Maturing under Parents by the Holy Spirit

Following Jesus: Maturing under Parents by the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:26-38, 2:52  

I. Jesus’ Growth
     1. Wisdom - Mentally maturing and learning to apply God’s word
     2. Stature - Physical maturity
     3. Favor with God - Spiritual maturity and enjoyment of God’s presence
         and ministry
     4. Favor with man - Relational maturity and impact 

1 John 2:6 – “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”  

II. How Jesus Grew
    By His parent’s lives and teaching

Luke 1:26-68
Luke 2:39-40
Matthew 1:19 – “So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man…”
Luke 4:16 

     1. Parents with a God centered and Gospel declaring marriage

Luke 2:21-24
Ephesians 5:31-32 - “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”

     2. Parents who live in God’s grace and truth

Matthew 1:19 - “And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.”

Matthew 1:24-25 - “And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

Luke 6:40

     3. Parents who exercise authority and discipline in love and consistency

Luke 2:51-52
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

     4. Parents who equip children to be God glorifying, grace saturated, truth
         loving, risk taking, Spirit dependent, Gospel centered individuals

Luke 7:31-35, 11:27-28
John 2:4-5 – “And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’”

Faith Sheet

Transformation verse       Ephesians 5:18 - “…be filled with the Spirit.”

Main Themes      
~ The Lord Jesus, the God-man, chose to grow under the teaching and lives of His parents as well as other adults for the first part of His earthly life. (Luke 2:41-52)

~ The Lord Jesus, although perfectly God and perfectly sinless, learned (experienced) submission and obedience the way we must. (Luke 2:52, Hebrews 5:8-9, Phil 2:5-11)

~ The Lord Jesus while on earth, even though He was fully God and sinless, was fully dependent upon the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and the Father’s care. (Colossians 2:9-10, Acts 10:38, John 8:28, 14:10.)

#1- Reviewing this Past Sunday      
Following Jesus: Maturing by the Power of the Holy Spirit  
Luke 1:26-55 and 2:41-52

1. Read Luke 1:26-55 and 2:41-52. Discuss Sunday’s message with
    someone.
2. What characterized Mary to make her a good discipler of Jesus from the
    texts you read from Luke?
3. What characterized Joseph to make him a good discipler of Jesus from
    the texts you read from Luke? (See also Matthew 1:19)
4. What do you most appreciate about God from this study? What is one
    application God wants you to put to practice? Pray as God leads.

 # 2- Preparing for Next Sunday    
Following Jesus: Maturing by Dependence in the Holy Spirit
John 7:37-39

1. Read John 7:37-39. Who is Jesus talking to in this passage? What is His
    invitation?
2. Where did you look to fulfill the thirsts and longings in your life? Discuss
    with someone how Jesus has filled the longings of your heart.
3. Read the following verses about Jesus life in the Spirit. In what ways do
    we live a similar life of dependence on the Spirit? (Luke 1:26-35, Luke
    2:40, Luke 3:22, Luke 4:1, Luke 4:16-19, Luke 10:21)
4. Pray that we will grow in knowing Him, treasuring Him, and making Him
    known through our daily dependence on the Holy Spirit.