SESSION 4 REDEEMED FROM CRIPPLING DOUBT The Point God s Word can be fully trusted. The Bible Meets Life We all desire to have our prayers answered. Yet, how many times do we seek something from God and are surprised when He answers? Or, how many times do we ask God for direction, but when He gives us direction through His Word, we hesitate? Perhaps it would be easier if an angel stood directly in front of us with the answer, but as we will see, even such a miraculous sight doesn t necessarily remove doubt. God wants to establish a pattern with His children that, when we hear His word, we believe it and step out in faith. The Passage Luke 1:11-20,63-65 112 SESSION 4
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Luke 1:11-20,63-65 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother s womb. 16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. 18 How can I know this? Zechariah asked the angel. For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years. 19 The angel answered him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time. 11 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 63 The Setting While both Matthew and Luke detail the birth of Jesus, the Gospel of Luke is the only Gospel that details the birth of John the Baptist. At the opening of his Gospel, Luke introduced Zechariah and Elizabeth, a godly and elderly couple from the line of Aaron, who were childless because Elizabeth could not conceive (Luke 1:5-7). The angel Gabriel was sent by God to announce to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would be blessed with a son, but Zechariah had trouble believing such good news in light of his circumstances. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 113
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) GET INTO THE STUDY ENGAGE: Begin the session with one or more of the Engage Options on the next page. (This is optional. If you d rather skip the Engage Options, just begin with the first discussion question.) SAY: It s difficult to trust people. And let s admit it: sometimes it s difficult to trust God. Zechariah certainly believed in God, but when God sent a specific word to him, he found it difficult to trust. God wants to establish a pattern with His children that, when we hear His word, we believe it, push through our fear, and step out in faith. DISCUSS: Lead students to discuss the following question, Whose word do you always trust? Why? GUIDE: Read and summarize The Bible Meets Life for students (p.100). ITEM 10 Leader Pack: Consider showing students the Doubts poster at this time. Trust isn t what it used to be. My grandfather never locked his door; in fact, he didn t even have locks on the doors and windows of his house. I wouldn t think of leaving my car unlocked, even while making a quick trip into the grocery store. Blind trust is never wise, but we often let skepticism replace any form of trust. And why wouldn t we? Elected officials promise big changes, but they rarely deliver. More and more religious leaders are caught in moral failures. Corporate executives hoard money while their companies (and their employees) hurdle toward financial ruin. It s difficult to trust people. And let s be honest: sometimes it s difficult to trust God. Zechariah certainly believed in God, but when God sent a specific word to him, he found it difficult to trust. SAY: As we ll see, God didn t leave Zechariah in his doubt and He will not leave us in our doubt either. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point. God s Word can be fully trusted. PRAY: Ask God to show every student that He can be fully trusted and that His Word is always reliable no matter the situation. 114 SESSION 4
Engage Options YY Lead with Action Lead students to participate in a trust fall. But, inform students that they will be blindfolded when completing their falls. Guide the first volunteer to fall straight back into the arms of others. Say, Even though you could not see the people behind you, you trusted them to catch your fall. In a similar way, we must be willing to follow Christ even when we don t know where He is leading us. We must simply trust that He will catch our falls and be there for us every step of the way. YY Lead with Atmosphere Guide students to think of someone they trust. Pass index cards to students, and instruct them to write why they trust those people. Instruct them not to put their names on the cards. After students have an opportunity to write on their cards, share some of their answers with the class. Say, It can be really challenging to trust others. It s hard to trust people, and at times, it is also hard to trust God. FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS: Search the Internet for trust exercises. Say, Trust comes down to whether or not we are willing to put ourselves on the line for a promise that was made to us. We will see how God s Word is fully trustworthy. We can fully trust its promises. YY Lead with Media Search the Internet for trust exercise fail. Play a few funny videos of people performing trust exercises. After watching the video(s) say, God s Word can be fully trusted. People and situation will always let us down, but God and His word is always true and trustworthy when we trust God s Word we allow it to help us in our time of need or time of joy. NOTE: Always make sure you preview any clip you show students and ensure that it is appropriate for your church and ministry. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 115
