Christmas – Pt 4
Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
WHO IS JESUS AND HOW DOES HIS ARRIVAL CHANGE EVERYTHING?
1. He is very great.
2. He is called Son of the Most High.
3. He is given the throne of David.
4. His kingdom will never end.
HOW TO AFFIRM ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS:
– Yield
– Trust
– Praise
Luke 1:46-55 (NLT)
46 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. 55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: The birth of Jesus revealed God’s love in the arrival of a King and His Kingdom.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Luke 1:35-38. Seemingly impossible words were spoken by Gabriel to Mary, announcing the coming of King Jesus, who would enter the world through her very womb. What kind of heart preparation do you believe took place within Mary that enabled her to respond, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true”?
▶ God gave the assignment of King Jesus to be born to a teenager. Is there a young person that you could walk alongside and help them prepare to say yes to God’s calling, as Mary did? What is your next step in supporting them?
▶ Christmas can be commercialized and erode the true greatness of what Christmas is about. What are some ways you have kept Jesus at the center of Christmas?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
Read Luke 1:46-47. Is there a promise you have from God you are still waiting on (salvation of a loved one, etc.)? How can you yield, trust, and praise God in the waiting? Which of these three is most difficult for you to do, and why?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Take time as a group to pray for each person’s most difficult act of faith while waiting for the promise God has given them (yielding, trusting, or praising God).