“A Costly Interruption”

December 18, 2022

Luke 1:26-38

Study Questions

1. Read Luke 1:26-38. What are some characteristics of Mary that stand out to you, and why?

2. What progression do you see in Mary’s responses (See verses 29, 34, 38)? How does Gabriel answer her question about how this could happen (See verses 35-37)? Have you ever experienced going from confusion to questioning to faith? What was the situation?

3. Verse 29 indicates that Mary was ‘perplexed’ (NIV – ‘greatly troubled’). Do you see this as a strength or a weakness? Explain.

4. What were some ‘costs’ Mary was willing to go through in order to trust in God’s plan for her life? What has following Jesus cost you?

5. What is the significance of the virgin birth? Why was it necessary? (See Hebrews 2:14-17.) How is salvation obtained? (See Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:21.) How do you reconcile that salvation is a gift of grace, and yet there still will be a cost in following Christ?

6. In verse 28, Gabriel calls Mary ‘favored one’. Does God show favoritism? (See Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34-35. Additional passages: John 15:9; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 3:1; Psalm 31:7; John 15:13.) Is there a difference between ‘favored one’ and ‘favorite one’? Why/why not?

7. Even Mary stated she wasn’t sinless by admitting her need of a Savior (Luke 1:46). How was she blessed and how are we blessed like her? (See Ephesians 1:3.)

8. Mary responded to God’s divine interruption in her life by affirming she was a ‘bondservant’ of the Lord. Give examples of how you see this lived out throughout her lifetime on earth in the Gospels? What cost is there in following Christ in your life today? How has this study better prepared you to follow Jesus no matter what the cost?