Hey, everyone! This is a challenge I pitched out to the attendees of Living Proof Live Eugene, Oregon because it corresponded with our concept but anyone is invited to participate! Here’s a bit of background:
At our Living Proof Live in Eugene, we studied the repetitions of the powerfully placed words “this Jesus” in the Book of Acts, particularly in the first and second chapters. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke was intent on the reader understanding that the one who is both Messiah and Lord is “this same Jesus” (1:11 CSB/NIV) who was arrested, beaten, crucified, raised from the dead, who ascended to the Father in Heaven and who will descend again to earth in like manner. The challenge is to know “this Jesus” not second hand but straight from the pages of Scripture. While He can be found in the full stretch of Scripture, what He was like when He took on human flesh and blood and walked among us can most clearly, concentratedly be seen in the canonical Gospels.
My objective was to keep it completely uncomplicated even in the title. We’re simply calling it The Luke Challenge.
All you need is a Bible, a pen and a simple spiral notebook.
Write on the front of it with a marker: In Search of This Jesus
Choose a 30-day period of time in which you commit to read the book of Luke, 1 chapter a day, for all 24 chapters. Your 6 extra days are there when you miss and need to catch up. Start at any point but donāt leave it open ended. Really try to conclude in 30 days so you donāt lose momentum. Leave a comment to this post on the day you’re beginning as a means of strengthening your commitment with a bit of accountability. I don’t know about you but that always works better for me.
2 ground rules:
1. PRAY: Each time before you read, ask Jesus for two specific things: A) to open your mind to understand the Scriptures and B) to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
2. WRITE: Take notes and make comments on each chapter with particular emphasis on who Jesus was/is and what He was like. Freestyle anyway you wish and get as detailed as you like but hereās the catch: do so in dialogue straight to Jesus. Your notes, in effect, become prayers. Communications. He speaks to you through His Word. You speak back through your pen. For example, “Lord, I’m seeing these characteristics in you in Luke 4” and “I wonder what was going through Your mind when Peter…” and “this about you is particularly confusing/fascinating/troubling/comforting/exhilarating to me,” etc. Get the idea? Record what seems to draw Jesus near to a situation and also note what seems to repel Him. Recount to Him what you see happening around Him in the scene. Record how people responded to Him, both positively and negatively. Describe Him to the degree Scripture describes Him. Record your responses to Him. Do it any way you wish but make this an exercise entirely between you and Jesus.
One of our major points at Living Proof Live was that there is a difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus. This 30-day period focuses on knowing “this Jesus” who is both Messiah and Lord.
Anyone can do it with you and anyone is welcome to participate.
THEN, watch for a blog to follow this one in 30 days so that you can report having completed it and share your primary takeaways. THEN!!! If you liked it, DO THE SAME THING WITH THE BOOK OF ACTS! Luke wrote it, too, and it’s the perfect follow up.
We’re so happy to serve you here at Living Proof. We exist entirely for this purpose: to encourage people to come to know and love Jesus Christ. THIS Jesus of Scripture.
Enjoy Him!
P.S. Ā Our comments are all moderated so donāt panic if you donāt see yours show up right away. Itās there! Youāll see it on the next work day!
Iām starting late, but excited to do it!
Starting the Luke Challenge today!
I reviewed the instructions today and plan to start tomorrow, August 22, 2019..
I started the Luke Challenge on Sunday, August 18th.
I have been enjoying this āchallenge.ā I started on August 4, and frankly, itās taking me longer because I find that I am āchunking and chewingā so much of it. Forward progress is being made however!
I have been doing this challenge although I started a little late. Iām knowing Jesus in a fresh way! Thank you for the challenge!
Started August 24, 2019
Needed this! Looking forward to tomorrow.
Completed Luke Challenge!
August 24th 2019 I am Blessed to have finished the Luke Challenge, I have been Blessed in so many ways,I had to take all 6 Grace days but still loved doi g it , thank you Beth Moore for the Homework and letting the conference linger on from Eugene ā¤ļø,
Was absolutely the most intense and God inspired experience I have ever had. Looking forward to starting Acts on Monday!
Today is August 24, 2019 and I just finished my Luke challenge. It was a wonderful study and blessed me tremendously. I’m getting ready to start the book of James Sept 4th and I’m so excited. Beth you too have blessed my life so much with your other studies I’ve done. God bless you my sweet sister in Christ.
Starting the Luke challenge today!
Started the plan Monday
Just read about this challenge on IG. I am starting today!
Saw this blog post on Instagram and will be starting today, August 26th.
Just saw this. I am going to give this a try and start today, 8/26/19.
Starting today! Loved our time with Beth in Eugene
Just saw this today and today will be my start date!
8/26/19
Saw this post on IG. Will start
Iām starting today!
Starting the Luke Challenge today – August 26, 2019
Well I finally started the Luke challenge today, after a month of out of town family and many late hours at work. I kept saying today I will start but something would come up and of course I would say tomorrow for sure I’ll start. This morning I clearly heard the Lord say make the commitment no more excuses. I’m so excited because I know He is going to reveal some amazing truths!
Thank you Beth and team for a fabulous conference, words can’t express my gratitude and the amazing time I had!!!!
