New Book Background: Luke

Summary

PROCLAIM x BIBLEin365
Episode: New Book Background: Luke
Date: March 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

This brief but passionate episode launches the BIBLEin365 community into the Gospel according to Luke. The host (Pastoral Advisor James Kaddis, though not explicitly named in the transcript) provides context, highlighting Luke’s unique identity among the Gospel writers and emphasizing why Luke’s introduction matters. Central themes include the historical and spiritual credibility of Luke, the purpose of his writing, and encouragement for listeners experiencing doubt in their faith journey.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Luke's Unique Background (00:01–01:40)

• Gentile Authorship:

  • Luke is highlighted as "the only Gentile author that we know about in the New Testament" (00:18).
  • His inclusion signals "God's grace as he has bought salvation to the Jew first, then the Gentile" (00:24).

• Professional Perspective:

  • Luke is both "a physician and he is a historian," which makes his style "dramatically different than the other authors of the Gospels" (00:38).
  • His careful documentation aims to show the "very critical aspects of Jesus's ministry,” especially Christ’s sacrificial life.

2. The Purpose of Luke’s Gospel (01:41–05:27)

• Setting the Stage:

  • The first four verses of Luke shape the foundation of the book; Luke's stated aim is to "set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed amongst us" (02:08).

• Eyewitness Validity:

  • Luke acknowledges that "a lot of people have already taken it in their own hands to speak concerning the good news of Christ" (02:34).
  • These were "people who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word" (03:26), giving Luke's account additional credibility.

• Luke’s Motivation:

  • He writes to "a very important individual," Theophilus, "to bring the story of Christ very specifically in a unique way" (02:53).
  • Luke claims "perfect understanding of all things from the very first," suggesting he has "been given a complete picture of this amazing story" (04:07–04:26).

• To Theophilus – Certainty of Faith:

  • The name Theophilus means “lover of God” (04:43) and his mention underscores the value placed on this recipient.
  • Luke's purpose: "That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed" (05:13).
  • This emphasis on certainty is stressed as vital for all believers.

Notable Quote:

• "That you might be certain about the things in which you've been instructed." (05:58)
  (This is highlighted as a mission statement for the Gospel.)

3. Addressing Doubt and Encouraging Certainty (05:28–07:38)

• Identifying with the Listener’s Doubt:

  • The host directly asks, "How many of you have ever doubted what God has told you in His Word?" (06:13).
  • Acknowledges that readers, even while following BIBLEin365, can experience doubt (06:20).

• The Remedy Found in Luke:

  • Listeners are encouraged: "Read the Book of Luke because the Book of Luke will give you the things that you need that you might walk with certainty concerning the things that you have been educated in" (06:43).
  • Suggests a practical step: "Explore for a little bit some of the doubt that maybe you've been experiencing about the Bible... go to the Lord and say, God, please give me certainty about those doubts... as I explore through the Book of Luke" (07:13–07:28).
  • Firm reassurance: "You will find the certainty that you're looking for. You will find the answers." (07:28–07:38)

4. Encouragement and Community Updates (07:39–09:37)

• Personal Testimony and Additional Resources:

  • The host references teaching through Luke in the past to aid listeners with questions or doubts (07:45–07:57).
  • Encourages the community for their ongoing engagement and growth, especially during March and as Easter approaches (08:07–08:22).
  • Announces an upcoming Q&A and celebrates the support of his book, which achieved high Amazon rankings (08:22–09:02).

• Exhortation to Pray and Persevere:

  • Special prayer request for Erika Kirk and her family, acknowledging spiritual challenges and encouraging community support through prayer (09:08–09:22).
  • Final words urge continued commitment: "Let's find confidence in gospel accounts like the one we read about here in the book of Luke. And let's get out there and fight the good fight." (09:29–09:37)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Luke's Identity:

  • "Luke is the only Gentile author that we know about in the New Testament. And that actually means something. It is critical because it continues to speak of God's grace as he has bought salvation to the Jew first, then the Gentile." (00:18)

• On Certainty and Doubt:

  • "That you might be certain about the things in which you've been instructed." (05:58)
  • "Read the Book of Luke because the Book of Luke will give you the things that you need that you might walk with certainty concerning the things that you have been educated in." (06:43)
  • "I can promise you it will blow your mind because you will find the certainty that you're looking for." (07:28)

• On Community and Prayer:

  • "I just love the Bible in 365 family. And I want to encourage you to continue to pray for our dear sister Erica and the precious children and the whole Kirk family as they are being attacked immensely. But that's because the devil hates them and God is using them in a great way." (09:08–09:22)

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Important Timestamps

• Luke’s Gentile Authorship and Style: 00:18 – 01:40
• Luke’s Purpose and Eyewitness Accounts: 02:08 – 05:27
• Certainty for the Faithful and Facing Doubt: 05:28 – 07:38
• Community Encouragement, Q&A, and Prayer: 07:39 – 09:37

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Recap and Takeaway

This episode sets the table for BIBLEin365’s reading of Luke by underscoring the book’s credibility, the unique perspective of its author, and its written purpose: to assure believers with certainty in what they’ve been taught about Jesus. Listeners are encouraged to lean into any doubts with honest exploration, trusting that studying Luke will strengthen their faith. The community is celebrated and prompted to pray and persevere in their journey through the Word.

