Embracing Humility and Worship This Christmas Season
Summary
The sermon explores the themes of humility, worship, and the challenges of the Christmas season, drawing heavily on the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The speaker contrasts the mighty and the humble, emphasizing that God exalts the humble and fills the hungry with good things, while the rich are sent away empty. Jesus' humility is highlighted, and listeners are encouraged to confess any pride and adopt a posture of humility. The importance of humbling oneself before God is underscored, with the congregation invited to pray a prayer of confession and repentance, acknowledging their sin and turning to Jesus for forgiveness. The speaker stresses that salvation is not based on personal achievements but on recognizing the need for a savior.
The sermon continues by discussing the holiness of God and the consequences of sin, which separates humanity from God and leads to death. However, God's mercy and love are also emphasized, with the desire to cover us with mercy and grace and restore the broken relationship. Jesus' holiness, mercy, and might are highlighted, showing how he took upon himself the punishment of sin so that we could become new creations and have our relationship with God restored.
Mary's story is used to illustrate the importance of bringing our emotions and needs to God, allowing our souls to breathe and finding satisfaction in Him alone. The speaker discusses the challenges Mary faced during her pregnancy, including societal judgment and isolation, and her faithful response to God's promise. The sermon also touches on the emotional and physical dangers of the Christmas season, suggesting that worship can be a response to these difficulties.
Key Takeaways:
- God's preference for humility over might is evident in the way He exalts the humble and fills the hungry while sending the rich away empty. This principle is exemplified in Mary's song and Jesus' life, reminding believers to confess pride and embrace humility as their spiritual posture. [01:06:32]
- Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned through personal efforts but is received through trust in Jesus. Recognizing one's sinfulness and the inability to achieve righteousness on one's own is crucial to understanding the gospel message. This humility is necessary to receive the gift of salvation and enter into a restored relationship with God. [01:10:05]
- The holiness of God is such that sin cannot coexist with it, much like a rodent's foot would ruin a Christmas meal. Sin leads to separation and death, but God's mercy offers a covering of grace, desiring to restore the relationship that sin has severed. This message of holiness, mercy, and might is the joy of the Gospel. [59:25]
- Worship is a response to God's character and acts, and it is essential to allow our souls and spirits the space to magnify the Lord. Mary's example shows the importance of understanding who we worship and the theological richness of our faith, which should lead to a posture of worship that acknowledges God's holiness and strength. [55:49]
- The Christmas season, while often associated with joy, can also bring about emotional and physical challenges. The speaker encourages believers to respond to these difficulties with worship, allowing their souls and spirits to authentically express their longing for God, despite societal pressures to remain stoic. [52:16]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 1:46-55 (Mary's Song, The Magnificat)
2. Isaiah 53:2-3 (Prophecy about Jesus' humility and suffering)
3. James 4:6 ("God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.")
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Mary express in her song in Luke 1:46-55 about her feelings and her understanding of God? ([49:21])
2. How does the prophecy in Isaiah 53:2-3 describe the appearance and reception of Jesus? ([01:07:55])
3. According to James 4:6, what is God's attitude towards the proud and the humble? How does this align with the themes discussed in the sermon? ([01:05:49])
4. What are some of the challenges Mary faced during her pregnancy, and how did she respond to them? ([46:30])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is humility emphasized as a crucial posture for believers in the sermon? How does this relate to Mary's example and Jesus' life? ([01:06:32])
2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's holiness, mercy, and might? Why are all three aspects important for understanding the Gospel? ([01:01:53])
3. What does it mean to allow our souls and spirits to "breathe" in worship, according to the sermon? How did Mary exemplify this in her song? ([49:21])
4. How does the sermon suggest believers should respond to the emotional and physical challenges of the Christmas season? ([52:16])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt humbled. How did that experience affect your relationship with God? How can you cultivate a posture of humility in your daily life? ([01:06:32])
2. The sermon mentions that salvation is a gift that cannot be earned through personal efforts. How does this understanding change the way you view your own achievements and failures? ([01:10:05])
3. In what ways can you allow your soul and spirit to "breathe" in worship this week? Are there specific practices or moments you can set aside for this purpose? ([49:21])
4. The sermon discusses the holiness of God and the consequences of sin. How does this perspective influence your understanding of your own sin and need for repentance? ([01:00:12])
5. Think about the emotional and physical challenges you face during the Christmas season. How can you respond to these difficulties with worship, as suggested in the sermon? ([52:16])
6. Mary brought her emotions and needs to God despite societal judgment and isolation. What emotions or needs are you currently facing that you need to bring to God? ([46:30])
7. How can you practically show mercy and grace to others in your life, reflecting God's character as described in the sermon? ([01:01:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Humility in His Presence
Humility is the key to God's favor and exaltation. Just as Mary's song reflects, and Jesus' life exemplifies, God honors the humble and fills the needy, while the self-sufficient are left wanting. This divine principle calls for a rejection of pride and an embrace of a humble heart. [01:06:32]
James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
Reflection: In what ways might pride be influencing your decisions and interactions with others? How can you practice humility today?
