Athey Creek | Audio Podcast

A group of women arrive at Jesus’ tomb following His death and burial only to find that He isn’t there! As we learn what happened in Luke 24, we see Him appear to various people and prove through His resurrection that He is the Messiah.

Jesus meets two men on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27 and explains to them everything in the Scripture concerning Himself. And while we, unfortunately, don’t have Jesus’ teaching recorded, we can still search God’s Word ourselves to see how Jesus shows up in the whole of Scripture from the first page to the last.

Surrounded by a diverse cast of characters, Jesus is led away to be crucified in Luke 23:26-56. As we watch Him die upon the cross, we see the roles these people played, how numerous prophecies were fulfilled, and why this was the single most important event in human history.

Jesus is hung upon a cross and dies in Luke 23:26-49, but why did this have to happen, and what does it signify within God’s whole plan for humanity? As we examine why Jesus was crucified and what it accomplished, may we all look upon the cross and be saved.

Jesus' sham trial arrives before Pontius Pilate in Luke 23:1-26 and what he decides to do with the accusations against Jesus will be the biggest choice of his life. Likewise, we are all faced with deciding whether we will follow Jesus or reject Him because of our double-mindedness, popular opinion, or failure to understand His perfect plan.

As He finishes praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, denied, mocked, and beaten. As we watch the story unfold in Luke 22:39-71, we see the significance of all that occurred, Jesus’ graciousness and longsuffering, and His response to their allegation that confirms He is the Son of God.

A curious incident occurs in Luke 22:47-51 as Peter draws a sword and slashes off the ear of a servant during Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. More than just an interesting anecdote, this story teaches us powerful truths about the Word of God, how we receive it, and how we should wield it.

As the religious leaders hatch a plot to kill Him, Jesus and His disciples gather to celebrate Passover together in Luke 22:1-38. As we watch the events of the evening unfold, we see Jesus instituting the Lord's Supper through the symbolism of His body and blood, hear the disciples in another stupid argument, and learn how one of them prepares to betray Him while another will deny Him.

Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Luke 21 and then begins a discourse on when this will occur and what the signs will be. As we gaze from the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 to the future Second Coming of Jesus, we see the historical, prophetic, and practical implications of Jesus’ address.

The religious leaders attempt to discredit Jesus in Luke 20 by asking a series of what they think are trick questions. However, Jesus sees through their antics and responds in ways that silence his critics while teaching us important biblical truths.

Jesus makes a statement in Luke 20:17-19 about a rejected cornerstone and how people will either be broken upon it or ground to powder by it. While this remark may seem strange and confusing, we will see that the cornerstone runs throughout Scripture from Moses to the coming Kingdom and perfectly symbolizes Jesus and what He came to accomplish.

The final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry begin after He rides into Jerusalem to tremendous accolades and then further outrages the religious leaders by cleansing the Temple of crooked practices. As we look at these events and what else led to them in Luke 19, we learn important lessons about salvation, faith, works, and how God’s Word is always perfectly fulfilled.

In Luke 18, we are introduced to a widow, a pharisee, a tax collector, a group of children, a young, rich ruler, and a blind beggar. While these varied persons have little in common, we find in all of them lessons on prayer, faith, and persisting in our pursuit of Jesus.

We continue to study the teachings of Jesus in Luke 17 and learn some important lessons on how we should conduct ourselves as Christians. As we hear what Jesus has to say about stumbling others, unforgiveness, faith, servanthood, and obedience, may we be those who adhere to His commands as we await His return.

Do you know where you go after you die? In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus helps us to understand that Heaven and Hell are real places as He tells a story about the deaths of a rich man and a poor beggar. As we see where each man went after death, we learn what these places are and, most importantly, how to choose where we will end up after we die.

Jesus tells two stories in Luke 16 about stewardship, riches, and poverty. As we unpack what Jesus is showing us, we see how He wants us to live in light of what we’ve been given and how our choices today will affect us for all eternity.

After the religious leaders questioned Jesus about why he was dining with sinners, He gave three illustrations as an answer in Luke 15. As we listen to the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son, we learn how Jesus seeks us when we are lost and how we can be found by Him.

What would Jesus say to you and your guests if you invited Him to a dinner party? In Luke 14, we find such a scenario, and the things Jesus said to them about humility, hospitality, and discipleship are just as applicable to us today.

