Connect How can you demonstrate Jesus’ Kingship more-and-more in your life? 

Warm-Up

1. Do you have a song that gets ‘stuck’ in your head? Do you have any favourite worship songs?
2. When was the last time you had a sense of joy that couldn’t be contained and you had to express it with words, song, dance, jumping, or some other physical expression?

Read Luke 1:39-45

3. What has happened up to this point in Luke? What are the backstories of Mary and Elizabeth?
4. How are the stories of Mary and Elizabeth (and therefore Jesus and John) interwoven? How are they both very surprising stories about expecting mothers?
5. What happens to Elizabeth when she just hears Mary’s greeting? What do you think this means?
6. What do you think Elizabeth means by her loud exclamation? Who does she (in the power of the Holy Spirit) identify Mary’s baby as?
7. Who is blessed and why? In what way are we ‘blessed’ to believe what the Lord has promised?
8. What is the significance of Elizabeth’s recognition of Jesus as Lord? How does this relate to us?

Read Luke 1:46-49

9. In what way is this the first Christmas carol? What is the focus of Mary’s praise?
10. Who does Mary recognise the Lord to be? If God is her Saviour, what does this mean about Mary?
11. How is it possible to have both ‘too low’ and ‘too high’ of a view of Mary?
12. What has the Mighty One done for Mary? What has the Mighty One done for us?
13. How is our confidence for salvation grounded in Jesus and not in ourselves or other things?
14. Is this song meant to be a solo? How has it continued to sing out through the ages?
15. In what way can the declaration and rejoicing of Mary also be the soundtrack of our lives?

Read Luke 1:50-56

16. What are the clues in these verses that God’s Kingdom is one of justice and mercy? Why is this such good news for the world? What aspect of God’s Kingdom (coming in full) do you look forward to the most?
17. What is the means by which God’s Kingdom is birthed and will come to fulfilment?
18. According to the song, who are the recipients of God’s Kingdom? In particular, what do you think it means to fear (or revere) God? How can we express a humble dependence on God?
19. Do you think you have a hunger for God? What do you think could grow that hunger this advent?

Apply How do you think the Good News of Jesus—our Lord and Saviour—more be the song of your heart?

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On Your Front Line this Week

It is not too late to invite someone to CAROLS! Take a flyer and invite someone today.

For Families

• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Listen (sermon): “Jesus the Revolutionary: Mary’s Song” by Tobias Brown:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=239728&show_file=254860 
• Listen (sermon): “Christmas is Threatening” by Mark Meynell:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=51063&show_file=59613 
• Listen (sermon): “The Long Promised Victor” by William Taylor:
  https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/57507/ 
• Listen (sermon): “Mary’s Song” by Tim Keller:
  https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/marys-song/ 
• Listen (song): “Song of Mary (Magnificat)” by Liturgical Folk:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_bdjQRPTbI 
• Watch (devotional): “Mary’s Voice in Advent” by Amy Orr Ewing:
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_gTA_rjswB-rmXRvkiIqo1yV_JpuqJlD 
• Read: “Mary’s Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate” by Amy Orr Ewing:
  https://www.amazon.com.au/Marys-Voice-Advent-Reflections-Contemplate-ebook/dp/B0BV26Y7HP  

Series Resources

• Devotional: “Sing in Exultation!” by Jonathan Landry Cruse. 📚
• Read: “Advent (Fullness of Time Series)” by Tish Harrison Warren. 📚
• Read: “Rejoice: Advent in all the Scriptures” by Chris Wright & John Stott.
• Read: “Advent for Everyone” by Tom Wright. 📚
• Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project. https://bit.ly/3UEL8HB  

📚 Available to borrow in the Church library

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