THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST FORETOLD

Luke 1:5-25

Key Verse 1:13

* THE FAITH OF ZECHARIAH AND ELIZABETH (5-7)

1. What do you know about Herod and his times? (Mt.2:16)

2. Who were Zechariah and Elizabeth? What was the problem in their family? How do you think this problem affected them? (25) In what respects might they be called upright in the sight of God? (See Ps. l)

* ZACHARIAH'S LIFE OF PRAYER (8-13)

3. What special opportunity came to Zechariah? What did it mean to burn incense at the altar while the people prayed outside? What should be his prayer topic at a time like this?

4. As he stood at the altar to offer prayer and burn incense, What happened? What was his reaction? Why?

5. What had evidently been his personal, secret lifelong prayer topic? What can we learn from Zechariah about persistent .prayer? About the importance of holding on to one prayer topic?

6. What can we learn here about the kind of people God calls and uses?

7. What was the angel's good news? Why do you think the angel even told him the name of his son?

* GREAT BEFORE THE LORD

8. Why was John great? What would be special about his way of life? What would be his mission? How would he carry it out? How would he be like Elijah? What does this tell us about the people of John's times?

* GOD TRAINS ZECHARIAH (18-25)

9. How did Zechariah respond to the angel's message concerning his son? What does this show about his sense of history? Why did he find it so hard to believe the angel's message of good news?

10. How did the angel rebuke him? What special training did he receive? What was the point of the training? What do you learn here about God who training his servants?