Women in the Bible Small Group Bible Study

Marina H Hofman

• Publisher: Castle Quay Books
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781988928449
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Biography

Includes downloadable FREE VIDEO SERIES WWW.WOMENINTHEBIBLE.INFOIn this 8-week study explore how women in the Bible played a predominate role in the success of several main Bible events and God's plan of salvation. Discover how they responded to challenges, took bold actions to bring about justice, and triumphed through adversity. Explore LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER, PERSEVERENCE and the ROLE OF WOMEN in God's plan. BACKGROUND INFORMATION-STUDY GUIDE-DISCUSSION QUESTIONS-AUTHOR REFLECTIONSJOURNEY THROUGH EACH STUDY INDEPENDENDTLY OR IN A SMALL GROUP IN 8 OR 16 SESSIONS.

Mary, Mother of Jesus

LUKE 1

What opportunities do you have to “be” Christ to others?

BACKGROUND

The background for the story of Mary is provided in the first verses of Luke’s Gospel:

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1–4)

Luke’s aim is to present an accurate history. It follows, then, that Luke wants us to consider the supernatural elements surrounding the story of Mary that we are about to read—the angel appearing and the virgin birth—as true.

Luke says that his sources are “eyewitnesses and servants of the word.” How then does Luke know about Mary’s personal encounter with the angel? We can assume that Mary’s testimony is the source of this marvelous narrative. This is indeed Mary’s story!

LUKE	EXPLORE
1 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”	1:26–28 Luke sets this story of Mary within the immediate context of Elizabeth’s miraculous pregnancy, and the same angel, Gabriel, who appears to Elizabeth’s husband to announce the coming of their child now visits Mary. How does this prepare the reader for Mary’s even greater miraculous story? How does “The Lord is with you” have special meaning for Mary?
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”	1:29–33 Why would Mary be troubled or afraid at the words of the angel (“You who are highly favored! The Lord is with you”)? The angel states again that Mary is favored—that God has extended grace to Mary. Importantly, this is before she conceives her son. What does this tell us about being favored by God?
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”	1:34 The angel’s announcement is spectacular in many aspects, but Mary makes only one objection, and it is related to herself. What does this say about Mary’s faith?
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”	1:35–37 What does the respon...