- Jeremiah 32:17,27
- Matthew 19:26
- Mark 10:27
It was the evident intention of the writers of the Gospels to show that Christianity had a supernatural origin. Heavenly evidence was given to prove that the Event of the Ages was at hand. Jesus was born of a virgin. His forerunner, John, was born of a woman who had been barren and was past the age of childbearing. Both of these events are an impossibility with man, but as the Word declares, “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37)
QUESTIONS
- In reference to our text, what do we know about the spiritual condition of Zacharias and Elisabeth?
- What was Zacharias’ reaction to the message from the angel? Because of this, what happened to Zacharias?
- What was the miracle that accompanied the birth of John? What brought this miracle about?
- What was the first thing Zacharias did when his tongue was loosed? How can we follow his example in this?
- List some other Biblical instances where God did the impossible.
- In verse 58, what was the reaction of those around Elisabeth when John was born? Draw a parallel between this verse and the reaction among church friends, families, etc. when God works a miracle among us. Name specific examples if possible.
- What are some things that might seem “impossible” to man?
- God works out even the little details in our lives. Describe a situation in your life where God intervened for you.
- How can recognizing the smaller things that God has done for us help us when the bigger problems come along?
THEME THOUGHTS
What makes a hero? Everyone, no matter what his age, seems to have a hero—someone he looks up to and admires. A great deal of a person’s behavior can be traced to the figure he or she has chosen as a role model. Are you in a period of transition? Are you facing the challenge of growing as a Christian. These lessons have been structured with the thought of helping you face this challenge head-on by giving you examples of people in the Bible who exemplified characteristics that would be good to pattern after. We will be studying about heroes found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, including our greatest Hero—Jesus. These lessons will cover some of the women in the Bible as well as the men. Elisabeth’s faith, Deborah’s confidence, the self-denial of the widow of Zarephath, and the perseverance of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment are wonderful examples of feminine heroes we will be learning about. The other lessons will cover Zacharias’ faith, the obedience of Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father), John the Baptist’s fearless witnessing, Gideon’s example of courage, Caleb’s determination to wholly follow the Lord, the persecution of Stephen, Ananias’ determination to serve God, and Elisha’s willing service. Our aim is that with the concluding lesson, which summarizes this quarter on choosing the right kind of heroes, you will have learned which character qualities make someone a real hero. We pray that you yourself will want to become a good example for someone else to follow.