Teacher Notes
Bible Stories for Adults
John is Born
Luke 1
Welcome and Announcements
Next Week - Jesus Is Born (Luke 2:1-20)
Opening Prayer
Luke - The Historical Gospel (Luke 1:1-4)
Who was Luke?
Colossians 4:14 = A doctor, and friend of Paul's (Gentile - from v10-17)
How qualified was Luke to write the gospel (good news) of Jesus?
Acts 16:8-10 = Traveled & worked with Paul on his 2nd & 3rd journeys
Did Luke write his gospel because no one else had tried to record what had happened?
Luke 1:1-2 = No, many had already tried to record the story from eyewitnesses
Why did Luke go to this trouble if others had already done so? = may know the certainty
Luke 1:3-4 = carefully investigated everything, hired by Theophilus (one who loves God)
What was the scope of his gospel? = Written third of 4 gospels, around 70-80 AD
Acts 1:1-2 = From when Jesus began to do & teach until He ascended
Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5)
When, specifically, does Luke's gospel begin and who were Zechariah and Elizabeth?
Luke 1:5 = During Herod's reign (37-4 BC), Both were Levite descendants of Aaron
Priests must marry Jews, better to marry Levites, even better to marry from Aaron's line
What does it mean that Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah? = weekly rot
1 Chronicles 24:1, 3, 10, 19 = Aaron's descendants divided into 24 by David
Priests served two weeks per year, plus Passover, Pentecost & Feast of Tabernacles
The Perfect Family (Luke 1:6)
What else does Luke tell us about Zechariah and Elizabeth?
Luke 1:6 = Both righteous in God's sight
Were other people called blameless and righteous in the Bible?
Genesis 6:8-9 = Noah; Also Simeon, Joseph (Jesus' dad), Job, others
Does this mean they were perfect and sinless?
Ecclesiastes 7:20 = No one is perfect
Then why does the Bible call them righteous?
Galatians 3:11 = Made righteous by faith
Zechariah Is Visited (Luke 1:7-13)
Since Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, did God bless them in every way?
Luke 1:7 = He had not blessed them with children, a sign of God's disapproval
What special honor did Zechariah receive once when he went on duty? = ~20K priests
Luke 1:8-10 = Chosen by lot to burn incense in temple (am & pm priests), 1/life
Did things go smoothly for Zechariah during his special service? = God was on right side
Luke 1:11-12 = An angel of the Lord appeared to him next to the altar
What comforting message was Zechariah given? = Johanan - Jehovah's gracious gift
Luke 1:13 = Don't be afraid, your prayer has been heard, Will have a son, John
This Special Son (Luke 1:14-16)
How would John be different than other kids? = Many will rejoice
Luke 1:14-15 = Great in God's sight, never drink alcohol, filled with HS
How would Zechariah understand the point that John should never drink alcohol?
Numbers 6:1-3 = Would be a Nazirite, life dedicated to God (Samson & Samuel)
What would John accomplish in life?
Luke 1:16 = Return many of the Jews to faith & devotion to God
Why was this important to God's plan?
Mark 1:1-3 = To fulfill Isaiah's prophesy of one to prepare the way for the Lord
How effective would John be in his ministry?
Mark 1:4-5 = Whole Judean countryside & all the people of Jerusalem confessed
Elijah Jr. (Luke 1:17)
What other special thing did the angel foretell about John?
Luke 1:17 = He will go on before the Lord ... in the spirit and power of Elijah
What Old Testament prophesy would this fulfill?
Malachi 4:5-6 = I will send Elijah before the day of the Lord (400 yrs earlier)
What hint besides his ministry did John give that he was the promised return of Elijah?
Mark 1:6 = Wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist
How might this remind the people of Elijah?
2 Kings 1:7-8 = Elijah dressed the same
Wouldn't John's unclean diet of locusts conflict with a prophet's calling by God?
Leviticus 11:21-22 = Locusts were clean and okay to eat
Did the people recognize John to be the promised return of Elijah?
Matthew 17:10-13 = Elijah has already come, and they didn't recognize him
Were the people told that Elijah had returned?