Day 2: The Gift of Unmerited Salvation
Salvation is a gift of grace, not a reward for our deeds. It requires a humble acknowledgment of our sinfulness and the need for a Savior. This understanding is foundational to the gospel, inviting us to receive forgiveness and enter a restored relationship with God. [01:10:05]
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: How does recognizing your need for a Savior impact your daily life? What steps can you take to remind yourself of this truth?
Day 3: Holiness, Mercy, and Might
The holiness of God is incompatible with sin, yet His mercy offers us grace and restoration. The Gospel joyfully declares that Jesus bore the punishment for sin, allowing us to become new creations and reconcile with God. This message of holiness, mercy, and might is our hope. [59:25]
1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you need to experience God's holiness and mercy? How can you pursue holiness today?
Day 4: Worship as a Response to His Majesty
Worship is our heartfelt response to God's character and deeds. It is vital to allow our souls the space to magnify the Lord, understanding the depth of our faith and the one we worship. Mary's example teaches us to worship in spirit and truth, recognizing God's holiness and strength. [55:49]
Psalm 95:6-7 - "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, and what does true worship look like in your life?
Day 5: Worship Amidst the Christmas Challenges
The Christmas season can bring emotional and physical challenges, yet it also offers an opportunity for authentic worship. In the midst of societal pressures, we can express our longing for God, finding solace and satisfaction in Him alone, just as Mary did during her trying times. [52:16]
Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
Reflection: What difficulties are you facing this Christmas season, and how can you turn those challenges into moments of worship and trust in God?
Quotes
"The greatest humility that we need to come, the greatest gift to receive that requires humility, is that of the gift of Salvation in Jesus Christ because it takes us to say I am incapable of cleaning myself up before you." [01:10:45] (Download)
"A God who is merciful, in other words, will turn no one away. He's mighty, he's able to do for you what you are incapable of doing for yourself." [01:11:27] (Download)
"When our world is turned upside down, we worship; we declare God is glorious, we allow our souls and our spirits to breathe, we come before this holy." [01:12:09] (Download)
"God brings down the mighty from their thrones and exalts those of humble estate. Do not look to the authorities of this world to remind you of God's power and authority, rather we look to the humble estate." [01:07:10] (Download)
"It's not the ways of the proud that God is looking to overthrow, but rather, it's the way of the humble. This is the posture we need to have, examining what pride looks like in our lives and where humility may have been lost." [01:08:34] (Download)
"Are you giving your soul permission to magnify the Lord, to bring God into a place of high authority in your life? Are you allowing your spirit to do what it has always meant to do, to find peace in the presence of God Almighty?" [52:16] (Download)
"When your life gets turned upside down, you worship. Allow your soul to worship in the midst of loss and disappointment, embracing the authenticity of where you truly are." [55:13] (Download)
"Today I humble myself before Him, I confess my sin and I turn to Him for forgiveness. I believe that Jesus was born of Mary, that He lived a perfect life, that He died for my sin, and He arose again to new life." [01:12:48] (Download)
"What do you need to bring to God today that allows your soul to breathe? What is it that is within your spirit that is crying out for relationship with the Living God, and are you allowing your spirit to be satisfied in Him and Him alone?" [55:49] (Download)
"He has the capacity to restore the relationship that sin has severed, and this is the joy of the Gospel. This is why the song of Mary is so rich, bringing together His holiness, mercy, and might." [01:01:53] (Download)
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