This is a great time to begin reading Luke's gospel because we're in Advent, which is during the weeks leading up to Christmas. It's a period of preparation for the Christ child's arrival -- an event described in the book's opening chapters. It also details, starting in chapter one, the origins of John the Baptist. John is often highlighted during Advent because he preached a message of preparing the way for Christ -- who in this case was about to start his public ministry. We'll read more about that in chapter 3.
This first chapter has two intersecting stories punctuated by angelic visits announcing the births of John and Jesus. It also has two poetic passages, often identified by Latin terms -- the Magnificat and the Benedictus. As you read the Magnificat, spoken by Mary, you may see similarities to a popular song in our church. "My Soul is Filled with Joy," number 13 in Sing the Journey, is based on the passage. (Click on the link above to read the chapter online.)
If you have trouble coming up with something to share with the group on Sunday, look at which characters are the focus of much of the chapter and tell us something about how they respond to God's involvement or interruptions in their lives.
Chapter 1 starts with a prologue where the writer lays out his purpose and addresses Theophilus, the person who is receiving the gospel. I really like that he begins in this way. Theophilus was presumably a real person, but his name is Greek for "lover of God." I always imagine that Luke also intends to address his gospel to all lovers of God who follow Christ. Therefore, it's written to people like us even though it's nearly two centuries later.
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