I know most of you are probably glad we are about to enter a new year. I hope that you all have a wonderful beginning of the new year. I will see you next week with all new Explore the Bible study helps. 

Thanks for your response to the helps over this past year. I pray that they will continue to be something that will enable you to grow personally and lead your group as you study God's Word together.

Happy New Year!

John McClendon

Birth Announcements

Think of all the unique birth announcements you have heard, read, or observed over the years. Here is a sampling of a couple I, of course, read on the internet!

“Little Dillinger Bowie is finally here! I’d post a picture, but he is purple-yellow, his head is smooshed into a cone, and he has something called “baby acne,” so it looks like the Gerber baby went on a bender, and then wandered through a pork-processing plant. Maybe tomorrow?” 

“Julian Marcus has arrived—a week early! Due to time restraints related to my criminally short, unpaid maternity leave, this birth announcement will double as my out-of-office email.”

While these are humorous, the birth announcement of Jesus, the King of kings, was much different from what anyone might imagine. The announcement of His birth included a blending of the ordinary with the heralding reserved for royalty. 

As you walk through a study of Luke 2:4-19 and examine the circumstances and people involved in the brith announcement of Christ, you will discover two things that can help you understand more fully the way God is working in this world.

1. First, you will come to understand from Luke 2:4-7 that God orchestrated world events placing Mary and Joseph at the perfect place and at the perfect time for Jesus' birth! Equally, God continually works to bring His plans to fruition and to involve you in those plans. Proverbs 21:30 tells us that there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord (NIV). Psalm 33:10-11 reminds us that the Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation (CSB). You may wonder if the circumstances you are currently facing, or the current conditions of the world somehow thwart the plans of God or His plan to involve you, but this is simply not true.
2. In Luke 2:8-19 we see that anyone can hear, and any believer can share this Good News. God’s plans, including those involving us, are not limited by personal issues, world events, or circumstances. The shepherds had no spiritual pride; they were lowly, every-day, run-of-the-mill, dirty, stinky shepherds, watching their flocks by night.  When they compared their every-day lives to the experience  of being in the presence of God, it did terrify them as it should have. Immediately, the angel encouraged them by saying, “Don’t be afraid.”  God brushed aside the shepherds’ fears and reassured them that the news would bring great joy – not only to them but to many others!

Something to Consider Today:

Consider what these shepherds left behind to seek Jesus: 

We can discover through Luke 1:26-38 that God has a place for everyone in His redemptive plan; He uses ordinary people in that plan. As you study these passages consider these thoughts:

• God's plan for ordinary people is intentional - Luke 1:26-29
• God will provide guidance to help us understand the extraordinary plans - Luke 1:30-33
• God will offer reassurance to help us understand His extraordinary plans - Luke 1:34-37
• An "ordinary person" will respond with humble obedience to God's extraordinary plans - Luke 1:38

Over the coming weeks the study will focus on the Gospel of Luke.  Luke begins by describing two unique births—the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus. We are first introduced to an elderly Jewish couple, the priest, Zechariah, and his wife, Elizabeth, and the announcement regarding the birth of their son, John.

Both are described as righteous individuals who lived “without blame” in the Lord (Luke 1:6) yet “had no children” (Luke 1:7). Zechariah was a descendant of Moses’ brother, Aaron and, because of this, was one of many who shared the priestly duties in the temple. The passage of study for this session begins with Zechariah faithfully fulfilling his priestly duties by entering the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense (Luke 1:9). As Zechariah was performing this duty, an angel appeared on the right side of the altar. This is when God changed Zechariah’s plans!

Luke 1:13-25 describes how Zechariah's plans were changed because of one special encounter with a messenger from God. The plans announced to Zechariah caused him to doubt that God could do what was promised, resulting in God teaching Zechariah an important lesson regarding trusting God. The outcome for Zechariah was an amazing birth, an incredible affirmation that God was at work, and a demonstration of transformed faith!

God reminds us in Proverbs 16:9 that A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. Zechariah and Elizabeth had a plan—a routine—in which they had become comfortable. It even included prayer, but then God spoke and their plans changed drastically. While Zechariah struggled with doubt, the lesson God taught him transformed his doubt into faith and trust! He adjusted his plans to God’s plan.

What about you? Are you listening and watching for God? Are you willing to allow God to interrupt your plans and work in ways that don’t match your expectations and fulfill your desires, or in ways that don’t even make sense? Are you willing to trust Him when He speaks? If so, then you are right where God wants you and He will guide you and give you strength and wisdom, no matter what the future holds.

When God does reveal His plans to you, I pray you will heed the advice given to Zechariah at the beginning of his encounter in Luke 1:13 - “do not be afraid . . . your prayer has been heard.”