Celebrate--Lesson 3--A Reason to Leap with Joy--Luke 1:39-56

Discussion Questions:

1.  What kinds of things have happened this past week that give you reason to worship and celebrate God?  What kinds of things have tried to dissuade you from focusing upon these things?

2.  How have you seen community (church family) be a place like what Mary probably faced in Nazareth?  How have you seen community provide reception and safety like what Mary received from her visit to Elizabeth?

3.  When you are dealing with times of fear, discouragement, or other painful things, how have words of blessing, wonder, affirmation, joy, and recognition helped you cope better?  What kinds of things help you to grow in your abilities to provide these things for others?

4.  Mary reflects upon the long history of God’s promise keeping and provision to bring about the plans He has for the good of His people to have a “I knew You were coming” moment.  How does her reflection of these things stir your soul and help you to have your own “I knew You were coming” moment even in dire circumstances?

5.  How sad is it that Zechariah couldn’t participate in the rejoicing and celebrating when Mary showed up at his door?  How encouraging is it that God continued to write chapters in his life that opened the door for his own praise, worship and celebration?  How does this help you to see how God has more planned for your own life?

Celebrate--Lesson 2--I'm Not Doing This Without You--Luke 1:26-38

Discussion Questions:

1.  How do the superhero characters of Marvel & DC Comics etc. reveal fundamental truths placed in our hearts by our Creator?  Why are we enthralled with the impossible being accomplished?

2.  Why does God bring the Savior of the world to mankind using nobodies from places of poor reputation?  How does His method instill confidence in what He can do through you and your circumstances?

3.  What qualities do you find in Mary that enable God to use her in the ways that He does?  What grade would you give yourself in these qualities?

4.  How has having the Savior in your life brought inconvenience or great cost?  What kinds of things support you and encourage you to stay faithful through the inconveniences and costs?

5.  What times do you have in your day or week to ponder the things of God?  Why is making the effort and taking the time to ponder important and helpful?

Celebrate--Lesson 1--From Barren to Blessed--Luke 1:1-25

Discussion Questions:

1.  What has caused you to feel as if God is silent or leaving your life barren?  How have you seen Him take you from barrenness to blessings?

2.  What does an emphasis of preparation that leads to celebration show you for experiencing more in your spiritual walk?  What kind of preparation helps you in your daily walk with God?

3.  Why is the long game important when it comes to God’s promises?  How is your life part of what God has been doing for generations prior to you? 

4.  What difficulty do you have doing nothing to balance yourself and no longer being yourself as Jesus carries us across the tightropes of life?  Why is it so difficult to let go like this?

5.  How have you seen moments of doubt and a lack of faith result in silencing the effectiveness of one’s witness?  What do you learn from Zacharias’ second opportunity to provide a witness of what God has done?