12/7/25 "Greater Centennial's Sunday Morning Service-"Caught By Surprise

Devotional

Day 1: God shows up unexpected to change our lives

Luke's telling of the angel's visit reminds the reader that God often arrives unannounced into ordinary rooms and ordinary lives; what matters most is availability, not prior credentials. Mary was young, inexperienced, and yet chosen — a reminder that God delights in surprising the comfortable order of things and using the willing. Expect God to enter without your permission and to do more than you plan when you open yourself to Him. [09:58]

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Reflection: Think of a mundane place in your week—a kitchen, a commute, a waiting room—where you might be overlooking God's entrance; what one simple posture (turning off your phone, a short prayer, offering a blessing) will you practice this week to welcome God's surprise into that space?

Day 2: Fear not: God's presence dispels paralyzing anxiety

The angel's first comfort to Mary is "Fear not," and that is the same word God speaks into the anxious corners of life today. The Lord has not given believers a spirit of fear but a spirit of trust and power; coming to church and hearing God's word is meant to replace worry with faithful expectation. When fear presses, remember that God's arrival into your room brings peace and a purpose that outstrips your present panic. [27:31]

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. — Luke 1:30 (KJV)

Reflection: Identify the two recurring worries that stole your sleep this past week; choose one night this week to trade ten minutes of that worry-time for focused prayer, and note how your response to that worry changes afterward.

Day 3: With God, the impossible becomes possible and active

"With God nothing shall be impossible" overturns human assumptions about limits and timing — Elizabeth conceiving in old age and Mary's calling show God working where human logic cannot. The text pushes back against attempts to reason faith into existence; instead of trying to figure it all out, yield a step of obedience and watch God do the historically unlikely. Trusting God's power means taking a faith-step when the situation looks hopeless. [12:06]

For with God nothing shall be impossible. — Luke 1:37 (KJV)

Reflection: Name one situation you have labeled "impossible"; this week, write down one small, concrete faith-step (a call, an application, a conversation, a confession) you will take toward that situation and commit to doing it by a set day.

Day 4: Say yes to God's call despite uncertainty and cost

Mary's "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" models a yes that accepts risk, ridicule, and unknown consequence because obedience matters more than comfort. The church is called to be kinder to those who are vulnerable — teenage mothers, the inexperienced, the ones the world would judge — because God often chooses the least expected vessels. Saying yes to God is a posture: Lord, take me, mold me, use me, even when it makes no worldly sense. [41:37]

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. — Luke 1:38 (KJV)

Reflection: What is one area where God seems to be inviting you to say "be it unto me" (a relationship, a calling, a change of habit)? Write the specific wording of that yes and one deliberate action you will take this week to live it out.

Day 5: At Jesus' name every knee will bow

The name Jesus is given authority—every knee will bow and every tongue confess—so the announcement of the child's name carries liberating power for a people in need of a deliverer. That name calls the church to worship and to remember that salvation and justice come through Christ's reign. Live in the hope that the One named Jesus is the present and coming answer to bondage, fear, and brokenness. [31:58]

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. — Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you still resisting Jesus’ lordship (finances, relationships, words, habits)? Choose one area and name one tangible step (a prayer, a restitution, a service, a boundary) you will take this week to yield that place to His name.

Sermon Summary

I invited us to enter God’s house with good manners—by speaking to the Host with praise and gratitude. In Advent, we wait for a God who loves to arrive unannounced. Luke 1:26–38 shows that holy pattern: God sends Gabriel to a young, inexperienced Mary, reminding us that heaven’s favorite credential isn’t pedigree but availability. Mary’s fear is real, her questions are honest, yet the angel’s first word is God’s steady refrain across generations: Fear not. In an age marked by loud racism, political tumult, and economic uncertainty, we name reality—but we also refuse to let fear set our agenda. God still interrupts human timelines with divine surprises.

Mary shows us that God often prefers the uncredentialed and unproven, because availability leaves room for grace. The angel doesn’t flatter so much as locate Mary in God’s favor and then claims the right that belongs to God alone—naming the Child Jesus. The Name signals vocation: Savior, Deliverer, King without end. I urged us to stop forcing logic onto faith. Faith isn’t irrational, but it refuses to be imprisoned by what’s “workable” on paper; it lives by the announcement, “With God, nothing shall be impossible.”