Jesus addresses questions and criticisms about His ministry in Luke 13 – and as usual, His answers aren’t what anyone expects. As He discusses the need for repentance and salvation, religious traditions, and even threats to His own life, Jesus shows His true purpose to save and transform us through His death and resurrection.

Jesus is asked in Luke 13:1-5 why bad things like death and destruction happen to seemingly good people – a question that continues to be asked even today. As Jesus answers, we learn what we should actually be asking, what death means for both the unbeliever and believer and most importantly, how to repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In Luke 12, Jesus addresses the multitude, warning them about hypocrisy, getting caught up in worldly cares, and neglecting God’s commands. As we study the exact issues He wants us to watch out for, we learn why these things are so dangerous to our souls and how we should turn our hearts to God and His treasure instead.

After being criticized by the Pharisees for not following their manmade traditions, Jesus responds in Luke 11:37-54 with six severe woes that would befall them for not following God. As we look into what these religious leaders were doing wrong and what they should have been doing instead, may we examine our hearts, repent, and find forgiveness and freedom in Jesus Christ.

After casting out a demon, Jesus garners a fresh round of criticism that includes the accusation that His power was from Beelzebub. However, as Jesus answers this allegation in Luke 11:14-36, He confounds their logic and tells them where His power comes from and what sign would ultimately show who He is.

Jesus both often modeled and frequently talked about the importance of prayer – including a lengthy discourse in Luke 11:1-13. As we see Jesus give His disciples a model for prayer, tell interesting analogies about asking, and see where the power behind prayer comes from, we are challenged to examine our prayer lives and become those who pray as Jesus did.

Three models of Christian attributes in Luke 10 help illustrate some of the traits we are to demonstrate as believers. As we study a group of apostles sent out to proclaim Jesus, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and the contrasting sisters, Mary and Martha, we see how Jesus wants to be represented and worshipped as our Savior and King.

In an attempt to trap Jesus, a lawyer asks Him a loaded question about eternal life in Luke 10:25-37. In response, Jesus tells the well-known Parable of the Good Samaritan, revealing everything we need to know about who Jesus is, how to obtain salvation, and what true Christianity should look like.

A shift begins in Jesus’ ministry as He prepares His disciples for His death and resurrection by explicitly telling them what will happen and equipping them for what will come. And even though they don’t quite get it yet, the examples they provide in Luke 9 still model for us simplicity in ministry, the cost of discipleship, and a trust we should all strive to have in Jesus.

In Luke 9:23-24, Jesus tells us that we are to die to ourselves daily if we want to follow Him. But what does this mean? And what else should we be doing on a daily basis? As we seek to answer these questions, we find that Scripture gives us a daily to-do list with clear marching orders to follow as Christians.

Jesus tells a parable about a sower and seeds in Luke 8 to demonstrate how faith grows by hearing the Word of God. As the chapter progresses, we see this put into action as we watch how different people are tested by circumstances and respond in varying levels of faith.

Perhaps the disciples thought that everything would be smooth sailing when they chose to follow Jesus, but in Luke 8:22-25 they find themselves on the brink of death while being tossed about by wind and waves. If we likewise cannot expect ease and perfection when we follow Jesus, what then can we expect? As we seek to answer this question, we find the ultimate benefit we receive from Jesus and why we should accept His gift of eternal life.

Jesus encounters four disheartened people in Luke 7 and meets their individual needs through His love, compassion, and truth. As we watch Jesus heal the sick, raise the dead, encourage a doubter, and forgive a sinner, we find He will likewise meet us when we are struggling, doubting, weak, or experiencing hardships.

In Luke 7:5, we read about a Roman centurion who had an unusual love for the nation of Israel, prompting us to consider why we should care about the Jews. From the Abrahamic Covenant to current events to prophetic significance, we look into God’s plan for the nation of Israel and why it is imperative for Christians to understand.

After a time of prayer, Jesus gathers His 12 disciples and preaches a message known as the Sermon on the Plain. As we listen to His words in Luke 6:12-49, we learn the unexpected causes of happiness and sorrow, how to treat others, and what we should build our lives upon.

The religious leaders are lobbing accusations at Jesus in Luke 6:1-11 because He isn’t following Sabbath rules and regulations as they think He should. Today, in much the same way, we often impose our own ideas and traditions on how we should observe the Sabbath and follow God’s commandments. As we study, we look into the purpose of the Sabbath, why and how we should keep it, and how imposing our own dogmas over it can lead us away from God’s intentions.

