When Good People Doubt

I. THE COUPLE’S CHARACTER (Luke 1:5-6)

A. Their Heritage (Luke 1:5)

1. Zacharias, of the course of Abia
2. Elisabeth, of the daughters of Aaron

B. Their Holiness (Luke 1:6)

1. Righteous before God
2. Blamelessly walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord

II. THE COUPLE’S CIRCUMSTANCES (Luke 1:7)

A. Their Barrenness

1. They had no child.
2. Elisabeth was barren.

B. Their Age

1. Well stricken
2. In years

III. THE COUPLE’S CONFIRMATION (Luke 1:8-17)

A. The Husband’s Execution (Luke 1:8-10)

1. He executed the priest’s office in the order of his course (Luke 1:8).
2. His lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord (Luke 1:9).
3. The multitude prayed without (Luke 1:10).

B. The Husband’s Encounter (Luke 1:11-17)

1. The angel’s presence (Luke 1:11)
a. At just the right time
b. At just the right place
2. Zacharias’ fear (Luke 1:12)
3. The angel’s proclamation (Luke 1:13-17)
a. Your prayer has been answered (Luke 1:13)
b. Your joy will be full (Luke 1:14)
c. Your child will be greatly used of God (Luke 1:15-17)

IV. THE COUPLE’S CONCERN AND CONFUSION (Luke 1:18-23)

A. The Husband’s Concerns (Luke 1:18)

1. Whereby shall I know this?
2. I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

B. The Angel’s Consequences (Luke 1:19-20)

1. His authority (Luke 1:19)
a. I stand in the presence of God.
b. I am sent to speak unto thee.
2. His rebuke (Luke 1:20)
a. Thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed.
b. Thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

C. The People’s Confusion (Luke 1:21-23)

1. Zacharias tarried long in the temple (Luke 1:21).
2. When he came out, he could not speak (Luke 1:22).
3. When his service was over, he returned home (Luke 1:23).

V. THE COUPLE’S CONCEPTION (Luke 1:24-25)

A. The Wife’s Conception (Luke 1:24)

1. She conceived.
2. She hid herself for five months.

B. The Wife’s Confession (Luke 1:25)

1. The Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me.
2. To take away my reproach among men

VI. THE COUPLE’S CHILD (Luke 1:57-66)

A. The Couple’s Deliverance and Rejoicing (Luke 1:57-58)

1. Elisabeth’s full time came and she brought forth a son (Luke 1:57).
2. Her neighbours and cousins rejoiced with her (Luke 1:58).

B. The Child’s Circumcision (Luke 1:59-66)

1. The incorrect name given (Luke 1:59-63)
2. The loosening of Zacharias’ tongue (Luke 1:64-66)

VII. THE COUPLE’S CREATION (Luke 3:1-20; Luke 7:11-30)

A. His Character (Luke 3:1-16a)

1. His preaching (Luke 3:1-6)
2. His warnings (Luke 3:7-14)
3. His humility (Luke 3:15-16a)

B. His Circumstances (Luke 3:16b-20)

1. His condemnation (Luke 3:16b-18)
2. His enemies (Luke 3:19)
3. His imprisonment (Luke 3:20)

C. His Concern and Confusion (Luke 7:11-23)

1. The report of John’s disciples (Luke 7:11-18)
2. The questions plaguing John’s heart (Luke 7:19-23)

D. The Saviour’s Confession (Luke 7:24-30)

1. The distinctness of John (Luke 7:24-26a)
2. The testimony of John (Luke 7:26b-28)
a. More than a prophet (Luke 7:26b)
b. The prophesied messenger (Luke 7:27)
c. Among those born of women, no greater prophet (Luke 7:28)