Luke 1:1–25
1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 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. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” 18 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.” 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
1. God remembers the faithful vs 13-14
13 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. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
2. God’s promises are sure vs 17
17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
3. God works with our doubts vs 18-20
18 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.” 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
People in the Bible Who Doubted (and What Happened)
1. Adam & Eve — Doubt about God’s goodness
Passage: Genesis 3
They doubted God’s command and believed the serpent.
Lesson: Doubt often begins when we question God’s goodness and motives.
2. Abraham — Doubt about God’s timing
Passage: Genesis 17:17–18; Genesis 16
He Laughed at God promising a child; tried to fulfill the promise through Hagar.
Lesson: Even “the father of faith” struggled, yet God remained faithful.
3. Sarah — Doubt from disbelief
Passage: Genesis 18:12–15
She Laughed at God’s promise because of age.
Lesson: God can do the impossible even when we think it’s too late.
4. Moses — Doubt about his calling
Passage: Exodus 3–4
He said, “Who am I?” “What if they don’t believe me?” “I can’t speak well.”
Lesson: God equips those He calls.
5. Israel at the Red Sea — Doubt under pressure
Passage: Exodus 14:10–12
They Thought they were going to die, forgot God’s miracles.
Lesson: Circumstances can make us forget what God has already done.
6. Israel in the Wilderness — Doubt from complaining
Passages: Exodus 16–17, Numbers 13–14
They Questioned God’s provision, protection, and promises.
Lesson: Doubt slowly turns into rebellion if not corrected.
7. Gideon — Doubt needing repeated signs
Passage: Judges 6
He Asked for the fleece—twice.
Lesson: God is patient with honest doubters.
8. Elijah — Doubt from discouragement
Passage: 1 Kings 19
After victory at Carmel, he ran in fear and wanted to die.
Lesson: Even strong believers can doubt when exhausted or depressed.
9. Thomas — Doubt from disappointment
Passage: John 20:24–29
He Refused to believe unless he saw Jesus’ wounds.
Lesson: Jesus meets doubters where they are and invites them to believe.
10. Peter — Doubt when distracted
Passage: Matthew 14:28–31
When he Walked on water until he looked at the storm.
Lesson: Doubt grows when we stop looking at Jesus.
11. The Disciples — Doubt during the resurrection
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. 11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 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. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” 18 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.” 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.
23 When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”
1. God remembers the faithful vs 13-14
13 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. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,
2. God’s promises are sure vs 17
17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
3. God works with our doubts vs 18-20
18 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.” 19 Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”
People in the Bible Who Doubted (and What Happened)
1. Adam & Eve — Doubt about God’s goodness
Passage: Genesis 3
They doubted God’s command and believed the serpent.
Lesson: Doubt often begins when we question God’s goodness and motives.
2. Abraham — Doubt about God’s timing
Passage: Genesis 17:17–18; Genesis 16
He Laughed at God promising a child; tried to fulfill the promise through Hagar.
Lesson: Even “the father of faith” struggled, yet God remained faithful.
3. Sarah — Doubt from disbelief
Passage: Genesis 18:12–15
She Laughed at God’s promise because of age.
Lesson: God can do the impossible even when we think it’s too late.
4. Moses — Doubt about his calling
Passage: Exodus 3–4
He said, “Who am I?” “What if they don’t believe me?” “I can’t speak well.”
Lesson: God equips those He calls.
5. Israel at the Red Sea — Doubt under pressure
Passage: Exodus 14:10–12
They Thought they were going to die, forgot God’s miracles.
Lesson: Circumstances can make us forget what God has already done.
6. Israel in the Wilderness — Doubt from complaining
Passages: Exodus 16–17, Numbers 13–14
They Questioned God’s provision, protection, and promises.
Lesson: Doubt slowly turns into rebellion if not corrected.
7. Gideon — Doubt needing repeated signs
Passage: Judges 6
He Asked for the fleece—twice.
Lesson: God is patient with honest doubters.
8. Elijah — Doubt from discouragement
Passage: 1 Kings 19
After victory at Carmel, he ran in fear and wanted to die.
Lesson: Even strong believers can doubt when exhausted or depressed.
9. Thomas — Doubt from disappointment
Passage: John 20:24–29
He Refused to believe unless he saw Jesus’ wounds.
Lesson: Jesus meets doubters where they are and invites them to believe.
10. Peter — Doubt when distracted
Passage: Matthew 14:28–31
When he Walked on water until he looked at the storm.
Lesson: Doubt grows when we stop looking at Jesus.
11. The Disciples — Doubt during the resurrection