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: God s Word can be fully trusted. An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him: Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother s womb. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. LUKE 1:11-17 116 SESSION 4 LUKE 1:11-17 DISCUSS: Lead students to discuss the opening question, When have you been blessed by an answered prayer? READ: Enlist a volunteer to read Luke 1:11-17. GUIDE: Guide students through the following section in the book, by highlighting or reading the sections that stand out (p.102): The Bible is filled with miracles and two of the most familiar have to do with miraculous births. YY Abraham and Sarah and the birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7) YY Mary and Joseph and the virgin birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7) Another great birth immediately preceded the birth of Jesus by mere months: the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. Zechariah was married to Elizabeth, and like Abraham and Sarah, they were past childbearing years. Surely, like most parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth desired a child and had prayed for one. In spite of their righteous and blameless lives, their prayer for a child seemed to go unanswered. But, God had heard and did respond in His own timing. When the angel appeared to Zechariah, he was naturally afraid. But the angel sought to calm his fears and announced that his prayers had been heard. Gabriel gave specific details about Zechariah s son, including what his name would be and the kind of impact he would have on the world. Gabriel also promised that the son would bring joy and delight to his father and that many would rejoice at his birth. We all desire to have our prayers answered. If we didn t expect an answer, we wouldn t ask in the first place. Yet, how many times do we seek something from God and are surprised when He answers? Or, how many times do we ask God for direction, but when He gives us direction through His Word, we hesitate? Perhaps it would be easier if an angel stood directly in front of us with the answer, but as we will see, even such a miraculous sight doesn t necessarily remove doubt. SAY: God wants to establish a pattern with His children that, when we hear His word, we believe it and step out in faith. DO: Give your students an opportunity to interact with the content by completing the activity, God can answer a prayer at any time. List three prayer requests. One for the future, one for the near future, and one for now.
Commentary LUKE 1:11-17 [Verses 11-12] Zechariah was a priest fulfilling his normal duty at the temple in Jerusalem. He had been chosen by lot to enter into the sanctuary of the temple to burn incense on the altar of incense. The incense was symbolic of the prayers of the people and the entire nation. Zechariah s service was interrupted by the appearance of an angel of the Lord. [Verses 13-15] Gabriel announced, Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. Barrenness in Jewish culture was generally seen as a judgment from God against the couple, as people believed that God would bless faithful believers by giving them children. However, this type of thinking was corrected by Luke s explanation that Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord (v. 6). God had graciously answered Zechariah s petition. Elizabeth would bear a son, whose name would be John. Gabriel pronounced, many will rejoice at his birth. This is a reference to John the Baptist s calling as the forerunner to the Messiah and the ultimate joy God s people would receive through His Messiah. Gabriel went on to say that the child would be great in the sight of the Lord. John was great in the sense that he played a significant role in God s plan of redemption (7:24 28). Moreover, God s calling on John s life began before his birth. He was to be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother s womb. TIP: Share with students a time when you have had to trust God s promises through a difficult situation. [Verse 16] Gabriel also described the results of John s ministry. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. This verse likely describes the people who repented and received the baptism of John in preparation for the Messiah s coming (Luke 3:1-17; John 3:23). [Verse 17] That John would go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah serves as an Old Testament analogy to the nature of John the Baptist s ministry. Elijah, like John the Baptist, was empowered by the Spirit of God and was known for his bold, uncompromising stand for the truth even in the face of a ruthless monarch. Luke did not here identify John as Elijah, but John the Baptist s attitude and actions were reminiscent of those of the great prophet. The words to turn the hearts of fathers to their children are a quotation from Malachi 4:5-6, showing that John the Baptist fulfilled that prophecy. In their Old Testament context in Malachi, the words turn the hearts relates to averting divine wrath through repenting and turning back to God. God would use John the Baptist to do an inner work as people prepared for the coming of the Messiah. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 117
