“Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

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Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen

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⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

We can all lose sight of Christ, but He is always found where He has always been, in His Father’s presence, doing His Father’s will.

I. Losing Sight of Jesus (vv 41-45)
II. Found in the Father’s House (vv 46-50)
III. Following Jesus Home (vv 51-52)

Introduction to the Text
1. Have you ever had a moment when you suddenly realized you’d forgotten something important? What happened, and how did you feel?
2. When in life have you felt that God seemed distant, even though you were trying to follow Him?

Into the Text
3. Why do you think Luke includes this story as the only account from Jesus’ boyhood? What does it show us about Him?
4. What does this passage teach us about Mary and Joseph’s faith and their humanity?
5. In verse 46, it says they found Jesus “sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions.” What does this reveal about His relationship to the Word of God?
6. Jesus tells His parents, “Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” What does the word “must” (Greek dei) tell us about His purpose and priorities?
7. How do you see both Jesus’ divinity and humanity at work in this story?

Applying the Text:
8. In what ways might believers today lose sight of Jesus while still being busy with good things?
9. How can moments of spiritual distance become an invitation rather than a moment of despair?
10. What practices or habits help you stay aware of Christ’s presence in daily life?

Close in prayer.