Blessings ~Rae
I am excited to know Jesus better thru this challenge. I am starting in the morning. August 28th.
Better late than never! My structured Bible reading is now on Luke, so here we go!
My friend who attended the Eugene told me about this challenge, starting today and eager to KNOW Jesus even more. Thanks for the challenge!
Iām taking the Luke challenge today, August 29th, 2019!
Finished the challenge about 4 days ago and LOVED reading the Bible like an investigative reporter. I loved being able to see things I might normally look over and I loved learning more about Jesus!
I’ve started the Luke challenge on September 1st with a small group of women including my sister, niece plus 3 of her friends, and me…
I’ve almost completed Luke. I took 2 days on some of the longer chapters, so I’m a little behind. This has been such an enlightening journey; questioning, journaling, and finding a “take away”. I had just finished The Quest, so using questions posed in that study has added depth, also. Experiencing the conception of Jesus, Mary’s thoughts, the call of the disciples in Jesus’ ministry, their humanness, His patience, and now in chapter 22 his anguish and arrest, has spoken to me in new ways. I’ve stopped for the day in chapter 22:46. I needed to. Feeling the end of the portion of scripture tore into my emotions like never before. On this side of the cross my heart breaks; the agony, the willingness, the ‘human side’ of fear, the sorrow, but most of all the love. If this scene were to unfold today I would like to be the angel who comforted Him. I would not have the power to strengthen God Made Flesh, but I would have loved to have thrown my arms around His anguished shoulders and rocked Him; telling Him how much I love Him and believe in Him. -My Sweet Redemption- – Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing His praise –
Starting today. Love the idea when I heard it in Eugene.
Starting today, September 1. Excited to see where God will lead me.
I started the Luke Challenge 7/28/19 and stayed with it faithfully for 30 days. I have fallen more in love with Jesus than ever before. Writing personally to him in my journal has transformed my perspective and intimacy with Him and His Holy Spirit.
I moved on to Acts on 8/27/19 taking this new perspective in seeing “This Same Jesus” working through His Holy Spirit in ordinary people like me. It has removed scales from my eyes and softened my heart as it is my desire to be a true disciple of This Same Jesus. I am blessed.
Starting today, 9-3.
Iāll try to be a rule follower and do as instructed. Iām starting today and holding myself accountable to re-post my impressions by October 3. Thanks for the fresh idea since I needed a jumpstart.
Weāre starting the challenge today, September 4th!!!
I am starting today, Sept. 4, 2019. I am challenging all our women in our church’s Bible study tonight to start as well. I can’t wait!
I am in! Started my Luke challenge and am a little slow, but the Lord is already meeting me right where I am at! Loved the conference, thanks Beth!
Im just starting today, however dedicated to do it
Im just starting today, however dedicated to do it. Ive completed through chapter 4 as i got so excited while reading, i need to pace myself though as I am recovering from an illness and i know i wont do as well if i plunge on.
Spending most of the next 3 weeks in hotel rooms makes me think today is a great day to start this challenge.
I so enjoyed the conference. I’ve started the challenge yesterday. Looking forward to learning how to have a conversation with Jesus!
I finished Luke challenge and I am more than half way through Acts. Any suggestions on where to go next? Talking to Jesus in my notebook has been sustaining me every day and some are rough days. I am not going to stop after Acts.
Thank you Living Proof team. You have blessed me so much.
Lori
Hi there Lori! While we don’t have an official suggestion for you we can recommend any of Beth’s studies on the Bible. Personally, I would recommend to you Colossians for New Testament and/or going through the Psalms in the Old Testament. Hope this helps! Blessings!
I enjoyed the conference SO much! It was a breath of fresh air to my soul and I was in awe of the message the Holy Spirit gave Beth to preach, because it was exactly what I needed to hear! I am so hungry for more of the Holy Spirit and to truly begin to know Him more and hear His voice. I want to become less that he may become greater!
I guess I got a little carried away š …Iām starting the Luke Challenge today!
Here we go! My precious friend and I LOVED the conference! We love how the Holy Spirit is moving through the body of Christ all over the world. Many of Bethās points and heart cryās we are hearing from other leaders, friends, and are the echo of our own hearts. We were simply in awe all weekend in Eugene. Now we are finally ready to get going on this challenge. Today we start together! We are desperate to know THIS Jesus. Hungry to know THIS Jesus. Longing to glorify THIS Jesus alone. We are in constant awe at the abundant love of THIS Jesus. We unashamedly want to shout THIS Jesus from the mountIn top. Make fishers of men. Light of the world, salt of the earth. For THIS Jesusā kingdom come, His will be done. Thank you Beth- weāve journeyed with you before and are honored to do so again!
I started on September 7. So grateful for the challenge.
Starting September 18, 2019
Loved everything about LPL Eugene! Summer was crazy and I knew I couldn’t do this challenge as successfully as waiting for the routine of the school year š So here I go! Luke Challenge October and then Acts Challenge November! Woohoo!!!
I so enjoyed this challenge and actually finished last week. Now onto acts.I didn’t get all my questions answered however i understood better than ever and felt the chadm of communication between Jesus and myself narrowed..thankyou Beth
Iām starting today!