Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Week 7: Chapter 6 — Mary: Blessed Among Women
Read Chapter 6 of Twelve Extraordinary Women. Primary passages: Luke 1:26–56; Luke 2:1–52; John 2:1–5; John 19:25–27.
Want the full guide for Twelve Extraordinary Women?
Free Week 1 sample in 5 min · $24.99 for all 14 weeks · 7-day refund
Mary is perhaps the most discussed woman in Christian history and also, MacArthur argues, one of the most misunderstood — so this chapter aims to meet the real Mary, the one the Bible actually presents.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.MacArthur is careful to distinguish the biblical Mary from later theological accretions about her. What is his core concern about how Mary has been treated in certain traditions, and what does he want to restore about her true biblical portrait?
2.The angel calls Mary "highly favored" (Luke 1:28), not "full of grace" in the sense of one who dispenses grace to others. MacArthur argues that Mary was the recipient of grace, not its source. How does that distinction matter for how we relate to Mary and to God?
3.Mary's response to Gabriel — "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38) — is one of the great acts of faith in Scripture. MacArthur emphasizes what this consent cost her: social shame, Joseph's potential rejection, the mystery of what she could not yet understand. What does her response model for us about trusting God when the cost is unclear?
a.What did Mary's "yes" require her to surrender?
b.Is there an area of your life where God is asking for a similar surrender, and what makes it hard to say yes?
You're on Week 7 of 14
Don't lose momentum — get the rest of Twelve Extraordinary Women
All 112 questions across 14 weeks, with closing prayers and a downloadable PDF for your group.
One-time purchase · 7-day refund · Covers your whole group