Zechariah's Silence | Surprise | Cormac Parker Jr.

Have you ever found yourself waiting in silence, wondering if God sees, hears, or even remembers you? No matter who you are, waiting on God is a struggle we all share. In Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story, we are reminded that while waiting, God is busy working, redeeming, and preparing for His glory and for our good. (Luke 1) You can trust that God is working, even when His plans feel hidden. His promises remain true, no matter how long you’ve been waiting. He is always with you, even in the silence. What if the silence is where God is doing His greatest work in you?

KEY VERSES

Luke 1:65-68 NLT

“Awe fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills.Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, “What will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was surely upon him in a special way.Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.”

Luke 1:13-14 NLT

“But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth”

Luke 1:18 NLT

“Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.””

HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING

One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.

Recap

+ Reconnect

To begin the study, each person answers these questions:

• What are you thankful for?
• What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
• What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
  

+ Recap

• Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
• Did you live out your response from last week?
• Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
  

Discovering What God Is Saying

+ Read and Retell the Bible Story

• One person reads the story out loud to the group.
• Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
  
  

+ Read and Look

• Read the passage again (different version if possible)
• What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
  
  

+ Read and Look Again

• Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
• What does this passage say about people in general?
  
  

Doing What God Is Saying

+ Consider

• What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
• How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
• Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
  
  

Sharing what God is saying

+ Praying Together

• Take prayer requests
• Pray together
  
  

+ Share

• Who in your life needs to hear this story?
• Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
  
  

Become a Partner

Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.