Love Comes Near:  An Advent Bible Study, Dec. 9th

Read Luke 1:26-38 
Write Luke 1:37

Luke 1:37 - (The angel said to her,) "For nothing will be impossible with
God."

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"What stands out to you about Mary's reaction?"

She said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according
to your word."  She didn't question the angel, she just said, let it happen.

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"List all the promises made about the Messiah in this passage."

* You will name him Jesus
* He will be great
* He will be called the Son of the Most High
* The Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.
* He will reign over the house of Jacob forever
* and of his kingdom there will be no end.
* He will be called son of God

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"Mary then has a question, though it's not filled with doubt, as we saw with
Zechariah, but expectation. 'How will this be...?' Her question is more
inquisitive than uncertain. She believes and she's curious to know the
details, given the intimate nature of the situation.

"The angel announces that the child will be called 'holy', the son of God.
Because he is not born of a man, he won't inherit the same sinful nature
that the rest of us received. He is truly set apart. 

"To strengthen her faith even more, the angel tells her about Elizabeth."

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"How does verse 37 stir your heart?"

It says, "For nothing will be impossible with God."  I guess it gives me hope.

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"What can we learn from Mary in her humble submission to this assignment?"

How we can listen for the Lord in our lives and humbly submit to what He has
in mind for us.

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"Love Comes Near

"God gives us grace for the journey. And often he does it in the form of
friendship. Our relational God knew that Mary would likely need support, but
with a story as far-fetched as hers, not many, if any, would understand or
even believe her. Then I imagine the angel said, 'I already thought of that.'

"He tells her about Elizabeth, to immediately strengthen her faith in God and
to remind her she is not alone and that 'nothing is impossible' when God is
in the mix.

"Recall a time when God used a friend to strengthen your faith."

I remember being shaken up when I had visited a Bible study on the campus
of Central Methodist College.  The leader ended up by telling me that if I
didn't accept Jesus into my life right then and there, that I was dead.  I
was really upset, and went to my friend Alen Lenk, and Alan helped me feel
better.  I may or may not have accepted Jesus into my heart then and there,
but maybe I wasn't ready yet.  I think I was abused by that Bible study
leader.  I think it is possible to use scripture to bully people, and that
is not what Christ is about.

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"Read Hebrews 10:24-25"

Hebrews 10:24-25 -- "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love
and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,
but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

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"How does this verse and Mary and Elizabeth's example encourage your heart
towards community?"

I think that we as Christians can be there to uplift one another, support one
another in our walk with Christ.  I am not naturally a very community-minded
person, am naturally focussed on myself.  But I am wondering if Jesus calls
us to focus outside of ourselves to others, and care about them.