From 5 September to 3 October 2024, the Sower Institute for Biblical Discipleship (SIBD) organised a seminar series on the Gospel of Luke. Over the course of five weekly sessions, participants were led by Rev Dr Malcolm TH Tan, a seasoned teacher of the Word with almost 40 years of pastoral and preaching experience. Each session invited attendees to dive deeper into the unique perspective of Luke, the physician-evangelist, whose Gospel presents a carefully ordered and reliable account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Rev Dr Tan guided participants through key themes of Luke’s Gospel, highlighting its emphasis on the compassion of Christ, His concern for the poor and marginalised, and His call to repentance and discipleship. Special attention was given to Luke’s distinctive narratives—the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, the accounts of Jesus’ birth, and His encounters with tax collectors, women, and sinners. These passages not only revealed the inclusive nature of the Gospel but also testified to Luke’s historical care and theological depth. Participants were encouraged to reflect on how Luke’s Gospel speaks to the challenges of today’s world, where questions of justice, mercy, and truth remain as relevant as ever.
One of the central insights of the seminar was Luke’s determination to present a faithful record of Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection. Rev Dr Tan underscored that Luke wrote so that “you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4). In doing so, Luke anchors Christian faith not in myth or speculation but in verifiable history, reminding us that the existence of Jesus cannot be denied. Many participants left the seminar series enriched in their faith, strengthened in their discipleship, and more deeply assured of the truth of the Gospel they believe and proclaim.
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