Transcript

[A]

All right, my Bible. In 365 brothers and sisters, we have arrived at the Gospel according to Luke. And boy, oh boy, oh boy, do I love this one. Now this is going to be short but powerful because the first four verses of this book mean something. So I said mean, means something so much to me and it is spectacular. Now I want to say this right off the bat, and that is Luke is the only Gentile author that we know about in the New Testament. And that actually means something. It is critical because it continues to speak of God's grace as he has bought salvation to the Jew first, then the Gentile. And when you think about his goodness to us in extending this amazing love that we have because of what he's done for us, it is remarkable. Folks, I love reading what Luke says here because it speaks about his purpose. And if you really want to dig deeply into this book, this lays down the foundation. Now I want to point something out here that I think is important right off the bat, and that is the fact that Luke is a physician and he is a historian. So you are going to see his writing style dramatically different than the other authors of the Gospels. And what he does here is very special because what he will do is he will show you something really important about several very critical aspects of Jesus's ministry. But perhaps the most consequential of which speak of the life that Christ live for us without any desire to seek to do anything other than save those who he minister to. And guys, that's an important thing because when we look at his life, when we understand how spectacular it was that he lived, it teaches us to live

[B]

sacrificially as he did. And that's what we get here.

[A]

So look at what Luke says here. And I love what he says here. He says, for as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believe it amongst us.

[B]

Okay, I want to just say this

[A]

because this is really critical. I'm going to stop at this point

[B]

and I'm just going to comment at the observation that Luke is making here. And it's, it's, it's important.

[A]

Okay, Luke is saying that there are a lot of people that have already taken it in their own hands to speak concerning the good news of Christ. He feels inspired and motivated to be somebody who would bring the story of Christ very specifically in a unique way to a very important individual. And because he did this, guys, it

[B]

brings to us something very, very valuable, very, very, very special.

[A]

So he says, for as much as many have taken in hand, in other words, considering the fact that. That a lot of people have already gone out and shared the Gospel story even as they delivered those accounts unto us, that's in essence what he's saying. Which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word. In other words, we've not just received these stories. We have received them from people who were eyewitnesses. We've seen these from people who were ministers of the Word, people who were knowledgeable about what the Bible said concerning these things and the fulfillment of those things. But by Christ himself, it seemed good to me also. I love this. He says, it seemed good to me also. Having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee, in order. Most excellent Theophilus.

[B]

Okay, I love this. When he talks about the most perfect understanding or having had perfect understanding. What he says is, I have been given a complete picture of this amazing story. Okay, that's very special.

[A]

I think God has completed us in this story and has given us a complete picture, and we should find inspiration from this. But he refers to a man as O or as most excellent Theophilus.

[B]

Now this is interesting. Theophilus is a very interesting name. It means lover of God.

[A]

And I believe that this is talking to, or this message is to a man who really, truly did love God. And he saw the importance of this Gospel story. Luke saw the importance of this Gospel story to doing something very specific for this man of God. Look what he says in verse 4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou has been instructed. Let me say that again. That thou mightest know the certainty of

[B]

those things wherein thou has been instructed. Think about this. He's saying, look, Theophilus, I know a lot of people have come with the Gospel message. I know a lot of people have come who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word.

[A]

And since I myself have a perfect understanding of all the things that happened from the very beginning, I see it necessary for me to write this to you, O excellent lover of God. That what?

[B]

That you might be certain about the things in which you've been instructed. Here's a question I would want to ask all of you. How many of you have ever doubted what God has told you in His Word?

[A]

How many of you have read this

[B]

and said, okay, I love this.

[A]

I'm reading Bible in 365.

[B]

It's amazing.

[A]

There's really, really good stuff here, but I'm doubting a little bit I don't know if this is what it says it should be. I've got some questions about these things. I wonder about this fact. I don't know about this. Someone online said that read the Book

[B]

of Luke because the Book of Luke will give you the things that you need that you might walk with certainty concerning the things that you have been educated in. If you find yourself in a crisis of doubt. The Book of Luke is an amazing book to read through. I want to encourage you to do something that might be a little risky in the offset. I want to encourage you to explore for a little bit some of the doubt that maybe you've been experiencing about the Bible. And then I want you to go to the Lord and say, God,

[A]

please give me certainty about those doubts that

[B]

I have as I explore through the Book of Luke. And I can promise you it will blow your mind because you will find the certainty that you're looking for.

[A]

You will find the answers.

[B]

I want to also say this.

[A]

When I taught through the Book of

[B]

Luke the last time, okay? I taught it with this emphasis.

[A]

And if you've got questions, if you are doubting, if some of those things are a struggle, go through my teaching on the Book of Luke.

[B]

And I think it will help reinforce the very purpose that Luke says he's writing the book for. And I think you'll be blessed and I think you'll love it. And I think you'll be blown away. By the way, I want to say this. We are in the month of March and I am so blessed that you guys are going for it, that you are reading the Word, you are seeking God's truth out. We've got a great Q and A

[A]

coming up at the end of this month. I'm looking forward to it. We've got Easter coming up. I can't wait. We're going to have a lot of fun. Very much looking forward to that.

[B]

And I also want to say one more thing. I'm going to reach over for this. Thank you guys for supporting me in buying this book. Last week we hit number one in 13 categories on Amazon. And out of the 22 plus million books that Amazon sells, we hit 92. We hit the top 100 because you guys chose to support us and to buy this book that I wrote on the book of Revelation. I love you guys. Thank you so much for it.

[A]

I do not take that for granted. And you're just such a blessing to

[B]

me and I just love the Bible in 365 family. And I want to encourage you to continue to pray for our dear sister Erica and the precious children and the

[A]

whole Kirk family as they are being attacked amass immensely.

[B]

But that's because the devil hates them and God is using them in a great way. So with that said, let's continue to

[A]

obey God in seeking his word. Let's find confidence in gospel accounts like the one we read about here in the book of Luke.

[B]

And let's get out there and fight the good fight. I love you guys. God bless you, and I'll see you at the Q and A.