Responding to the Gospel

Study Guide

The following may help you reflect further on the message
(the points could also be used as a discussion guide at fellowship groups)

  1. Finish the sentence: “I am preparing for Christmas by…”
  2. Read Luke 1:1-4 and then talk about how excited you are about our preparation for Christmas in Luke’s Gospel. How important could this be for us as a church?
  3. How important is it for Luke to set his gospel in real time and space (Luke 1:5-8). How significant is this when talking about the gospel?
  4. In the routine of our times of worship, how important is it for God to show up? See Luke 1:10-13
  5. If Old Testament prophecy (Malachi 3:1 and 4:5) prepares for the com­ing of the Messiah through the spirit and power of Elijah, how should we prepare for the coming of Christ?
  6. How significant is Zechariah’s silence for us today? See Acts 4:18-20.
  7. In the light of Matthew 18:20, discuss the following: When it is time for church, we could prepare for another routine occasion to see our friends, sing songs, and hear another message. On the other hand, we could come expecting God to be here, to speak, and to move us on. How can we change our approach to church? How can others help us in this process?
  8. How can we be more relevant and effective in our witness for Christ at this time of the year?
  9. As a further study, you may want to note that the angel Gabriel who meets Zechariah in Luke 1 appears in the Book of Daniel. You may then want to look at the following: Daniel 9:20–24 with Luke 1:10-13; Daniel 8:17 and 10:7 with Luke 1:12. Note too the vision in Daniel 9–10 and compare with Luke 1:22. See also Daniel 10:15 and Luke 1:20.