The Christmas QuestSample

Day 2 – Session 0
Luke 1:5-25

In tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, the campaign doesn’t start with a boss fight or legendary loot drop. It begins with Session Zero. No dice are rolled, no crits are scored. But it’s here that the characters are forged, their backstories come alive, and the Dungeon Master starts weaving threads for the adventure ahead. On the surface, it looks quiet. But veterans know: Session Zero is where the epic truly begins.

That’s exactly what’s happening in Luke 1. Before angels appear in the night sky or shepherds are swept into the action, God begins with Zechariah and Elizabeth. “Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes… They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old” (Luke 1:6–7, NLT). To most, their story looked like it had reached the end of the road. But God was writing the prologue that would set the entire story of Christmas in motion.

When the angel Gabriel appeared, he 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” (Luke 1:13, NLT). John’s role wasn’t to be the hero of the story, but the one who prepared the way. His life would point others toward Jesus, the Savior who was about to step onto the scene.

Elizabeth’s words after conceiving capture the heart of this passage: “How kind the Lord is! … He has taken away my disgrace” (Luke 1:25, NLT). After years of silence, God had not abandoned them. He was preparing them for a role they could never have imagined.

The encouragement is simple but powerful: your life has Session Zero moments too. The waiting, the silence, the seasons that feel uneventful or overlooked, those aren’t wasted. They are God’s preparation, the groundwork He is laying for what comes next.

So think back: what quiet setups has God already used in your story, times that looked ordinary but turned out to be important? When silence lingers, are you more like Zechariah, doubting, or Elizabeth, rejoicing? And how might this Christmas be a kind of Session Zero for you, a time to reset, prepare, and strengthen your character for the chapter God is writing next?

Family Devo - It’s a Boy!

Have you ever experienced a time where you prayed for something special, and it felt like the answer was taking forever or maybe it felt like God was telling you, “No.”

That’s how Zechariah and Elizabeth probably felt. They were a husband and wife who loved God and had such strong faith in God’s plan. But, they had no children and were old. At this point, they had likely accepted that it wasn’t in God’s plan for them to have children and they moved forward in life.

One day, while Zechariah was working in the temple, something incredible happened! An angel appeared and told Zechariah that he and his wife would have a baby boy and that his name would be John. And this baby would help prepare the way for Jesus and His message!

And guess what?! God’s promise came true! Elizabeth became pregnant and John really did pave the way for Jesus and the mission of God!

Family Question 💬
What are some ways you have seen God fulfill promises in your life?

Apply it 🎯
Sometimes God asks us to wait, but He always keeps His promises. This week, every time you feel impatient waiting for something, talk to God!

“Dear God, give me patience and understanding while waiting for your answers to my prayers. Amen”