Join us as we dive deeper into the scripture passage from this past Sunday morning. Whether you’re in a group or just wanting to talk around the dinner table, you can use this discussion guide as we allow God’s word to shape us together in community!
Starting Off
What ways have you seen God at work in the past week?
When you were a middle-schooler, what was the biggest responsibility you had?
Read
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
Discussion
What’s the first question you would have asked the angel if you had been Mary in this situation?
a. Umm, did you ever go through sex-ed in school? I’m not sure you get how this works.
b. Why in the world would God pick me? Are you sure you didn’t mean to go to Jerusalem?
c. I’m confused, when you say the baby will be the “Son of God,” what does that mean?
d. Can you repeat all that?
e. Other _________________
Why do you think God chose a young girl from the middle of nowhere to have such a key role in what he’s about to do? Why not someone more well-known or better connected?
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing you felt like God asked/wanted you to do? How did you respond?
If Mary had known the challenges that she would face as the mother of Jesus, do you think she would have been so open to this invitation? Why or why not?
What was it about Mary that you think allowed her to be so humble and open to what God was asking of her? What kinds of things make it hard for you to follow God when it seems confusing?