I challenged us to be a kinder church to teenage mothers, remembering that our Lord chose to come through a young woman who carried both promise and stigma. Mary had much to lose, and still she had a costly, courageous yes. That yes remains our pattern: “Be it unto me according to your word.” We opened the altar to surrender fear, break agreement with long‑held brokenness, and step into freedom in Jesus. As we go into an uncertain world with uncertain people, we trust the God of surprise who’s already waiting for us in tomorrow. Don’t be shocked when grace ambushes you. Accept it. Embrace it. And greet each new sunrise with a fresh yes.

Key Takeaways

1. God chooses availability over credentials God picked a young, inexperienced Mary to carry history’s greatest promise, pushing against our obsession with pedigree and performance. Availability is the space where God’s power finds room to work. When heaven knocks, the résumé that matters most is a yielded heart and a willing life. Show up surrendered, and watch God do the heavy lifting. [84:28]
2. Hear God’s “fear not” in uncertainty The first word from heaven to anxious hearts is not a task, but a comfort: fear not. Fear narrows our imagination; “fear not” opens it to God’s possibilities beyond headlines and balance sheets. If you’re going to inhabit church pews weekly, refuse to inhabit fear daily. Receive the courage that comes with God’s nearness. [89:32]
3. Expect holy interruptions and surprises God delights in arriving without a key, crossing thresholds we never opened and moments we never scheduled. Divine interruptions are not rude; they are merciful, redirecting our lives from self-sufficiency to grace. If control is your idol, surprise will feel like judgment—until you discover it’s an invitation. Leave margin for God to break in. [81:32]
4. Let faith outrun your logic Mary’s question was sane; the angel’s answer was supernatural. Logic is a good servant but a poor master—especially when God is birthing something new. Faith acknowledges what doesn’t add up and still moves on God’s word. Stop demanding spreadsheets for things heaven funds by promise. [94:49]
5. Say a costly, courageous “yes” Mary’s yes risked reputation, stability, and control—but it opened history to salvation’s door. Obedience is not convenience; it is consent to be formed by God’s purpose. Your yes may not be glamorous, but it will be generative. Courage is often spelled, “Be it unto me according to your word.” [101:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[56:39] - Enter God’s house with praise
[63:04] - Honoring Pastor Stephen W. Pogue
[66:15] - A once-in-a-millennium voice
[69:58] - Reading Luke 1:26–38
[72:33] - Prayer: Spirit, descend on us
[73:03] - Theme introduced: Caught by Surprise
[81:32] - God shows up unannounced
[84:28] - Availability is God’s credential
[87:31] - Heaven’s word to us: Fear not
[91:33] - The Name belongs to God
[94:49] - Stop forcing logic on faith
[101:06] - Mary’s costly, courageous “yes”
[147:45] - Benediction: trust the God of surprise

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Luke 1:26–38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Observation questions

What titles and promises does the angel give to Mary in the passage, and how does Mary first react to that greeting? [01:10:24]
Where in the passage does God address fear directly, and what immediate purpose does that word serve in the narrative? [01:27:31]
What practical, logistical question does Mary ask, and how does the angel answer in a way that connects to the wider story of God’s surprising action? [01:34:49]
What is the final verbal response Mary gives, and which risks or costs are implied by that response in the context of her life? [01:41:06]

Interpretation questions (third-person, objective)

What does it mean that God chose a young, inexperienced person to carry the Messianic promise—how does this choice challenge common ideas about credentials and readiness? [01:24:28]
How should the phrase “Fear not” be understood in the light of present-day anxieties (economic, political, social)—does it remove danger, reshape perspective, or both? [01:29:32]
In what ways does Mary’s question (“How will this be…?”) model a faithful combination of honest questioning and openness to supernatural explanation? [01:34:49]
How does naming (the angel insisting on the name Jesus) function as vocation in the passage, and what does that tell the group about God’s authority in calling and naming people or tasks? [01:31:33]

Application questions (personal, specific)

