SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES
- Judges 13:2-21
- Daniel 10:5-12
- Matthew 7:21
Our lesson is part of the Christmas story which undoubtedly has been told and retold more than any other story ever written. So without dwelling long on the historical fact of Jesus’ birth, let us consider why God singled out Mary for the highest honor ever bestowed on a woman. Her willingness to submit to God’s plan was, no doubt, one of the reasons He chose her over all the young virgins of the house of David to be the mother of His Son, Jesus.
QUESTIONS
- In Bible times, God often used angels to carry messages to people. Since this was so, why do you think Mary was troubled at the angel’s greeting?
- What did the angel say when he noticed Mary was troubled?
- Do you think that Mary showed a lack of faith when she questioned the angel about how this could be? Explain.
- What was Mary’s response to the message that her child would be called the Son of God? What characteristics did she demonstrate by that reply?
- In what ways did Mary exhibit these character traits?
- Why are the attributes which Mary exemplified necessary for one serving the Lord today?
- In reference to our key verse, the first phrase implies that doing the will of God may need to be learned. What are some of the ways the Lord teaches us? What can we do in order to be apt learners?
- What are some of the benefits that are promised us if we are submissive to God? In addition to our text, see John 7:17, Romans 8:14-17, and Romans 12:2.
THEME THOUGHTS
Old Testament history paints a colorful picture of God’s dealing with man, but the New Testament brings us to the climax of God’s redemptive work—the Messiah, Jesus Christ.“Who is Jesus?” is the thought-provoking question which establishes our theme for this quarter. Looking into the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we trace the story of Jesus’ time on earth, including His birth and some of the major events of His life.We find, as we delve into this story, that the incidents and occurrences recorded in a biographical sketch of Jesus hold many important lessons relevant to our lives today. Some of the highlights of Jesus’ ministry and His personal example to us are brought out in such lessons as His calling of the twelve disciples, His example in resisting temptation, and His formula for happiness as found in the Beatitudes. The quarter concludes with one of Jesus’ parables which emphasizes the importance of being firmly grounded so that we might be able to grow as Christians. The purpose of this quarter is to learn about Jesus Christ, not just as a personage of Biblical history, but as a living Savior who wants to be directly and personally involved in our lives.