An Angel Visits

Memory Verse: Psalm 66:19-20 “But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!”

Surprises Who would like to tell us about the biggest surprise that you have ever had?

How did you feel when someone gave you a pleasant surprise?

In our lesson we learned that Gabriel appeared to Zacharius while he was performing his duties in the Temple. (Luke 1:15-25, 57-80) How would you feel if an angel appeared to you? How would you know if it was truly an angel from God? (1Jn 4:1) How do you think Zacharias felt when an angel appeared to him?

Why do you think Zacharias didn’t believe the angel?

Have you ever prayed for something, yet never really expected it to happen?

What was significant about the birth of John? Do you think Zacharias thought that he would have anything to do with prophecy being fulfilled? (Mark 1:2-3) (Isaiah 40:3)

After the angel appeared to Zacharias, he couldn’t speak for more than 9 months? Why? What lessons can we learn from Zacharias not being able to speak for more than 9 months?

How long do you think it might have taken for Zacharias and Elizabeth to get an answer to their prayer to have a child? Remember how old they were. What would that tell you about God’s timetable for answering our prayers?

Have you heard the story about people praying for rain during a drought, but they never carried an umbrella with them? What are some things that you may have prayed for, but showed no outward signs of faith?

James 5:15-18 “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

What does God require of you before your prayers will be answered? Faith – confession of faults – fervent prayer – righteousness – earnestness

Who would like to share an incident when you had an answer to prayer? If you will set aside a time each day to kneel and pray, what difference can it make in your life? What difference can it make in the lives of your friends and loved ones?

What effect will prayer have on your relationship with God?

What is prayer to you? How does God want us to pray? (Matthew 6:6-13)

How important is prayer to you?

How important was prayer to Jesus? (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Mark 9:29, Luke 6:12, Luke 22:41-44)

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