Continuing Luke's first chapter

Last week we looked into vv. 1-38 of Luke's first chapter. This week, we tackle the rest of the chapter, although with the Magnificat and the Benedictus in this part of Ch. 1, one culd easily spend a lifetime thinking about that short set of verses!

We will continue to employ study questions from the Hahn/Mitch study guide, and here are a few more study questions concerning this part of Ch. 1:

1. Mary visits her coursin, Elizabeth, and Elizabeth blesses Mary. What inspired Elizabeth to bless Mary this way?
2. Can God actually stop evil? How would Mary answer that question? What about an apostle like Peter or Paul?
3. How does Mary’s response to Gabriel's announcement differ from the actions of Eve?
4. How does pre-birth John the Baptist react to the real presence of his Lord?
5. How impossible did God’s promise seem -- His promise of mercy to Abraham -- and how long did it look ahead for its fulfillment?
6. Is it okay to worship Mary?
7. What aspect of God’s promise to Abraham has the properties of the truth?
8. How has God hallowed His own name in this chapter of Luke’s gospel?

We begin Luke's Gospel this Thursday.

This week we begin the study of Luke's Gospel, including the study guide written by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. Here are some questions we can use concerning this first chapter; questions from the Hahn/Mitch study guide are in italics:

1. What is the Old Testament significance of Gabriel's prophecy that John the Baptist would "drink no wine nor strong drink"? Who are some other figures who had the same commitment as John?
2. Is it fitting that Christ should have been born of an espoused virgin?
3. What considerations help us understand the meaning of the title "full of grace" that Gabriel gives to Mary?
4. Should the accomplishment of Christ's conception should be attributed to the Holy Ghost or to God the Father?
5. Was Christ sanctified in the first instant of His conception?
6. Was it necessary to announce to the Blessed Virgin that which was to be done in her?
7. Why is the angel’s use of the term "overshadow" significant? What Old Testament passage uses the term? In that passage, what was overshadowed?
8. How does Luke... portray Mary as the Ark of the Covenant?
9. Was the Blessed Virgin was sanctified before her birth from the womb?
10. Did Christ acquire His judiciary power, the power to judge, by His merits or was it due to Him, prior to any acts of merit?

Be ready for more questions on Thursday morning, as we gaze into this opening passage of Luke's gospel, seeking the Lord Jesus.

The seven great psalms

We have finished a study of these seven of the greatest psalms:

54. Psalm 54, O God, by your name save me.
19. Psalm 19, The heavens declare the glory of God.
128. Psalm 128, Blessed are all who fear the LORD.
90. Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses the man of God.
33. Psalm 33, Rejoice, you righteous, in the LORD.
126. Psalm 126, When the Lord brought Zion's captives home, at first it seemed like a dream.
18. Psalm 18, He said: I love you, LORD, my strength.

Praise, humility, obedience and delight in God's word, all in these psalms of power. As the psalmist sings, "What marvels indeed He has done for us, and how overjoyed we were!"