God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. Luke 1:52

• We can all think of powerful people who have abused others and abused the confidence others placed in them on their way to the top. We can also think of powerful people who have shown the hearts of servants, using each level of power to serve others as Christ showed us to do. We can also think of lowly people who are conniving, greedy, destructive and manipulative. How do our memories of these people shape our understanding of this verse? What do you think God wants you to learn when you read this verse?
• Have you ever had a position of power? Supervisor? Manager? Director? Team lead? Parent? Teacher? Think of the responsibilities and opportunities that power brings. How do these memories shape your understanding of this verse?
• Recently, the money, enthusiasm, energy and productivity of our whole nation was consumed for nearly two years by a presidential election. Who were the powerful people enthroned during that process? What did they do to oppress the lowly in the name of campaigning, for all candidates from president to local Boards of Education? How does this line of thinking shape your understanding of this verse?
• Have you ever known anyone who was afraid of his own shadow? Did you use your personal power to lift him up and help him learn his own power or did you stand back and watch him quake? How does that memory shape your understanding of this verse?