The following questions are based on unit one from the Interpretation Bible Studies book, Luke by Thomas W. Walker. Please feel free to comment below, add new questions for us to consider, or ask questions of your own. I look forward to our discussion here and when we meet!
Unit One
The author tells us, “Mary responds in faith by hearing and obeying the word of God.” (p.8)
How do we hear and obey God’s voice in our lives today?
At the bottom of p. 8, the author describes how Luke showed Jesus’ “acceptance by ‘outsiders’ such as sinners, tax collectors, and women, while he is rejected by the ‘insiders’ like Pharisees, priests, and scribes.”
Have you ever felt this way? How does it change/affect your faith walk?
Mary and Elizabeth spend time together and Mary’s faith is strengthened through her relationship with Elizabeth. (p.9)
Have you experienced a strengthening of your faith through a relationship with someone of the same gender? How was it different from your other relationships?
“Throughout the Old Testament, key players in the story break forth into song when confronted with the powerful, redemptive activity of God in the face of overwhelming odds.” (p.11-12)
How do you respond when you find God’s grace in the midst of trouble? What lesson can we take from Mary (and others) based on this passage?
The author takes some time on p.13 focusing on the second stanza of Mary’s song, noting how it “centers on God’s merciful power and how that power intertwines with human history.”
Many people in today’s world question where God is in the midst of hunger, war, poverty and the seeming demoralization of society. Our study of the Bible proves to us God’s presence across generations. Where do you see God’s hand at work today? How can we share these positive messages with the world?
