Passage: Luke 2:41–52
1. Read the Passage Aloud
Take turns reading the passage slowly, letting everyone hear the story of Jesus as a 12-year-old in the temple.
Bible Study Using OIA
Observation — What does the text say?
- What yearly tradition brought Jesus’ family to Jerusalem?
- How long was Jesus separated from His parents before they found Him?
- Where did they eventually find Him, and what was He doing?
- How did the teachers in the temple react to Him?
- What did Jesus say when Mary asked why He stayed behind?
- How does the passage end, and what do we learn about Jesus’ growth?
Interpretation — What does the text mean?
- What does this story reveal about Jesus’ awareness of His identity and mission, even at a young age?
- How does Jesus’ response show the priority of God’s will over even good things like family expectations?
- Why do you think Luke included the detail that Jesus “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man”?
- What does this passage teach us about spiritual maturity and personal growth?
- How does this connect to the message theme of Grown — that growth is intentional and rooted in being with the Father?
Application — How should we respond?
Take a look at this handout “Following Jesus” and let it inform your answers as well.
https://ericbryant.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/the-basics-for-following-jesus-for-pdf.pdf
Personal
- In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to grow in wisdom, character, or spiritual maturity?
- In what ways are you sensing God calling you to get involved in this season?
- Are you intentionally creating space to be “in the Father’s house” (spiritually speaking) through prayer, Scripture, worship, and coming on Sundays?
Relational
- How can your growth in Christ positively influence your relationships with others?
- Are there people in your life you can invite into your own growth journey or help them in theirs?
- How is God guiding you to help you love others, serve others, bring justice to others, bring hope to others, or share your faith with others?
Practical Step
- Choose one specific habit or practice this week to grow in your relationship with God — for example, set a daily time for prayer, memorize a verse, or read a chapter of Scripture each day.
- Join in Pray First and pray daily for teachers and school staff.
If you are a parent, you can give your kids’ teachers a prayer card so they can pick it up and commit as a family to pray for your teachers!
More details here: https://www.gatewaychurch.com/prayfirst
Memory Verse
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52