Main Scripture Reference - Luke 1:26-38

Other Scripture References: Revelation 3:20; Romans 8:28; II Timothy 3:12

INTRO–‘God is With You’Read Luke 1:26-30 & Revelation 3:20

The story of the birth of Jesus and the Virgin Mary is traditionally portrayed as a wonderful and beautiful experience that everyone would want to have; but it wasn’t as neat and clean as you might have envisioned. Mary was an unwed pregnant teenager and in that society would have truly been ostracized and could have been stoned for that offense. The fact is the journey of faith is not predictable and is often times messy and hard. But God does promise you the same as he promised Mary, ‘I will be with you no matter what.’

• How has your journey of faith been unpredictable or led you to a place you didn’t expect?


• Have you ever been “favored” by God? What happened?

QUESTION #1–‘Then How Can This Happen?’Read Luke 1:31-34 & Romans 8:29

Sometimes even when you are doing the right things in your life and feel like your walk with Jesus is on track; bad things can happen. And sometimes the consequence of a blessing from God creates pain, like Joseph’s initial reaction to Mary’s pregnancy or the societal stigma Mary had to endure. The question usually asked of God is “how can this happen to me?” Nowhere does the Bible promise that a life of faith will always make sense or be free from pain and suffering. Instead of asking the question why, the proactive faith actively pursues God’s presence and redemptive purpose in the midst of trials. And you will find each in time.

• Have you experienced a time when you were “living right” and wrong showed up anyway? How did that affect your faith in God?


• Do you generally have a proactive faith that looks for God’s redemptive purpose no matter what or a questioning faith when times turn tough? Why do you think this is?

QUESTION #2–‘Where is God in This?’Read Luke 1:35-37

The other question you might have asked when going through life struggles is ‘Where is God?’ God can sometimes seem so far away when you are struggling and doubt occasionally creeps into everyone’s mind. And even though you may have longed to see God and to fully understand God’s will in your life situation, God probably hasn’t shown you his face. What you do have however, is the evidence of God’s presence in and around you each and every day, as well as others who have lived through and overcome the same things you might be struggling to handle. Elizabeth was 6 months ahead of Mary in her pregnancy and God used her experience to strengthen Mary on her new journey as the pregnant mother of Jesus.

• How often do you find yourself feeling like God is hidden from you? How do you get past this feeling? Where do you currently see the evidence of God’s presence in your life?


• Who has been an Elizabeth in your life helping you face and overcome a tough situation?


• What life experiences have you overcome that God can use to help others in need?

ACTION–‘Having a Proactive Faith’Read Luke 1:38 & II Timothy 2:12

The key to living through difficult times and trials is to seek and serve God even when life doesn’t make sense. Once again life is not about you and what you desire, but about God and what God desires. God does desire to give you an abundant life, but that abundant life is for God’s eternal purposes to be engaged with the world and to bring help, redemption, and grace to those who need God so desperately in this world today.

• How do you use God to try and get what you want out of life instead of being used by God for what God wants this world to become?


• How are you currently engaged in God’s purposes for the world? How can you commit to offering your life right now?