Today’s passage: Luke 2:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Merry Christmas!
• God sovereignly used the most powerful man in the world (And all those who were employed to carry out this decree) to fulfill His perfect plan.  (Micah 5:2, Proverbs 21:1)
• The God who spoke the universe into existence, was now a baby boy laying in an animal’s feeding trough. (Colossians 1:16, Philippians 2:1-11)

Questions to consider:

1. What would we have assumed the birth of the Messiah should look like?  How was this different?  In what ways would this birth story seem mundane or even sad/disappointing?
2. How would you feel if you had become responsible to raise God the Son?  To teach Him to walk, talk, work, etc.?
3. Why did God the Son take on flesh and dwell among us?

Today’s passage: Luke 1:57-80

Helpful thoughts:

• Zechariah and Elizabeth had to break social custom and risk disappointing their family to obey God.  The fear of man doesn’t always reside out there in the big world.  It can even dwell in our homes and in the church among well-meaning people who are doing things because, “That’s how we’ve always done it.”
• At the birth of his firstborn son, having been born by a miracle of God through his barren wife, just having received his voice back, Zechariah’s first words are about…Jesus.  Then, Zechariah gives an announcement of what John’s God-given role was to be.
• Why did John (And any of us) get to proclaim salvation through the forgiveness of sin?  Because of the tender mercies of our God! (Verses 77-78)

Questions to consider:

1. Are there any customs or habits that we might have (In the culture of our nation/region OR in the culture of our church) that are not wrong in and of themselves, but that prevent us from doing the things that God has commanded us to do?
2. Why was it right for Zechariah to speak first of the coming Messiah?  Why was John’s role as a forerunner and as a supporting act more significant than trying to be the star?  When do we find our greatest joy and reward, when we do for ourselves, or when we become servants to the God of the universe?
3. Have you become a recipient of the tender mercies of God?  Please check out this website to learn more!

 

Today’s passage: Luke 1:34-56

Helpful ideas:

• This birth was going to be miraculous.  The Son of God would not be the biological son of a man.
• It had been about four hundred years since God had spoken or worked in any way like this in Israel.  Gabriel told Mary of Elizabeth’s pregnancy to remind her, nothing will be impossible for God.  Miracles were happening.  God was on the move.
• The Spirit gave Elizabeth understanding.  The child in Mary’s womb was her Lord.
• Mary’s response was similar to the words used by Hannah in 1 Samuel 1.  They both called themselves the servants (“Bond slaves”) of the Lord. The main difference was, Hannah’s pregnancy would take away her felt shame in her barrenness.  Mary was about to receive a source of shame in the eyes of man (Being an unwed pregnant young woman).
  • By God’s grace, Mary’s great faith was displayed in her response to Elizabeth in verses 46-55.

Questions to consider:

1. How might God have used Elizabeth’s welcome to encourage Mary’s heart?  What would Mary have been concerned about as new people continued to discover her pregnancy?  What did Elizabeth’s Spirit-controlled words reinforce for her?  What could we learn from this?  How do our words of welcome (Think: Fruit of the Spirit) affect others?
2. When Mary said, “Let it be to me according to your word,” what did she willingly give of herself to do?  What trust did she need to put in her Lord?
3. How was this trust displayed in her response?  What did she believe was going to happen?  What did her faith and joy in God cause her to want to do (Verse 46)?  What has God promised us through Christ?  How does your trust in God give you reason to magnify the Lord?

Today’s passage: Luke 1:26-33

Helpful thoughts:

• Mary was shown favor…she was a favored one.  This means Mary was not given the role of mother to Jesus because she was full of grace to bestow, but because God poured out favor/grace on her.  Mary needed a savior just like we all do.
• Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
• The mention of Joseph being of the house of David was a hint at who Jesus was going to be (Joseph adopted Jesus as his own, therefore Jesus was Joseph’s legal heir).  Then, verses 31-33 come right out and tell us exactly who Jesus is!
  • Jesus means, Jehovah (Or Yahweh) saves.  Jesus is our salvation!
  • Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son.
  • Jesus is the King of Kings.
  • Jesus is King forever!

Questions to consider:

1. What made Mary special?  What did Gabriel tell her?
2. What did Gabriel tell Mary about the baby she was going to have?  What is Jesus?  Who is Jesus?
3. What was Jesus going to do before he reigned forever?  How was He to become our savior? (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Today’s passage: Luke 1:1-25

Helpful thoughts:

• The goal of this gospel? That you might have certainty (Exact truth) concerning the things you have been taught.
  • Luke compiled the content of his gospel carefully from the eyewitnesses (The Apostles) and wrote everything out in an “orderly manner.”
• This gospel was initially written to one person!  Theophilus was (And we are) able to read the Gospel of Luke knowing that we are reading a detailed, historically accurate, precisely depicted account of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our faith should be strengthened as a result!
• John the Baptist was to have a ministry of repentance.  Israel was not ready for their Messiah to come.   They needed to return to the Lord.

Questions to consider:

1. What can we learn from Luke’s painstaking attention to detail when seeking to communicate these important truths?
2. What can we learn from the size of the original intended audience?  How many people do we need to like our posts, watch our videos, attend our talks, in order for them to be worth putting forth 100% effort?
3. John the Baptist was great in the sight of the Lord.  What made John the Baptist great?  What makes a person “great in the sight of the Lord” and what do those characteristics do for our reputation here on earth?  How can this encourage our boldness to proclaim the Gospel?