Luke 5 recounts several interactions from Jesus’ early ministry that begin to set the stage for Him to fulfill His purpose. As He calls His disciples, heals, cleanses and forgives people, and starts to draw the ire of the religious leaders, we learn more about God’s Word, sin, gifts, and how Jesus Christ can change our lives too.

After fishing all night and catching nothing, Peter and the gang are washing their nets by the Sea of Galilee when they get an interesting command from Jesus. As we watch their somewhat reluctant obedience to these instructions in Luke 1:1-11, we see how Jesus turned their failure around and called them to join an amazing ministry that would change the world.

After 40 days of prayer and fasting, Jesus is tempted by Satan, but He successfully resists by using Scripture as His weapon. As we learn the devil’s tactics and watch Jesus’ response, we see how we can use the same method to resist temptations and achieve victory through God’s love and the power of the Holy Spirit.

After Jesus speaks in Luke 4:22, the crowd marvels at His gracious words because they were so different from the burdensome ones they normally heard from the religious leaders. Today, we still hear misconstrued messages about the Bible, but when we take time to see God’s heart behind the Scriptures, we find it full of grace, blessings, and peace.

In Luke 3, we find John the Baptist in the wilderness of Jordan, baptizing people and preaching a message of repentance to those who flocked to see him. As we listen to what John tells these people, we see how he is paving the way for Jesus, who will emerge to begin His ministry of salvation when He comes to John to be baptized.

John the Baptist speaks a seemingly harsh word in Luke 3:7, but behind his message, we find that he is pointing to Jesus and what He has come to do. And as we will learn, Jesus is not just the subject of John’s message but encompasses the whole of Scripture – from the historical Old Testament books to the prophets to the Psalms to the New Testament – and is the key we can use to unlock our understanding of the entire Bible.

Following a census decree, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem in Luke 2:1-40, where she gives birth to Jesus, wraps Him in swaddling cloths, and places Him in a manger. After the shepherds come to worship Him and give glory to God, we see Jesus presented in the Temple by His parents, where they encounter two elderly people who have been waiting a long time to see the Messiah finally arrive.

We briefly peak into Jesus’ childhood in Luke 2:41-52 and learn an interesting tidbit concerning His relationship with His earthly parents and His submission to them. As we look into this subject, we search the Scripture to see who we should submit to, why we should do so, and in what circumstances we should follow God’s Word instead.

An angel comes to a young virgin girl named Mary with the incredible news that she was to become pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Messiah. As we study Mary in Luke 1:26-80, we learn who this highly favored woman is, see her reaction to such shocking news, and watch as she interacts with her relative, Elizabeth, who is also carrying a remarkable child.

After being mute for nine months, Zacharias can finally speak again when his son, John, is born. As we hear the first words he said on this momentous occasion in Luke1:67-79, we gain key insight into Jesus, who will be born soon after, and what He will accomplish during His life and through His sacrificial death.

We begin our study in the Book of Luke by learning about the author, his sources, and what makes his gospel account unique. Then, as we dive into the text in Luke 1:1-25, we see the beginnings of John the Baptist as his parents learn they are miraculously expecting an extraordinary son.

While performing his priestly duties, Zacharias receives an amazing message from an angel heralding the miraculous answer to a prayer he and his wife had long prayed. However, Zacharias' unbelief dampened what should have been a joyful moment. As we study Luke 1:5-22, we learn about persisting in prayer and how to be believers who believe.

A group of women arrive at Jesus' tomb early on Sunday morning only to discover that Jesus was not there, for He had risen – just as He said He would. As we look at the details of this momentous event in Mark 16, we see how the events surrounding Jesus' resurrection unfolded and why it is the most important event in all history.

Jesus gives a final command in Mark 16:15 for us to go into all the world and tell everyone the good news about His death and resurrection. While we may think this is a complicated or intimidating commission, it’s actually quite simple when we rely upon God’s power to help us share the salvation, joy, and hope we find through Jesus Christ with a hurting world.

The final hours of Jesus' death on the cross arrive in Mark 15:21-47, and they are full of prophetic fulfillment, mixed reactions, and significant occurrences. As we watch the story unfold from when Simon the Cyrenian carries the cross, through Jesus' unbearable suffering, to His burial in a tomb, we see the spectacular culmination of God's plan to save mankind come to pass.

As Jesus makes His way to Golgotha and is nailed upon a cross in Mark 15:10-40, several groups gather around Him who observe and react to these events. As we study who is there and why, we see how this is still relevant today and consider how we also respond to Jesus and what He did on the cross.