Advent: He Is Coming
Starter
- We all have joyous memories of past experiences: catching a trophy bass, the birth of a baby, accomplishing a difficult task, going on a great vacation. What are the memories of great joy your group can share?
Pray
Thank You, God, for the joy we have in Christ Jesus. You have given us Your joy in Him, so that our joy may be full. We know that joy is a gift, and we are to celebrate Your gift of joy even in difficult circumstances because our God is faithful. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Study Questions
Where Jesus is, there is joy. There was joy when He healed the sick and the afflicted. There was joy when He turned the water into wine. There was joy when He raised the dead. There was joy when He multiplied the fish and the loaves. There was joy when He welcomed the outcasts and the sinners into God’s presence. And there was joy in your heart on the day you came to realize His great love for you, and you, in turn, gave your life to Him.
Life was good and Mary was excited. She was no doubt looking forward to starting a new life with her husband, starting a family, and living in peace as she lived her life in quiet faithfulness to God.
But Mary’s life was about to get extremely complicated, and God knew that she would need a little information and a whole lot of encouragement. So, He sent an angel with a reassuring and perplexing message that she has found favor with God and will bear His Son even as a virgin.
- What does verse 29 tell us about Mary’s inner thoughts when greeted by Gabriel? Look
also at Luke 2:19. How did Luke get this information about what Mary was thinking (See Luke 1:1-4)? What does this tell you about the accuracy and authenticity of this account in the gospel?
- Do you think you would be joyful or afraid if an angel appeared to you?
- Do you think the angel Gabriel was a “bit too harsh” with Zechariah when he struck him
silent (Luke 1:20)? He was not as strict when dealing with Mary’s unbelief.
- Why did Gabriel tell Mary that the child should be named Jesus = Joshua = Yahweh Saves (See Matthew 1:21)?
- What else did the angel tell Mary about her child (See verses 32-33)?
- How is this message a fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation to His people (See 2 Samuel 7; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 33:14-18; Daniel 2:44; 7:14, 18, 27; Revelation 11:15)?
- Do you sometimes find it hard to believe and find joy in the promises of God? How have
you overcome this crisis of belief in the past?
- Did Mary find it hard to believe the words of the angel?
- Was Gabriel’s message to Mary one of pure privilege or did it come with a personal cost to
her?
- What costs do you think Mary could experience?
- What could be the benefits and costs to us if we beleive and allow God to do His will though us?
- What is the reason that Mary gave for her joy in verses 47-48?
- Discuss how a person’s “soul magnifies the Lord” and “spirit rejoices in God.”