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: God s Word can be fully trusted. How can I know this? Zechariah asked the angel. For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years. The angel answered him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time. LUKE 1:18-20 LUKE 1:18-20 READ: Lead one student to read Luke 1:18-20. DISCUSS: Ask students, When have you found joy through being obedient to God? READ: Guide students to read the following section (p.103): If an angel stood before you and gave you details of the way God would answer your prayer, what would you do? Zechariah doubted all he had heard. Can we blame Zechariah? The fact that God had answered his prayers was amazing, but the news of his soon-to-be-child s role in the kingdom of God is beyond incredible. I wonder if Zechariah thought to himself, how can I possibly raise such a child? How do I take on this responsibility in my old age? We do the same thing with God. When we sense His Spirit leading us toward a certain task, we tend to respond like Zechariah: God, are You really sure You want me to do this? That s what Zechariah did he asked for proof. The angel promised Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son with a special ministry and a unique task. But Zechariah wanted more than a promise. SAY: What further proof could God give? Here was Gabriel, an angel from God and about whom Zechariah had read in the Book of Daniel (8:16; 9:21). Gabriel gave further proof through a sign that was punitive. He told Zechariah that he would be unable to speak until the day that his son was born. The promised child would cry out before Zechariah could. DISCUSS: Give students time to discuss the question: What areas in your life are difficult to walk by faith? Why are you struggling? 118 SESSION 4
Commentary LUKE 1:18-20 [Verse 18] Zechariah s question amounted to a demand for a sign. Zechariah spoke from unbelief as he reminded the angel that both he and his wife were old. Instead of looking to God in faith, the priest looked at himself and his wife and decided that it was an impossible situation. Zechariah countered the angel s words of promise: I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years. Rather than focusing on the good news of God s promise delivered through the angel Gabriel, Zechariah chose to focus instead on the difficulties of his and his wife s situation. [Verse 19] Gabriel emphasized just who Zechariah was talking to with his words, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Gabriel reminded Zechariah that he (Gabriel) stands in God s presence. The angel was sent by God as His representative to speak with Zechariah and tell him the good news that he and his wife would have a son. [Verse 20] Now listen! Since Zechariah had apparently not been heeding Gabriel s words so far, Gabriel now called for Zechariah to take what he was about to say very seriously. Zechariah had basically asked for a sign, so a sign he received, which served as both a judgment and an aid to his faith. You will become silent and unable to speak. TIP: As you move through this session, lead students to share what they have learned about trusting God in their lives. A sign in the Old Testament was often associated with a confirming observable phenomenon which accompanied a word of prophecy. For the next nine months Zechariah s inability to speak would prove the reality of Gabriel s message, because you did not believe my words. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 119
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: God s Word can be fully trusted. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: HIS NAME IS JOHN. And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. LUKE 1:63-65 LUKE 1:63-65 DISCUSS: Ask students, What does it mean to you that you can trust God and His Word? READ: Guide a volunteer to read Luke 1:63-65. SAY: God worked, and Zechariah and Elizabeth now stood among family and friends holding their infant son. Just like God had promised. GUIDE: Remind students of The Point. God s Word can be fully trusted. READ: Enlist a few volunteers to read the following section (p.104): For nearly a year, Zechariah could not speak. He watched his aged wife struggle through the challenges of pregnancy, which for even a young woman is difficult. He silently helped his wife make preparations for the son they would raise, and now she delivered their new son. He was overcome with emotion, including love for his child. Zechariah never forgot the promise God made, even as He taught him a valuable lesson about doubt and trust. Zechariah was now ready to act in obedience, and he found a way to get into the group discussion. He wrote on a tablet that the boy would be called John, and immediately his mouth was opened to rejoice. When Gabriel told Zechariah to call his son John, he was filled with doubt, but now he was ready to obey. His act of obedience to God s command set him free. His response was worship. Zechariah had a voice again, no longer to speak words of doubt, but rather words of joy. The miracle of John s birth, Zechariah s obedience, and his praise reflected God s glory to the entire countryside who began talking about God s Word. SAY: We can trust God s Word. Whatever He says or calls us to do, we can trust. We can be certain that He will work in and through us. God doesn t call the equipped; He equips those He calls. DO: Take a couple of minutes for your students to complete Action Point. 120 SESSION 4
Commentary LUKE 1:63-65 [Verse 63] Elizabeth had her baby, and as was required in the Mosaic law, on the eighth day they prepared to circumcise and name the child. To everyone s amazement, instead of naming the child after his father, Elizabeth said that the child was to be named John (Luke 1:57-60). The reason the revelation of the baby s name was surprising to everyone was because John was not a family name (v. 61). Traditionally, a baby boy would be named after his father or someone else in the family; so, the neighbors were shocked when Elizabeth insisted on the name John. Zechariah, however, remained true to the instructions given to him by the angel, writing on a tablet in confirmation of his wife s insistence, His name is John. The name John means Yahweh has been gracious. [Verse 64] To everyone s astonishment, Zechariah agreed with Elizabeth. And as a miraculous sign that John was indeed the correct name, he was suddenly able to