Matthew 11:7, 10-11, 14 = Jesus told crowd - John is the Elijah who was to come
Who Says Hindsight is 20/20 (Luke 1:18)
After hearing the message from the angel what story would Zechariah have remembered?
Genesis 18:1, 10-11 = The gift of Isaac to old Abraham & Sarah
How easily did faithful Abraham and Sarah believe God's promise?
Genesis 17:17; 18:12-14 = Both A & S laughed at this impossible promise
How were Abraham and Sarah reminded of their disbelief in God's power over the impossible?
Genesis 17:19 = Son was named Isaac; means he laughs
Did Zechariah show any stronger faith when given a similar message? = Asked for sign
Luke 1:18 = Questioned the impossible promise, just like Abraham & Sarah
Doubting Zechariah (Luke 1:19-25)
How did the angel remind Zechariah who the promise was from?
Luke 1:19 = Introduced self as Gabriel sent by God with this message
Would this angel's name mean anything to Zechariah? = Gabriel - Man of God
Daniel 8:15-16 = Sent by God to explain visions to Daniel, Known as archangel
What sign would Zechariah be given because of his lack of faith?
Luke 1:20 = Would be unable to speak until John is born
Did the worshippers outside realize what had happened?
Luke 1:21-22 = They wondered what took so long, realized he saw a vision
What other sign was Zechariah given that the promise would happen?
Luke 1:23-25 = Elizabeth got pregnant after he returned home, worshipped 5 months
A More Special Son (Luke 1:26-56)
Was Gabriel's work done or did he have more to do? = Galilee was inferior, unrighteous
Luke 1:26-33 = In Elizabeth's sixth month, God sent Gabriel to tell Mary of Jesus
Though Mary was young, how was this birth even more miraculous than John's & Isaac's?
Luke 1:34-35 = Was conceived by the Holy Spirit & born of a virgin - Son of God
What proof did Gabriel give that this impossible promise would be fulfilled?
Luke 1:36-37 = Elizabeth's pregnancy shows nothing is impossible with God
How faithfully did Mary accept this promise? = Mary's presence likely broke Elizabeth's seclusion
Luke 1:38-40 = Accepted her job as the Lord's servant, left to stay with Elizabeth
How was the promise to Mary confirmed by Elizabeth even before they saw each other?
Luke 1:41-45 = John leapt in womb, E praised Mary for choice as mother of Lord
How does Mary respond to Elizabeth's greeting?
Luke 1:46-48 (46-55) = She sang a song of praise to God (Magnificat)
How long did Mary stay with Elizabeth?
Luke 1:56 = Until end of her pregnancy, then returned to Nazareth
John Is Born and Named (Luke 1:57-66)
What was the natural name for John to have been given?
Luke 1:57-61 = Zechariah, after his father - No one in family had name John
Why were the neighbors getting involved with naming the child?
Ruth 4:16-17 = Common practice for neighbors & relatives to help name a child
How were the neighbors able to get Zechariah's decision since he couldn't speak?
Luke 1:62-63 = He wrote on a tablet, His name is John - tablet was wax on a board
What happened after Zechariah had officially given his son the name John?
Luke 1:64 = Immediately his mouth was opened, he praised God
How did the neighbors respond to Zechariah's sudden ability to speak?
Luke 1:65 = They were filled with awe, talked about it to everyone around
How did others respond when they heard what had happened?
Luke 1:66 = Wondered what great plans God had in store for this boy
Zechariah's Song - Benedictus (Luke 1:67-79)
Besides the ability to speak, how else was Zechariah blessed after John was named?
Luke 1:67 = He was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied
How did Zechariah begin this last Messianic prophesy before Jesus' birth?
Luke 1:68-75 = By praising God for keeping His promise to Abraham
How well did Zechariah understand his son's role in God's plan?
Luke 1:76-77 (76-79) = You will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him
How was John raised in preparation for his ministry?
Luke 1:80 = Grew strong in spirit, lived in desert
Closing Prayer
Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen
Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
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