CALVARY INSTITUTE
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WORSHIP
A Word on Worship “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). Worship is not only expressed through song. It is rather a posture before God that affects every area of life. It is also something we can grow in. Here’s Paul Tripp again “Sanctification is really about the grace of God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves: recapture our awe for God and God alone. Spiritual growth is about recapturing your awe. The more that the awe of God rules the motivation systems of your heart, the more your will love his kingdom and find pleasure in his work and satisfaction in doing his will” (Awe, 123).
Call to Worship Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Adoration
Song - 10,000 Reasons
Confession
Song - I Need Thee Every Hour
Assurance of Grace
Song - What Child Is This
Thanksgiving
Song - He Shall Reign Forevermore
SERMON
Scripture - Luke 1:26-56(ESV)
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[c]
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[e] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[f] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Discussion Questions:
How did the angel’s greeting to Mary compare with the greeting to Zechariah? Similarities? Differences?
How did Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement compare with Zechariah’s Similarities? Differences?
Why do you think Mary’s question received such a different response from the angel than Zechariah’s?
What was the focus of Mary’s song (vv. 46-55)? How was it similar to or different from Zechariah’s song (vv. 57-80)?
BENEDICTION
Song - All The Poor And Powerless
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