Availability matters to God more than perfect résumé or pedigree. Where in your life is God calling you to show up even though you feel inexperienced or underqualified? How might you practice a small step of availability this week? [01:24:28]
“Fear not” opens imagination rather than denies danger. What specific fear has narrowed your imagination lately (money, family, health, politics)? Name it aloud and then describe one concrete way you can lean on God’s “fear not” this week. [01:29:32]
God delights in holy interruptions. What recent “surprise” from God have you resisted because it felt inconvenient or threatening to your plans? What would it look like to leave margin and say yes the next time God interrupts? [01:21:32]
Faith must sometimes outrun logic. Where are you demanding spreadsheets, guarantees, or full explanations before you will step forward in faith? What is one faith-step you could take that doesn’t require complete logical certainty? [01:34:49]
Mary’s yes was costly and courageous. What would a costly yes look like in your relationships, work, or church involvement right now? What practical cost are you willing to accept as part of following God’s call? [01:41:06]
The church is called to be kinder to teenage mothers and others stigmatized by society. Is there a person or group in your community that the church tends to judge or exclude? What one practical thing could this group do this month to offer welcome and support instead of judgment? [01:37:55]
The passage insists that names and vocations belong to God. Is there a role or identity you are trying to force on yourself (or push onto someone else) rather than waiting for God’s naming? How can you surrender that control and ask God to name and equip you? [01:31:33]

(End of guide)

Sermon Clips

Mary was inexperienced in every possible way. But when God was looking for someone to do the job that for ages people would talk about, God looked down and chose inexperience over experience. Now, that runs counter to how you and I operate. When I walk into certain offices, the first thing I do is look on the wall. I think that side is starting to help me now. Thank you. A culture that concerns ourselves and perhaps justifiably with credentialing. Now, you sound like you got it, but I want to see that you got it. [01:22:55] (56 seconds) #GodChoosesTheUnlikely

Now, you sound like you got it, but I want to see that you got it. I want to know that my attorney has the right shingle on the wall. Yeah, we like credentialing, but you do know the only credential that matters to God is availability. Are you willing to live a righteous life and are you willing to be available? [01:23:45] (48 seconds) #AvailabilityOverCredentials

The angel comes in, tells Mary, thou art a favored woman, blessed art thou among women, and he could see on her face that she was still troubled by all of this for obvious reason. Number one, who are you? You see, we know in the text that it was Gabriel the angel, but Gabriel never came in saying, hey, I'm Gabriel. Who are you in my house? He comes in, he says, blessed art thou among women, realizing that she has fear upon her brow, he looks at her and says, fear not. [01:26:52] (56 seconds) #GabrielSaidFearNot

But why come to church every Sunday morning? Why be in the presence of God every Sunday morning? Why hear the word of God preached by Dr. Pope every Sunday morning and live in a constant cycle of fear? The Lord has not given us fear. And when God walks into your space with all of your anxieties, with all of your fear, the first thing God wants you to know Fear not. [01:28:31] (64 seconds) #FearNotGodIsWithYou

Now, it wouldn't be true to understanding the background of this text if I didn't want to at least shed some light on one very important component of this passage before I bid you good day. I started off by letting you know that Mary at the time of this visitation was somewhere between 12 to 14 years of age. Scholars can't quite figure out how old Mary was. But I always like to shed a light on the fact that if there's any demographic in the church, that the church ought to be kinder to is teenage mothers. [01:37:35] (38 seconds) #BeKinderToTeenMoms

The Lord is moving in here right now. It's not because the preacher preaches, because God's spirit goes where God's spirit wants to go when God's spirit wants to go. Every head bowed, every eye closed, the spirit is moving. The spirit is moving. Why don't you let the Lord down into that heart? The enemy has been trying to get in your mind all this past week. Just last night, you were sitting up on the side of your bed worrying about stuff you can't control and stuff you can't change. But can I tell you, God can fix it. [01:45:50] (66 seconds) #SpiritCanFixIt

Now, for those of you who didn't move, can you do me a favor? Extend your hand in this direction. The Spirit of God is moving. Somewhere around this altar, somebody's about to accept their calling to preach. You've been struggling with it. You've been struggling with it. You've been trying to put the cart in front of God. Put the cart in front of the horse. Instead of believing that even concerning your life, with God, nothing shall be impossible. [01:52:37] (52 seconds) #CalledAndAvailable

The last time we called upon you, you came to see about us. The last time we cried out to you from desperation and from the depths of our despaired hearts, you opened up windows of heaven and you didn't just pour out to us things. You poured out to us a portion of your presence and your presence has made a difference in our lives. [01:53:43] (28 seconds) #PresenceOverProvision

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Why does God favor availability over credentials?

How should churches treat teenage mothers today?

What stalls faith when logic leads decisions?