The Family of Jesus Bible Study - Leader Kit contains everything you need to explore the lives of Joseph, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, James, and Mary. Through Scripture and storytelling, Karen Kingsbury uniquely brings Jesus' family alive. Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to grow up in Jesus' home? In His community? What were His siblings and family members like? What traditions did the family observe? Everyone has a story including the family of Jesus.

Families are important. There are parents, siblings, and extended family members who influence us, support us, and help us in good and bad times. For many, family is the setting where we first learn about God. Our families influence us in positive and negative ways, and the family of Jesus was no different. If Jesus was not influenced by them, they were definitely impacted by Him. The family of Jesus played an important role in God's story. Each person had his or her own story, but that story ultimately pointed others to Jesus.

This Bible study takes a look at the lives of Joseph, the protective step-father; Zechariah, the knowing uncle; John the Baptist, the chosen cousin; Elizabeth, the faithful aunt; James, the doubting brother; and Mary, the loving mother. Through Scripture and storytelling this study digs deeper into the lives, the customs, the emotions, and the challenges of being a part of the family of Jesus during His crucial time on earth as God's Son. Each person has a strength and a struggle, all of which is culturally relevant to our lives today.

Author: Karen Kingsbury explores the life of Jesus through examining the stories of those closest to Him. Through a combination of storytelling and the study of Scripture, this incredible truth comes to life in a way participants may not have experienced before. Fall in love with Scripture like never before, and see yourself in the lives of those who lived in flesh with our King.

Outline:

• Session 1: Joseph - The Protective Step-Father
• Session 2: Zechariah - The Knowing Uncle
• Session 3: John the Baptist - The Chosen Cousin
• Session 4: Elizabeth - The Faithful Aunt
• Session 5: James - The Doubting Brother
• Session 6: Mary - The Loving Mother

Kit Includes:

• 1 small group Member Book with 6 weeks of homework and leader helps
• 2 DVDs including teaching sessions, message to leaders, promotional clip
• 1 copy of the hardcover book The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury

Features:

• Interactive teaching video approximately 25-30 minutes each week
• Biblically rooted and gospel-centered study on the family of Jesus
• Leader material (guides to questions and discussion with small group)
• Personal study segments in Member Book to complete between group sessions set up in daily format but can be used at the leisure of the learner
• 6 group sessions, 6 weeks of personal study material
• Each week focuses on another character in the family of Jesus (Joseph, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, James, Mary)
• Includes excerpts from Karen Kingsbury's book The Family of Jesus using storytelling to relate the Scripture and characters

Benefits:

• Leaders can be assured of a trusted teacher in every group
• Opportunity for multiple leaders or facilitators
• Designed to build community within the context of a small group
• Great opportunity for outreach to those who are not as familiar with the family of Jesus or Bible study
• Great opportunity to bring to life characters within the family of Jesus for students who have heard about these characters for years and the text has grown stale to them
• Opportunity for women to dig deeper into Scripture with a group as they learn together
• Includes excerpts from Karen Kingsbury's book The Family of Jesus u