How Can You Be Sure Christianity Is True?
- ryanjgregg
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 15
(Teaching notes for Luke 1:1–4; see sermon here.)
Fact Sheet on Luke: the Person
o Physician by training (Colossians 4:14)
o High-caliber, high-output writer
o Historian and theologian
o Traveled with Paul (see “we” passages in Acts)
Fact Sheet on Luke: the Book
o Genre: Biography
o Only Gospel to have a sequel (Acts)
o 30% of its content is found nowhere else
o Fan favorites found only in Luke: Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, Ten Lepers, and many other parables
o A multi-faceted “Salvation”: healing from sickness, deliverance from disaster, removal of shame, outsiders brought into community, status reversal, forgiveness of sins, promise of bodily resurrection
Luke 1:1–4 (ESV)
o Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:1–4 (The Message)
o So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.
Luke’s method: “closely” and “orderly”
Joel Green
o "This opening sentence is designed to impress, to underscore the believability of the narrative by its claim to offer rigorous standards of research, and thus to gain a favorable hearing."
Luke’s gold-standard source: “eyewitnesses from the beginning”
Who is Theophilus?
o High-ranking official who financed the project
o Means “Lover of God” or “Friend of God”
o Literary device meaning “for all interested people”
Like Luke to Theophilus, we must pass on the Good News to others.
The ground of Christian certainty is this: God is a promise keeping God.
The bottom line question: do you believe the story of Jesus?
Check out the Resources Page for scholarship on Luke (thebay.church/resources). Scroll down to “Current Series.”
