May It Be To Me Just As You Have Said

In one paragraph

The message walked through Luke 1 and 2 as part of an ongoing study in the harmony of the gospels, reading the full Christmas story in sequence and paying close attention to how each character responded when God broke into their ordinary life. The preacher's aim was to let the text speak largely for itself, covering from Zechariah's encounter with Gabriel all the way through the presentation of...

Read together

1. Matthew 2 wise men saw the star, bowed down and worshiped the child with his mother Mary
2. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 advent reading: may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way
3. Colossians 3 let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, as members of one body called to live in peace and be thankful
4. Isaiah prophecy spoken seven hundred years before: a child is born, a son is given, called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace
5. Luke 1:1-4 Luke's introduction explaining his orderly investigation of eyewitness accounts, written for Theophilus
6. Luke 1:5-25 Zechariah and Elizabeth introduced; angel Gabriel announces John the Baptist's birth; Zechariah struck mute for disbelief
7. Luke 1:26-38 Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive and bear Jesus, son of the Most High; Mary responds may it be to me according to your word
8. Luke 1:39-45 Mary visits Elizabeth; John leaps in the womb; Elizabeth filled with Holy Spirit and blesses Mary
9. Luke 1:46-55 Mary's Magnificat: my soul exalts the Lord, God has regarded the humble state of his bond servant
10. Luke 1:57-66 Elizabeth gives birth; neighbors want to name baby Zechariah; Elizabeth insists on John; Zechariah writes his name is John and his mouth is opened
11. Luke 1:67-79 Zechariah filled with Holy Spirit and prophesies: blessed be the Lord God of Israel, the child will be prophet of the Most High
12. Luke 1:80 John grew strong in spirit and lived in the desert until his public appearance to Israel
13. Luke 2:1-7 Caesar Augustus decrees a census; Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem; Jesus is born and laid in a manger
14. Luke 2:8-20 shepherds in the fields visited by angel announcing good news of great joy; heavenly host praises God; shepherds go to Bethlehem and find Mary, Joseph and baby
15. Luke 2:21-24 Jesus circumcised and named; presented at the temple with an offering of turtledoves according to the law of Moses
16. Luke 2:25-35 Simeon takes Jesus in his arms, blesses God saying now he can die in peace; warns Mary a sword will pierce her soul
17. Luke 2:36-38 prophetess Anna, widow of 84 years, gave thanks to God and spoke about Jesus to all looking for the redemption of Jerusalem
18. Luke 2:39-40 family returns to Nazareth; child grew strong and increased in wisdom with God's favor upon him
19. Malachi quoted in Gabriel's message to Zechariah about John turning hearts of fathers back to children, forerunner in spirit and power of Elijah

Talk about it

1. Zechariah questioned the angel's message out of disbelief, while Mary asked a similar question but from a posture of faith. What is the difference between those two responses, and which one do you find yourself leaning toward when God seems to be directing you toward something?
2. The preacher pointed out that Elizabeth responded to her pregnancy with joy and seclusion, keeping it to herself for five months, then later spoke out boldly when filled with the Holy Spirit. How do you discern when to sit quietly with something God has done and when to speak it out loud?
3. Mary's Magnificat is full of the theme that God exalts the humble and brings down the proud. Where have you seen that pattern play out in your own life or in the lives of people around you?
4. The angel told the shepherds that the good news would be for all people, but that night it was just for them. Have you ever had a moment where something about the gospel felt personally and specifically meant for you? What did that do to you?
5. Anna never stopped telling people what she had seen, even though some probably thought she was out of her mind. The preacher also mentioned a man who hands out tracts to nearly everyone he meets, and noted that today it is harder to convince people they are in peril than to share the good news itself. What does faithfully carrying that message look like for you, in your own context and in your own way?