Luke 1-12 For You

God's Word for You

by Mike McKinley

Luke wrote his Gospel to offer his first readers, and his readers today, certainty over the truth of the gospel, and joy that God's promises have been fulfilled with the coming of his King.

With a close attention to the text and a focus on real-life application, Mike McKinley brings face to face with Jesus in a way that is fresh and compelling for both experienced and new readers of the first twelve chapters of Luke's Gospel.

Genres: Christian, New Testament

208 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

About the author

Mike McKinley is the author of Passion, Did the devil make me do it? and Church Planting is for Wimps. Since 2005 he has been pastor of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. Before that, he served on the pastoral staff of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC, having received his MDiv from Westminster Theological Seminary. Mike is married to Karen, and they have five children.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to admit I've enjoyed the books in this series written by Tim Keller more than the others I've read. I just seem to connect with them more. However, it's a great series and I like the format a lot.

[claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read Tim Keller’s book on Galatians and was so delighted I assumed this would be as interesting and as profound. I was so wrong. This Bible study provides no more insight into the story of Mary and Jesus than is already plainly stated in the Bible. He just rewrote the story of Jesus in a Sunday school kind of way. Also the questions asked were just bad. Like my Bible study tried to answer them but they were so bad we made up our own. Thoroughly disappointing. Also he has *really* weird takes on Jesus as a child, parenthood, and women. Not for me.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are uncertain times. We need the rock-solid truth of the Gospel – and the personal yet precise account from Luke is the perfect fit. In Luke 1-12 For You, Mike McKinley helps you understand the first half of the Gospel of Luke.

God’s Word For You

God’s Word For You is a series of books by The Good Book Company that seeks to take you to the heart of a book of the Bible and apply its truth to your heart. They attempt to be Bible-centered, Christ-glorifying, relevantly applied, and easily readable. I found this to be especially true of Luke 1-12 For You.

This volume was written by Mike McKinley, Pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Sterling Virginia. His pastoral role is appreciated, as he helps us see and understand the major themes of (1) the ministry of the Holy Spirit, (2) the importance of prayer, (3) the joyful praise of God’s people, (4) God’s initiative in the salvation of his people, (5) Jesus’ love for outsiders, and (6) the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Guide

In less than 200 pages, McKinley gives us a guided tour of the book of Luke. We begin with two “impossible” births (very old ladies and virgins), making our way towards Jesus exerting power over storm and demons.

As is fitting for our current COVID-19 situation, we see the transfigured Jesus as he “tabernacles” with his people. He is the supreme revelation of his heavenly Father, and we must listen to him. Even when the world is complicated and confusing, we can be sure that Jesus is right, true, and good.

Resource

What I appreciate most about this book series is the number of resources it has to offer. While it acts as a commentary, it can also be read as a devotional. Each section concludes with questions for reflection. These are usually personal application questions that are perfect for a small group study or Sunday School class.

There is a glossary at the back of the book with words that are specifically related to the book of Luke. These terms include Pharisee, Sabbath, Trials, and Wrath. I received this book and Luke 13-24 as a set - and I highly recommend reading both to grasp the full picture of Luke’s Gospel.

Passion

Reading this after Easter helps me remember that the joy of the kingdom comes with a cost. Yet, Jesus, by honoring his Father and accomplishing salvation, was filled with exceeding joy. Our King has arrived.

I received a media copy of Luke 1-12 For You and this is my honest review.

[Lucas Nosal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving this a 3-star is probably not all that fair. I was using this book in some of my sermon preparation, which is likely not it's intended use. For that reason, I found it lacking in comparison to other commentaries I looked at. I didn't disagree with most of what was said, and there were no glaring red flags, it just wasn't as in depth as what I was looking for. I am also not sure how useful it would be for most people. A good study Bible might accomplish the same goals.

[Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a decent study of Luke, for me I wanted a refresher that dug a little under the surface, because Luke is a pretty straight forward gospel and it did just that.

The thing I like about this series, no matter what the book in the Bible it is going over, is that if you answer the questions at the end of the section truthfully you will have the benefit of some spiritual growth.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic resource that delivers on what it promises. I have really loved the God's Word for You series, but Luke 1-12 has been the best yet. It's short, even pithy sometimes, but very applicable and easy to understand. The glossary serves newer believers or unbelievers unfamiliar with biblical and Christian lingo.

[Faith · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no, and no. There is so much meaning, depth, history, and context to the Bible, yet the author somehow manages to miss ALL of it. This book will not give you any additional insight. It will, however, provide a glimpse into the author’s misogynistic views. It is clear that he does not value or understand the roles that women play.

[Steven King · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable look through the first half of Luke. I really like the format of this series, but I didn't always find this author very insightful. Quite often it felt like the commentary simply restated the passage, rather than explaining it. However, there were some good insights too!

[Kenny Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful series. In this one the exposition is quite descriptive without much theological depth, but had several insights that I found personally convicting.

[Jayce O'Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

The weakest i this series so far.

There is very little application in this book on Luke. It very nearly just re-says what Luke itself says. I love this series, but I do not recommend this book.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear and to the point with some interesting observations along the way

[Collin Coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my introduction to this series and I enjoyed it. Read it for sermon prep and it was helpful, concise, and gospel centered. I’d recommend it and I like that it’s not a “commentary” per se.

[Erin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great companion for Bible reading or Bible study.

[Wassenario · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for teaching a high school youth group

[Molly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource if you’re looking to read through Luke at a slower pace

[Phil Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the "For You" series. Looking forward to the next volume on Luke!

[Ben Potloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this for my personal devotions for the last month or so. It is a very accessible devotional commentary that is truly gospel-centered. The author explains the text well and makes a lot of good insights into the meaning of what Jesus said and did. The reflection questions throughout were probably my favorite part as they helped me think about how what I was reading applied specifically to my life. I'm excited to use more of these "For you" commentaries for my private devotional time.

[Jon Anderson]

For Sunday School Spring and Summer 2018