December 8 | Discovery Questions

December 8: Discovery Questions (based on Luke 2:41-50; 8:22-25)  

1. Identify something that has “amazed” you or made you “marvel.” Describe the feeling of being amazed at something or marveling at something. What do these words mean? 

Ask two people to read aloud Luke 2:41-50; 8:22-25, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage. 

2. Luke tells us that Jesus’ parents “went a day’s journey” before they began to search for him (2:44). 

• If they were comfortable with Jesus being “in the group” for the first day of their journey from Jerusalem, why do you think they started searching for him after the first day’s journey? 

• What do you think Joseph and Mary felt like after discovering that their 12-year-old son was not with them? 

3. Jesus was away from his parents for at least three days when he was found in the temple “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (2:46). 

• How do you think Jesus survived on his own for at least three days? 

• Why do you think “all who heard” Jesus “were amazed at his understanding and his answers”? 

4. When Jesus explained his absence from the family (2:49), Luke notes that his parents “did not understand” what he said to them (2:50). 

• What do you think his parents thought Jesus was saying and how do you suppose they responded to his statement? 

• Why do you think Luke included verse 52 at the close of this narrative? What does this suggest to us as believers today? 

5. Twice in this text (Luke 2:48, 51), Luke makes a reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus. What do these two brief references tell us about Mary? 

• Do these passages provide us with insights into Luke’s research as he wrote his gospel many years later? 

6. As the storm raged and the disciples were in danger, they awakened Jesus, who rebuked the storm (Luke 8:23-24). 

• What did Jesus mean when he asked the disciples “Where is your faith?” (8:25) after rebuking the storm? 

• Why do you suppose the disciples were “afraid” and “marveled” after Jesus calmed the sea? 

7. As both a child and an adult, Jesus both “amazed” and “marveled” those who met him. What does this tell us and what does it mean to our faith today? 

• What “amazes” you about Jesus or makes you “marvel” at him? 

• Has it become too easy to look at Jesus with little or no amazement or marvel? Explain. 

8. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .” 

For Next Week: Read and reflect on Luke 3:21-22; 9:18-21; 22:63-71. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts and the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.   

This lesson segment concludes our study through the entire Bible. In January we will begin formatting the past six years of The Lookout lesson material (topically and as individual books of the Bible) in an updated lesson series, “1717 Studies: Your Word Is Truth.” The first in the new series, a study of Galatians, is available now for you to download and use at no cost. We hope you’ll join us in our effort to make the Word of God accessible, understandable, and appliable to groups and individuals.