New Testament Outline: Luke 16-18

Luke 16 — Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest manager. The Pharisees heard what Jesus was saying and ridicule him for it. Jesus responds by talking about the law and the kingdom of God. He teaches on divorce and remarriage. Jesus tell the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 17 — To his disciples Jesus teaches them about temptations to sin, having faith, and he tells them the parable of the unworthy servants. On the way to Jerusalem ten lepers come out to Jesus and he heals all of them but only one returns praising God. The Pharisees ask Jesus when the kingdom of God will come and Jesus explains that it’s here in the midst of them.

New Testament Outline: Luke 13-15

Luke 13 — Someone in the crowd tells Jesus about the Galilean blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices and Jesus reminds them that unless they repent, they will all likewise perish. He then tells the parable of the barren fig tree. As Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath he heals a woman with a disabling spirit. He tells the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven and the parable of the narrow door. Jesus then laments of Jerusalem and their unwillingness to repent.

Luke 14 — On a Sabbath Jesus goes to eat at the house of a Pharisee and one there asked if it was lawful or not to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast and the parable of the great banquet. Great crowds draw around Jesus and he spoke up to them making clear the cost of true discipleship.

New Testament Outline: Luke 10-12

Luke 10 — Jesus appoints seventy-two disciples to go two by two and proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. He pronounces a woe upon Chorazin and Bethsaida. The seventy-two return to Jesus and tell him that even demons did what they said. Jesus reminds them of what’s truly important. He thankfully prays to the Father that some things have been hidden and other things have been made known. A lawyer stands up to test Jesus and asks him what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus then tells the parable of the good Samaritan. Jesus and his disciples continue on and a woman named Martha welcomes Jesus into her home with her sister Mary.

Luke 11 — As Jesus finishes praying one of his disciples asks him how to pray. Jesus teaches them with the Lord’s prayer and then explains what they’re doing through prayer. Jesus is casting out a mute demon and then some people say he casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

New Testament Outline: Luke 7-9

Luke 7 — After preaching Jesus goes to Capernaum and there he heals a centurion’s servant. He goes to Nain and raises a widow’s son from death. John the Baptist’s disciples tell him all about what Jesus has been doing and John asks if Jesus is the one they’ve been waiting for. Jesus replies by quoting Isaiah. John’s disciples leave and Jesus speaks to the crowd asking them what they expected to see in coming to him. A Pharisee asks to eat with Jesus and Jesus goes to his house and there forgives a woman who is weeping over his feet.

Luke 8 — Jesus goes through the cities and villages preaching to the people and his disciples follow him along with some women who were healed of evil spirits. Jesus tells the parable of the sower, explains the purpose for parables, and then explains why no one lights a lamp and puts it under a jar.

New Testament Outline: Luke 4-6

Luke 4 — Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus stands up against this temptation. Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. He is rejected at Nazareth after reading and teaching in the synagogue. Jesus goes down to Capernaum to the synagogue and heals a man with an unclean demon. He leaves the synagogue and goes to Simon’s house and heals his mother-in-law and many others. Jesus says that he must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to other towns.

Luke 5 — Standing by the lake of Gennesaret Jesus calls Simon Peter, James and John the sons of Zebedee to follow him. A man with leprosy comes to Jesus asking to make him clean and Jesus cleanses him. Jesus heals a man who is lowered through a roof. He calls Levi—a tax collector—to follow him.

By the Numbers: "And" in the Gospels

While reading the Gospel of Mark (in the ESV) the other day I was struck by how many verses begin with the word “And”. What made this stand out to me all the more was a section in Mark 8 where “And” began nine sentences in a row in just five verses (8:6-10). That got me thinking about the way in which Mark wrote his gospel.

Nearly everyone who picks up and reads the Gospel of Mark can sense the pace of his story. This is even more clear when it’s compared with the other gospels writers—Matthew, Luke, and John. Matthew’s gospel seems to me to be episodic.

New Testament Outline: Luke 1-3

Luke 1 — Luke begins by addressing his main audience—Theophilus. A priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth have no child because Elizabeth is barren. An angel of the Lord speaks to Zechariah and tells him that they will have a child and his name will be John. Zechariah questions what the angel of the Lord told him and then he was unable to speak. Elizabeth becomes pregnant. The angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will have a child through the Holy Spirit and his name will be Jesus. Mary visits Elizabeth and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps in her womb. Mary sings a song of praise to the Lord.

New Testament Outline: Mark 13-16

Mark 13 — Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew ask Jesus when the things Jesus talked about will be accomplished and Jesus tells them to hold to the truth and be on their guard. He talks to his disciples about the abomination of desolation, the coming of the Son of Man, and what lesson comes from the fig tree. Jesus tells them that no one knows the day or hour.

Mark 14 — The chief priests and the scribes are seeking to arrest Jesus and kill him. A woman with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard finds Jesus at the house of Simon the leper and anoints him for burial. Judas goes to the chief priest to betray Jesus. On the first day of Unleavened Bread Jesus eats the Passover with his disciples and tells them that one of them will betray him.

New Testament Outline: Mark 10-12

Mark 10 — Jesus leaves and goes to Judea. There the Pharisees about divorce confront him. Some bring to children to Jesus so he could touch them. As Jesus journeys on a rich young man comes up to him and asks him about inheriting eternal life. Jesus and his disciples go up to Jerusalem and he tells them for the third time that he’s going to be killed and rise from the dead. James and John ask Jesus to sit at his right and left in his glory. He and his disciples go to Jericho and he heals a blind man there.

Mark 11 — Jesus and his disciples go to Jerusalem and there Jesus is welcomed by many as he rides into town on a colt. The next day Jesus curses a fig tree. In Jerusalem Jesus drives out those who are perverting the temple.