speak. The last words Zechariah had spoken before losing his speech had been an expression of doubt (v. 18), but on this, the first occasion that he could speak again, he began to speak, praising God. TIP: Encourage a student volunteer to lead the group every once in a while. [Verse 65] Fear came on all those who lived around them. The work of God, when seen rightly, results in people standing in awe of His character and works. God received praise from these events. There was an understandable impact on the people as they saw the events unfold. All these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. The reputation of John the Baptist began to spread even before the start of his ministry. All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, What then will this child become? (v. 66). We must ask God to reveal Himself in our day in such a way that He will be talked about and treasured by others. Read the article John, the Forerunner in the Spring 2016 issue of Biblical Illustrator. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles Zechariah and Elizabeth: A Silence Broken (Winter 2007), The First-Century Priesthood (Winter 2002-2003), Naming a Child (Fall 1996), and Barren Women in the Bible (Fall 1992) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for the Biblical Illustrator material connected with Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 121
IMPACT (10 MINUTES) APPLY IT TIP: Spend time discussing times when God s Word has proven to be trustworthy in students lives. SAY: How will you show your trust in God and His Word this week? READ: Select a volunteer to read aloud a few ways that students can take what they learned and apply it (p.105). YY List. Make a list of times when God used you in ways you would have never dreamed or imagined. Remember these amazing instances of His power at work in you and rejoice at His grace. YY Pray. Pray bigger, bolder prayers. Confess your doubts to God and ask Him to use you for His glory, stretch you beyond your comfort zone, and teach you to trust His calling on your life. YY Act. What is God calling you to do? It can be as big as a change in career or as small as calling someone who needs a word of encouragement. Act on it. Your trust in God is seen through your obedience. GUIDE: Lead students to consider which of the three suggested responses most closely applies to them and their current circumstances. SAY: Which of these responses do you need to focus on most as you live this session out? Allow time for responses. WRAP UP PRAY: Pray God gives your students the wisdom to trust His Word and be confident enough in that trust to ask hard questions and seek answers. ASK: Ask each student how they plan on living for Christ this week. GUIDE: Encourage students to use the Daily Bible Reading plan this week. Help develop an accountability plan for each student. For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 122 SESSION 4
To find the One Conversation for all ages, visit www.biblestudiesforlife.com. LEADER LIVE IT OUT Before the session, challenge yourself to grow with your students through this Live It Out. Throwback Joshua 4:1-9 Notes: It s easy to forget things in the busyness of life. Between school, social media, friends, and binging on new shows, it s hard to remember everything. Keeping your passwords straight is impressive enough. Forgetting isn t a new problem, but if we forget what God has done in our lives, we might struggle to trust Him when He calls us out of our comfort zones. Israel had just spent 40 years in the desert because they chose not to trust God by conquering the promised land. Now that it was time for Israel to claim the land God promised them, they needed to remember God s faithfulness. He told them to build a monument, so from that point on, they would never forget who God was or who they were called to be. If we don t spend time remembering who God has been in our lives, it becomes difficult to grow deeper and attempt the incredible things He has called us to do. YY Read the passage and write down the events in your life that show God s strength and faithfulness. List one way God is calling you to trust Him in obedience this week. ONE CONVERSATION Scripture: Luke 1:11-20,63-65 Topic: Redeemed from Crippling Doubt Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We all desire to have our prayers answered. Yet, how many times do we seek something from God and are surprised when He answers? Or, how many times do we ask God for direction, but when He gives us direction through His Word, we hesitate? Perhaps it would be easier if an angel stood directly in front of us with the answer, but as we will see, even such a miraculous sight doesn t necessarily remove doubt. God wants to establish a pattern with His children that, when we hear His word, we believe it and step out in faith. STUDENTS THE POINT: God s Word can be fully trusted. Whose word do you always trust? When has your obedience to God led to joy? Have a conversation around this quote: Faith is born and sustained by the Word of God, and out of faith grows the flower of joy. 1 John Piper 1. John Piper > Quotes > Quotable Quote, Goodreads [online], [accessed 17 July 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/quotes/701102-faith-is-born-and-sustained-by-the-word-of-god LIVE IT OUT If you plan to complete Throwback: One of the most powerful things a student can hear is truth spoken into their doubt. Encourage your student to share their biggest doubts, no matter how big or small. Remind them of God s faithfulness in their lives. If you plan to complete Daily Reading: Take time to discuss your student s daily Scripture readings from this week. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 123