We know that Northview people love to be in God’s Word and often ask for direction on different devotional apps and reading plans.

While there are several good options available through various sources, we’d like to encourage you to join in our Northview Devotional Plan which will guide you to read and reflect on the passages preached in our weekend sermons!

We hope this will unite our congregation around the study of God’s Word, and help us to more readily absorb and apply the great teaching provided by our preaching pastors.

Each week we’ll be providing a suggested schedule for working through a passage slowly (15 minutes a day). You’ll need a Bible and a notebook or blank paper to record your observations.

Each day we include a reminder to pray. If you are new to the Adoration / Confession / Supplication method, here are some questions to help guide you as you pray:

  • Adoration: What can you praise God for today?
  • Confession: What thoughts / attitudes / actions might you need to confess to God today?
  • Supplication: What will you ask God for today?

Click here to print this week’s devotional: Luke Devotional – Week 12

DAY ONE

Introductory comments:
If you regularly work through our daily devotionals, you will notice that this week’s text overlaps with the material which we provided for last week! Originally, our pastors had planned to preach through Luke 3:1-20 as one text, but over Christmas it was decided to break this up into 2 passages. SO, in this week’s devotional we will focus more specifically on the last 5 verses of the text, which you may have already read last week.

JOHN THE BAPTIST & THE MESSIAH – PT 1

Read Luke 3:15-20

In Luke 3:15 it mentions that people were waiting and wondering if John might possibly be the Messiah. The only other gospel which alludes to this question is John.

  • Read John 1:19-34
    • Who does John say he is NOT?
    • How does John determine that Jesus is the Messiah? What happens in this text to confirm Jesus’ identity?
    • What does John call Jesus in John 1:29?

Prayer: In your prayer time today, praise God for sending Jesus to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (including your sin!).

DAY TWO

JOHN THE BAPTIS & THE MESSIAH – PT 2

Read Luke 3:15-20

John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Messiah, but later it seems that he has some doubts about whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. Today we’ll investigate what he asks Jesus, and how Jesus responds.

  • Read Luke 7:18-23
    • What does John the Baptist send people to ask Jesus?
    • Why do you think he asks this question? (hint: What did John expect Jesus to do based on what he says in Luke 3:17)?
    • How does Jesus answer John’s disciples? What does he provide as “proof” that he is the Messiah?
  • Read Matthew 13:24-30, and Matthew 13:36-40.
    • When does Jesus say that John’s expectations (as expressed in Luke 3:17) will be fulfilled? (eg. When will Jesus gather the wheat and burn the chaff?)

Prayer: As you pray today, praise Jesus for the ministry of restoration that he engaged with while he was on earth, and prepare yourself for his future ‘ministry’ of separating the wheat from the chaff? Which category do you fit into? How do you know?

DAY THREE

HEROD ANTIPAS & JOHN

Over the next three days we’re going to learn a bit about Herod Antipas’ relationship to John, Jesus and the early Church. If you remember the beginning of Luke’s gospel, Jesus was born at the time of Herod the Great (Luke 1:5). When Herod the Great died, the Romans divided Herod’s kingdom between his 3 sons: Archaeleus was given Judea (Matthew 2:11), Herod Antipas was put in charge of Galilee, and Philip was appointed over Iturea and Trachonitis. If you review Luke 3:1, however, you’ll note that Pontius Pilate is mentioned as governor of Judea instead of Archelaus; Archelaus was deposed by Rome in 6 AD because of his excessive cruelty.

Read Luke 3:19-20

Read Mark 6:17-29 (this story is also found in Matthew 14:1-12)

  • Why did John the Baptist confront Herod Antipas?
  • What do you learn about Herod Antipas’ feelings towards John the Baptist?
  • Why did Herod Antipas consent to John’s death?

Prayer: As you pray today, remember that people in other parts of the world are being persecuted and killed today, for their faith! Spend time praying for persecuted Christians to stand firm.

DAY FOUR

HEROD ANTIPAS & JESUS

As Jesus begins to minister, Herod repeatedly appears in the narrative.

  • Read Luke 9:1-9
    • Why is Herod perplexed?
    • What does Herod attempt to do?
  • Read Luke 13:31-33
    • What do we learn about Herod in this text?
    • How does Jesus respond to his threats?
  • Read Luke 23:1-12
    • When does Herod finally meet Jesus, and what does he hope for in this meeting?
    • How does Herod react when Jesus doesn’t meet his expectations? What does he do?

Prayer: Pray for people you know who aren’t willing to get to know Jesus for who He is! Pray that the Spirit would work in their hearts and minds today.

DAY FIVE

HEORD ANTIPAS AND THE EARLY CHURCH

Luke wraps up the story of Herod Antipas in the book of Acts.

  • Read Acts 12:1-19a
    • Who is Herod persecuting in these verses? (v 1-4)
    • What seems to be motivating his actions? (v 3)
    • What is Luke affirming about God by telling this story about Herod? (hint: see Peter’s words in v 11)
    • What happened to the guards when Herod was unable to find Peter?
  • Read Acts 12:19b-24
    • Why did Herod die?
    • How did Herod die?
    • What is Luke affirming about God by telling this story about Herod? (hint: see how Luke concludes the story in v 24).

Prayer: As you pray today, praise God that he is above all of our earthly rulers and authorities!!!