Sermon Tone Analysis

Pre-Introduction:

At this time, we invite any children who desire to join my dear wife for a children’s service to follow her where you can hear a wonderful bible lesson and sing some uplifting songs about Jesus.

For those joining us online, you’re listening to the Services of the Broomfield Baptist Church.

This is the Pastor bringing the Sunday Morning message entitled __________.

We invite you to follow along with us in your Bible in the Gospel of Luke, chapter one, and verses forty-six through fifty-six.

For our guests and church family present here today, In about 35mins or so, I’m going to ask you to do something.

I’ll be asking you to make a decision based on the information in today’s sermon.

At the end of the service, I’ll invite you to come and kneel front as a sign of God working in your life.

Introduction:

[Start Low]

Illustration: Taking Up the Cause of the Underdog...

Quote - “BIRDS sing at dawn and sunrise.

It was fitting that the last strains of Old Testament psalmody should prelude the birth of Jesus.”

~ Alexander MacLaren

This doxology is a hymn of praise unto the Lord.

It reminds us today that the birth of Jesus is about far more than gifts, trees, myths like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, and my personal favorite, the Grinch.

The Christmas season is about our relationship with the Lord and about learning to celebrate His glory and His goodness.

[Alan Carr, “Celebrate the Lord (Luke 1:46–55),” in The Sermon Notebook: New Testament (Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr, 2015), 1222.]

Main Thought: God is the Savior of any who humbly trust Him, realizing that there is no help without His divine intervention.

Sub-introduction:

“The Magnificat,” as the song is called, consists almost entirely of Old Testament allusions and quotations.

The same is true of the songs of Zechariah and Simeon (vv.

1:68–79; 2:29–32).

Mary’s song has similarities to Hannah’s song (1 Sam.

2:1–10).

[BKC]

In particular there are several resemblances to the song of Hannah (1 Sam.

2:1–10).

But there is a difference in tone.

Hannah’s song is a shout of triumph in the face of her enemies; Mary’s a humble contemplation of the mercies of God.

[Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol.

3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 92.]

The relation of Mary’s Song to its scriptural precedents has long been observed.

Of particular interest are other hymns of praise sung in response to God’s gracious and powerful intervention on behalf of his people—including those of Moses (Exod 15:1–18), Miriam (Exod 15:19–21), Deborah (Judg 5:1–31), Asaph (1 Chr 16:8–36), Judith (Jdt 16:1–17), and especially Hannah (1 Sam 2:1–10).

[Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.

B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 101.]

Wonder and praise, humility and exultation, adoration and congratulation—these colors chase one another in the heart of this jewel.

[F.

B. Meyer, Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary, vol. 5 (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1914–1918), 113.]

Body:

I. Praise to MY Personal Savior (Lk.

1:46-50)

A. Getting Personal with God (Lk.

1:46-47)

1.

The Praise of Her Mouth - “Mary Said” (v.

46a)

Note- Mary's whole being is involved in her praise: Body, Soul & Spirit; physically, mentally & emotionally she engages in adoration of her Savior.

2. Praise from Her Soul - Magnifies the Lord (v.

46b)

"To magnify means to make great, and then to extol, to praise, to celebrate.

It does not mean here strictly to make great, but to increase in our estimation—that is, to praise or extol.

See Ps. 34:3; 2 Sa.

7:26."

[Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed.

Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 9–10.]

Note - Magnify - Cf. Lk.

Lk. 1:46; Acts 5:13; 10:46; 19:17; Php.

1:20; Enlarge - Mt. 23:5; Shewed...great - Lk. 1:58; Be enlarged - 2 Cor.

10:15

As Jehovah had promised to make Abraham’s name great (Gen.

12:1-3, esp.

v. 2), so now Mary makes the name of the Lord greatSee also Ps. 33:4; Ps. 34:1-3; Ps. 40:16- 17 (w/Ps.

69:5); Ps. 68:31; 103:1; 137:2; Mic.

5:4; Joel 2:20-21; Mal.

1:5; Eze.

38:23; Jer.

38:14

3. Praise in Her Spirit - Rejoices in Her Savior (v.

47)

~ Redeemed by God - “my Savior”

Romanists may declare that she was born without inbred sin and therefore did not need a Redeemer, but she herself says, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” Notice those last three words, God my Saviour!

Mary, then, lovely as she was; beautiful in character, perhaps beyond any other young woman of her day, yet realized that in herself she was a sinner who needed a Saviour, and she found that Saviour in God Himself.

[H. A. Ironside, Addresses on the Gospel of Luke.

(Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1947), 43.]

B. God Gets Personal with Us (Lk.

1:48)

1. Regarded by God - “Thou God Seest Me” (v.

48a)

Note - As poor Hagar had found Him to be “El Roy” “Thou God seest me...” (Gen.

16:13)

2. Rewarded by God - Call Me Blessed (v.

48b)

She would not be one who conferred blessings but one who would be blessed.

[William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed.

Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1372.]

As an Old Testament believer, Mary’s hope of salvation rested in God and His promises.

Her hope was not in her own ability to make herself acceptable to God. [Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Lk 1:46.]

C. Who Is This Lord of Glory?

(Lk.

1:49-50)

1.

He Is Omnipotent - Mighty hath done...great (v.

49a)

2.

He Is Holy - His Name (v.

49b)

3.

He Is Everlastingly Merciful - to them that fear Him (v.

50)

Note - The everlasting mercy of the Lord is central to her praise.

Note - Dt. 7:9 reminds us that God is faithful to keep His covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Application:

The fullness of the Spirit should lead to joyful praise in our lives (Eph.

5:18–20), and so should the fullness of the Word (Col.

3:16–17).

[Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 173.]

Transition: Mary’s Lord was a personal Savior to her, now consider:

II.

Praise to Our MERCIFUL God (Lk.

1:51-56)

A. The Practice of God’s Mercy in a Fallen, Sinful World (Lk.

1:51-53)

The corporate implications of God’s activity now come into full view—as if the camera, previously focused more narrowly on Mary, has suddenly been pulled back to reveal the company of all Israel of which she is a part.

Similarly, there are small hints that Israel is itself part of the larger company of all humanity who is the object of God’s mercy.

[Green, 104.]

1. God’s Mercy to the Helpless (Lk.

1:51)

Note - For the “Arm of the LORD” remember Is. 53:1ff

A remark of Whitby on this expression is worth notice.

“God’s great power is represented by His finger,—His greater by His hand,—His greatest by His arm.