8:1-10, etc.)
• Mark’s Gospel has a very abrupt ending.
• There is no birth story in Mark.
• It was long thought that Mark’s Gospel was crudely written with little plan, but more recent scholarship has shown quite a sophisticated literary structure.

What is similar between this gospel book and the others?

• Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the “synoptic” (“same eyes”) Gospels because they tell the story of Jesus’ life from a similar perspective. Many parables, sermons, and miracles are told about in all three. 

Welcome back to the Gospels “four” you blog series! Today’s information was shared by guest writer, Sue Steege, and is on the Gospel according to Matthew.

Gospel name: Matthew

Who wrote this gospel and what was his relationship to Jesus/disciples?

• Matthew, also known as Levi
• Matthew was one of the 12 disciples.

What was significant about this particular author’s background?

• Had been a tax collector before Jesus called him (Matthew 9:9)

When was this gospel written?

• Around 50 AD

What is unique about this gospel book?

• Matthew has the most complete account of Jesus’ teachings. If you have a “red letter” Bible (Jesus’ words in red), there are pages and pages of all red.
• Matthew is concerned for the Jewish reader. At least 17 times he refers to Old Testament prophecies which have been fulfilled in Jesus.
• It is the longest Gospel at 28 chapters.(Mark has 16 chapters, Luke has 24, John has 21).
• The most important theme of Matthew’s Gospel is “The Kingdom of God”. Matthew mentions “the Kingdom of God” or “The Kingdom of Heaven” 48 times.
• Matthew tells the story of Jesus birth from the perspective of Joseph.

What is similar between this gospel book and the others?

Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the “synoptic” (“same eyes”) Gospels because they tell the story of Jesus’ life from a similar perspective. Many parables, sermons, and miracles are told about in all three. 

Welcome to the beginning of another blog series: The gospels “four” you!

Often people who are discussing the bible will refer to the four books of the bible called “the gospels” .  For a person who is new to the bible, this might seem confusing, because the message about Jesus Himself is often referred to as “the gospel”.  The focus of this blog series is to cover each of the four books referred to as the “gospels”:  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

I asked a great bible teacher and friend, Sue Steege, if she would write this blog series based on “interview questions”.  The following four posts on the gospels will include answers Sue provided to help us better understand each of the four books.   The next post will start with the Gospel of Matthew.

If you’d like to visit Sue’s blog, click here.  She includes some great stuff at her blog!

Thank you Sue, for sharing your understanding of the four gospels with us!  We’re looking forward to it!

The “Ditch the Winter Blues” series continues today…welcome back!  

Although this video is not “funny” like the other videos so far, it is uplifting and made me smile!

Check out this fun accomplishment!

Welcome back to the “Ditch the Winter Blues” series!  This guy does amazing wind dancing with three kites at the same time.  Click here  to check out Romancing the Wind.

 

Welcome back to the “Ditch the Winter Blues” series!  This baby has a contagious laugh!  Sooooo cute…

Welcome back to the “Ditch the Winter Blues” series!  Here is one dog who won’t give up!

Another funny video in the ”Ditch the Winter Blues” series is this baby panda.

This baby panda does not want to stay put…so cute!

The “Ditch the Winter Blues” series continues today…welcome back!  

This video is so sweet, showing a dog tending a chick.

The dog is so patient!