Wonder - End of Week 2

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
Have you ever done something that you thought was impossible for you to do?  Stand up and give a speech? Kill a spider? Jump out of an airplane?  If so, what did it feel like after you did whatever you had previously thought was impossible?

HEAD

1. Read Luke 1:26-38 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. Why do you think God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary, instead of to Joseph, first?  What might the significance of this choice mean?
3. Why do you think Mary was so confused and disturbed by Gabriel’s greeting?
4. Why do you think the angels have to continually reassure us to “not be afraid” when we encounter them?
5. Verse 33 talks about God’s kingdom expanding throughout all time, it will never end.  How do you think this happens?  What does this look like in our world today?
6. We know that not only does God tell Mary about Elizabeth, but Mary goes running to Elizabeth and spends some time with her.  Why do you think this was so important for the both of them?

HEART

1. If the word, “favored” in verse 28 is more about God pursuing you because of His grace, than it is about something you did to earn it, how does it make you feel to know God pursues you?
2. Mary immediately looks to her own weaknesses, the reasons she can’t possibly do what God has said.  How do you and I do the same things, today?  Give examples of ways we limit God.
3. What makes it so hard for us to believe that God’s word, His promises, will never fail?
4. Mary accepts God’s message even though she doesn’t fully understand all of it’s implications or even how it’s going to occur.  Why is it so hard for us to believe that God wants to use us, and can use us, if we let Him use us?

HANDS
The study this week is really about learning to trust in God and what He is up to, even when you have no idea how He’s going to fulfill His promises, and you don’t believe He can use you to do it.  So this week, each day, take time to pray the simple prayer of asking God to help you trust in Him more.  Memorize Proverbs 3:5-6, making it a part of that prayer time.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT