God is at Work

Luke 1:57–66

Sermon Notes

  1. God has removed our Shame (vv.57–58)
  2. God has changed our Faith (vv.59–64)
  3. God draws a response from Us (vv.65–66)

Questions for Reflection

  1. What are some traditions you have that make this time of year feel like “Christmas?”
  2. How does the “messaging” of Christmas (from commercials, signs, radio) distract us from the center of the reason for celebrating this holiday?
  3. What are some things you are commonly asking God for in prayer? Are you looking more often for comfort and therapy from God or healing of our core problem of sin?
  4. Why do we become complacent or afraid of sharing this good news that Jesus came to earth to save us from our sin?
  5. What are some challenges you have faced in your evangelism?

Nothing Will Be Impossible with God

Luke 1:26-45

Sermon Notes

  1. Favor to the Undeserving, vv. 26–33
  2. Faith in the Impossible, vv. 34–38
  3. Fulfillment of the Incredible, vv. 39–45

Reflection questions

  1. Why was Jesus born into such humble circumstances? How do you see the humiliation of Jesus even before He is born in this story? What response should we have to Jesus’s voluntary humbling of Himself? See 2 Cor. 8:9; Philippians 2:5–8.
  2. Does the Bible hold up Mary as an object of worship? Does the Bible hold up Mary’s faith as something you should imitate? Can you think of other examples of a faith in God that is ready to obey and accept the circumstances He gives? (See Isaiah 6:8; Luke 5:11)
  3. Compare the following stories of God’s miracle babies – Gen. 18:9–15; 1 Sam. 1:19–28; Judges 13; Luke 1:18–20; Luke 1:26–38. Compare the reactions from the different characters. Which character’s reaction would most closely resemble your own?

Trusting in Our Faithful God

Luke 1:5-25

Sermon Notes

  1. Silence doesn't change his faithfulness v .5–17
  2. Your wavering faith doesn't change his faithfulness v. 18–24
  3. Therefore, trust that he will faithfully fulfill his promises v. 22–25

Reflection questions:

  1. What are some reasons that we can trust God?
  2. What is something in your life that currently feels like silence from God?
  3. How have you waivered in your faith? How has that changed God's faithfulness toward you? (Hint: for those of you in Christ, it hasn't... Zep 3:17, Gal 3:3–5, Gal 4:4–7)

The Gospel of Knowing For Sure

Luke 1:1–4

Sermon Notes

  1. A Promises-Kept Account, v.1
  2. An Eyewitness Account, v.2
  3. An Orderly Account, v.3
  4. A Certain Account, v.4

Reflection questions

  1. How did being an eyewitness to Jesus’s ministry impact the eyewitnesses? Cf. 2 Peter 1:16ff; Luke 9:28–36 (esp. v.33); Luke 5:8 (compare to Isaiah 6:5)
  2. How is Luke’s gospel not simply a series of stories about Jesus but also a series of Old Testament fulfillments? See Luke 1:1; 24:25–27, 44–49

  3. What are some of the things Luke wanted Theophilus (and all of us) to be certain of? See Luke 1:17, 77; 2:29–32; 4:18–19; 5:32; 9:20–22, 51; 19:10.

    Title taken from a chapter title in Phil Ryken’s commentary on Luke.