Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sounds good, I be looking forward to it. biggrin

1. God chose this elderly couple for an extraordinary job. Several factors in verses 5-10 give hints for God's reasons for his choice. What might those reasons be?

2. For better or for worse, angels have recently become quite popular, But in what ways is the angel here different from how angels are depicted in popular culture (vv. 11-17)?

3. Do you find yourslef sympathetic or critical of Zechariah's response of unbelief (vv. 18-22)? Explain your view.

4. The circumstances of the birth of the Messiah's forerunner were very unusual. Why do you think God wanted this particular birth to be unusaul?

5. Read Luke 1:26-56 for Gabriel's second birth announcement. in what ways is it even more extraordinary than the first?

6. How would you compare and contrast Mary and Zechariah's responses?

7. Which would you find easier to believe- a promise form God through an angel or a promise through the Bible? Why?

8. From Mary's song of response (vv.46-55), how does your concept of God compare with hers?

9. Read Luke 1:57-80. Note that Luke describes people's spontaneous reactions to John's birth three times. What might be Luke's purpose in repeating this fact?

10. The Holy Spirit has sharpened Zechariah's faith to see 1)the great acts that God's Redeemer will do (vv. 68-75) and 2) his child's unique relation to this Redeemer (vv. 76-79). Suppose you were one of the neighbors listening to his prophecy. As a devout Jew, which part would have especially stirred you? Explain.

Thank God for being the only source of true hope.

Now or Later Luke records Jesus' birth with Mary's perspective. Consider Joeseph's perspective in Matthew 1;18-24; 2:13-15, 19-23. Jesus' adoptive father also had unique faith! What did he go through?

To expand your angelology: Hebrews 1 gives an overall understanding of angels (to people who then were tempted to worship them). See especially verse 14. They were active throughout the Old Testament. They witnessed creation (Job 38:7), destroyed evildoers (Genesis 19:1ff.), have warlike potential (Genesis 32:1-22), restrained a false prophet (Numbers 22:21-35), mediated God's law to Moses (Acts 7:38, 53), served as God's messengers (Judges 6:11-23), aided his servants (1 Kings 9:5-7), gave military assistance (2 Kings 19:35). They strengthened Jesus in temptation (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:43) and were present at his resurrection and ascension (Luke 24:4-7; Acts 1:9-11). They guided the apostles in evangelization (Acts 8:26; 10:3-8; 12:7-10; 27:23).

Did you hear the one about the shopper at Christmas who came upon a nativity scene in a department store? When she saw the figurines of Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men surrounding the Jesus, she exclaimed in disgust, "Now look at what they're dragging into Christmas: religion!" THat's where many are in their understanding of Christmas. But, we all need a fresh view of this momentous turning point in history.

Group Discussion: What do you like best about Christmas?
Personal Reflection: Don't let the world take away the awesome wonder of this turing point in our human history. With your resources, what can you do to retain or nurture this holy wonder?

Luke anchors Jesus' birth in history, in the powerful world of Rome. Read Luke 2:1-20. Try seeing the unfolding scenes through the wonderfilled eyes of a child.

Some years ago, before Queen Elizabeth arrived in a British Commonwealth country, its people feverishly prepared a royal welcome. They paid special attention to the highway runnoing from the airport to the capital. The government gave paint to each house along the route, but only enough to the cover the front of the house!

When it comes to our own repentance, a change of mind, a 180-degree reversal of attitdue toward sin, God does not ask for cosmetic changes. He calls for changes inside and outside, all the way to the back door.

Group Discussion: Repentance is not a common subject from our pulpits. What are possible reasons?

Personal Reflection: When was the first time you deeply repented of sin and knew God's forgiveness?

In this passage we meet John the Baptizer calling for repentance. Read Luke 3:1-20.

1. a) How are the authorities described in verses 1-2 different from John?
b) What do you think Luke wants to reveal through this contrast?

2. Now to John's preaching of repentance (vv. 3-9). Some think that talk about repentance is negative. But by insisting on it, John is a positive preacher of hope. What connection can you see between repentance and hope?

3. "A brood of vipers" is what JOhn calls his listeners. Yet they respond positively to his message! How would you respond if some preacher called your church a brood of vipers?

4. a) Three representative groups respond to John's passionate appeal and ask what they should do. Compare his three answers. In all three cases, what basic sin is he attacking (vv. 8-14)?
b) What injustices in your community are similar to those in John's day?

5. How does John contrast his ministry with the ministry of Christ (vv. 15-1 cool ?

6. Like repentance, judgement is not a popular topic today among many Christians. How could you explain to such people that judgemnet is part of the good news (v. 1 cool ?

7. Churches are sometimes criticized for having preachers who are either wimps or fire-breathing evangelists. What kind of preacher appeals to you?

8. a) Powerful, effective preachers like Jphn are not produced overnight. Look back at 1:13-15 and 1:80. What factors shaped John's character?
b) How can churches help produce preachers like John for our day?

9. Repentance is a message we all need to hear. In your own words, how would you explain what repentance is?

Pray for yourslef or for a seeker who needs to understand repentance.

Now or Later:

Notice John's humility in verses 15-17. What can help us to have humility like John's? True humility is not the same as inferiority complex. Nor is it a gift of the Holy Spirit! Humility begins with the proper view of God (Isaiah 57:15). See what else you can learn about this rare virtue from Proverbs 16:19, 22:4, 29:23; Romans 12:3; Philippians 2:5; James 4:10 and 1 Peter 5:5. And consider what Jesus himself taught about humility in Matthew 18:4.