2_-_The_Courage_of_Yes.docx

of the Sermon:**

Today’s sermon, “The Courage of Yes,” explored the radical obedience and courage of Mary and Joseph in the Christmas story. Despite being young, poor, and powerless, they responded to God’s disruptive call with trust, even when it meant stepping into the unknown. Their willingness to say “yes” to God’s plan, despite fear and uncertainty, became a vital part of God’s redemptive work in the world. We reflected on how God often calls us into situations that are risky or unclear, and how our obedience—no matter how small or hesitant—can unlock God’s purposes in and through us. The challenge for us is to offer God our own “yes,” trusting Him with the blank pages of our lives, even when we don’t have all the answers.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Obedience Often Begins in Uncertainty: Mary and Joseph’s stories remind us that God’s invitations rarely come with full explanations or guarantees. True obedience is forged in the tension between fear and faith, where we must choose to trust God’s character more than our understanding. It’s in these moments of uncertainty that God’s glory is most clearly revealed, not because we are fearless, but because we move forward despite our fears.
• 2. Excuses Are Natural, But They Can Limit God’s Work: Like Mary, we often respond to God’s call with honest questions and reasonable doubts. While it’s normal to feel inadequate or unprepared, lingering in our excuses can rob us of the miracles God wants to do through us. God isn’t looking for perfection or self-sufficiency—He’s looking for a willing heart that says yes, even when the path doesn’t make sense.
• 3. God’s Plans Involve Our Partnership: The Christmas story shows that God’s sovereignty doesn’t override our choices; instead, He invites us to participate in His work. Our willingness to cooperate with God shapes how His blessings and purposes unfold in our lives. Saying yes to God is not passive resignation, but an active, courageous partnership with Him in the unfolding of His story.
• 4. Courage Is Not the Absence of Fear, But Faith in Action: Both Mary and Joseph had to act in the face of real fear—social rejection, loss, and uncertainty. Courage, in the biblical sense, is not about feeling brave, but about taking the next step in faith, trusting that God is already present in the unknown. Each small act of obedience becomes a testimony to God’s faithfulness and a light to those around us.
• 5. Surrender Means Trusting God With the Blank Pages: Signing a blank page before God, as we did today, is a powerful symbol of surrender. It means letting go of our need for control and trusting God to write His story in our lives, even when we don’t know what’s coming next. This kind of surrender is an act of worship, a declaration that God’s plans are better than our own, and that our “yes” can become part of something far greater than we could ever imagine.

1. In Luke 1:26–38, what was Mary’s initial reaction to the angel’s message, and what question did she ask?
2. According to Matthew 1:18–25, what options did Joseph consider when he found out Mary was pregnant, and what changed his mind?
3. In Romans 12:1, what does Paul urge believers to do in response to God’s mercy?
4. From the sermon, what were some of the risks and fears Mary and Joseph faced when they said “yes” to God?

1. Why do Mary and Joseph’s stories show that obedience to God often begins in uncertainty and fear?
2. What does it mean that God’s invitations rarely come with full explanations or guarantees? How does this challenge the way people usually want to follow God?
3. The sermon said that “excuses are natural, but they can limit God’s work.” Why do people tend to make excuses when God calls them to something new or risky?
4. How does the idea of “signing a blank page” before God help us understand what true surrender and trust look like?

1. Think about a time when you felt God nudging you to do something that felt risky or unclear. Did you say yes or no? What happened, and what did you learn from that experience?
2. The sermon mentioned that lingering in our excuses can rob us of the miracles God wants to do through us. What is one excuse you often make when you sense God calling you to something? How could you move past that excuse this week?
3. Mary and Joseph’s “yes” to God changed the course of history. Is there an area in your life right now where God might be inviting you to say “yes,” even if you feel unprepared or afraid? What would it look like to take one small step of obedience?
4. The sermon talked about trusting God with the “blank pages” of our lives. What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How could you practice surrender in that area this week?
5. Courage is not the absence of fear, but faith in action. What is one practical way you can act in faith this week, even if you still feel afraid?
6. The story of Joseph shows that God sometimes gives clarity after we take a step of obedience. Is there a decision you’re facing where you need to trust God with the next step, even if you can’t see the whole path?
7. The sermon challenged us to say yes to one area of God’s calling this week—big or small. What is one specific thing you will commit to saying yes to, and how can the group support you in this?