December 18, 2022
Pastor Frank Bowden

Sermon Notes

Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

1. Perspective matters

2. The Gospel in 3 words:

a. Holy
b. Merciful
c. Mighty

3. Keep the main thing the main thing

4. Check your heart: whatever you magnify, you will rejoice in

It’s not what God has given you but what He has become to you

Next Steps

• Today, I confess Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior for the first time
• I’ve allowed my circumstances to negatively affect my worship. This week I will focus on a specific attribute of God to reignite a heart of praise and adoration for Him
• I will invite a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to our Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service.

Deep Dive

• In verses 49-50, Mary rejoiced in God’s attributes. How does reflecting on God’s attributes affect the way you worship?
• How can you find joy in the reliability of God, even if your circumstances are marked with defeat, chaos, or even death?
• Read Colossians 1:15-20. What do you learn about Jesus and the Gospel in these verses?

Springboard

• Who would you trust to deliver a critical message to an important person?
• Read. Luke 2:20. What does it say about God that He sent the message of hope through shepherds?
• How can God use you to share His message of hope to others?