Sermon Tone Analysis

Public Reading of Scripture

Pray

Introduction

An angel had visited Mary with these words:

There was no mistaking that this child would not be an ordinary human, but this child would be holy, God himself.

Mary could have questioned and doubted this message.

It doesn’t make sense.

It is something miraculous!

But instead of doubting what doesn’t make sense, Mary chooses to believe the word from God.

This Christmas, I want to call us as a church to believe what the Lord has spoken.

To surrender ourselves anew to His will and His ways.

I want to call our family and friends who do not know Jesus, to believe what the Lord has spoken concerning Him.

From her faith, Mary begins to praise God.

Her praise is recorded in a text that has been given the name “the Magnificat, because Mary magnifies God and rejoices in His salvation.

It is a fitting text to draw to our remembrance the message and meaning of Christmas, and to call us as the Church to worship the Lord on this holy day as we remember that God did fulfil His promises to Mary, and God fulfills His promises to us.

As we read Mary’s song of praise, let it become our song of praise too.

Because the Lord has done great things for us!

I. Mary first magnifies God because of who He is (1:49-50).

She praises the One who has revealed Himself as Lord, God, and Savior.

She praises with her soul: the feelings and emotions.

She praises with her spirit: the inner being.

With all her heart, soul, mind, and strength she magnifies this God!

She makes much of Him! Why?

Because God is her Savior.

He is not a distant being.

He has drawn near, He has acted, to save.

Has God saved Mary because she is better than others?

No ---

Mary goes on to say:

Mary is humble.

She did not ask for this task or role.

But she willingly becomes a servant of the Lord (more accurately, a slave, a bondwoman).

And in faith she said: “let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

What God is doing in Mary is for all people, including us.

And Mary recognizes this:

“For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;”

Because the child born to her is not only her savior, but the savior of the world!

Not just the savior of her people, but the savior of all people who will share in the same faith and belief as Mary.

Luke 1:49 (ESV)

“He who is mighty has done great things for me” (1:49a).

The God of Mary is mighty!

God is mighty!

No other being is capable of doing what God alone can do.

When our strength fails, God’s strength remains.

When we are weak, God is strong.

Luke 1:49 (ESV)

“and holy is his name.”

The God of Mary is holy!

God is holy!

The holiness of God describes his uniqueness.

Not only can no one do what God does, but there is no one like God!

He is holy, holy, holy.

Luke 1:50 (ESV)

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”

The God of Mary is merciful!

God is merciful!

This is covenant language.

Language of promise.

Language that reminds us that the mercies of God are new every morning, but the God of yesterday is the same God of today and the same God of forever — mighty, holy, and merciful!

II.

Mary, then magnifies God because of what He has done (1:51-55).

And what has God done?

Throughout history God has acted to save — to bring about salvation for His people.

He has done this by showing “strength with his arm” (1:51a).

God is mighty and he has put his might on display at times by reaching down and intervening on behalf of His people and His name!

“He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts” (1:51b).

He “has brought down the mighty from their thrones” (1:52a).

He has “exalted those of humble estate” (1:52b).

He has “filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”

(Luke 1:53).

God’s ways are not our ways.

We elevate the mighty — God takes them off their thrones.

We neglect the hungry, God fills them with good things.

Who we exalt, God humbles and whoever humbles themselves - God exalts!

Conclusion

Mary recalls how God has done all of this in history already — especially the history of her people Israel.

I want us to capture that phrase: “in remembrance of his mercy.”

As we share in a communion meal together, we likewise are sharing in a meal of remembrance.

Remembering the mercy of God to save.

Mercy is the mighty, holy, God not giving us what we deserve.

What do we deserve?

We deserve death because we have all sinned against God and fallen short of His glory.

We tried our own ways only to find that our ways are not God’s ways.

We tried to live holy to find out that we are not holy.

God gave his people commandments to follow in order to live holy lives and his people broke every commandment — as we all have.

God could have left us that way! God could have left us as His enemies as we were.

The child born to Mary is Jesus, the Lord, God — our Savior!

To save us Jesus gave his life in place of our own.

He took upon Himself what we deserve — death for sin, although he never sinned.

He died on a cross, shedding his own blood to atone for our sin in our place.

This is the mercy of God!

This is the mercy that we remember in this Communion meal.

Preparation for Communion

As we prepare to share in this Communion meal, a meal of remembrance, we remember who Jesus is and what He has done for us in bringing us into fellowship with God and one another.

Because of his body broken for us, and his blood poured out for us, we may be forgiven of sins in his name.

Confession & Assurance of Pardon

All who profess faith in Jesus, whether you are a member of this church or denomination or another, are welcome to share in this communion meal.

In these moments as the bread is served, I invite all to examine yourself and to confess your sins to the Lord and if need be — to one another so that we may all share in the peace of Christ together.

If you do not know the Lord, please refrain from partaking as the bread and cup pass by.

Or — use this time to get right with the Lord.