Sermon Bible Study Guides

Mark 6:1-13 - December 29th 2017

Honor the Prophet

Read Mark 6:1-6

1. Where did Jesus go and what astonished the people?
2. What did they expect?
3. What astonished Jesus and what effect did it have?
4. What did Jesus spend his time doing?

Read Mark 6:7-13

1. What does Jesus send the twelve to do?
2. What does it mean Jesus gave them authority?
3. What instructions does he give his apostles and why?
4. What was their message and mission?

Application:

1. What do we learn about Jesus in this passage?
2. What do these passages teach us about rejecting Jesus (or those who go in his name)?
1. What should we expect?
2. How should we respond?
3. What warning is there for us?
3. Compare and contrast the mission that Jesus has given to the Church/the Apostles in this passage.
1. What authority has Jesus given us?
2. What are we called to do?

Luke 1:67-79 - December 22nd 2017

Zechariah’s Prophecy

Read Luke 1:67-79

1. What provokes Zechariah to prophesy?
2. Why does Zechariah praise the Lord?
3. Why does he say God has done this? According to what?
4. Who is the child he addresses in verse 76?
1. What is he called?
2. What will he do?
3. Why will he do those things?
5. Read Isaiah 9:2, 40:3-5. How does this inform the meaning of Zechariah’s prophecy?

Application:

1. What informs Zechariah’s praise?
2. Zechariah has been longing for a child for years. But his prophecy has less to do with his family and more to do with God’s plan of salvation. Why is that?
3. As we think about God’s faithfulness to keep his promises, how should that apply to our lives?
4. How can we grow in theologically rich thankfulness, like Zechariah? What would that kind of thankfulness look like for us?