The Reason for the Season by Pastor Steve Lombardo (Luke 1:26-56)

I kicked off our Christmas series with a lighthearted story about cutting down a tree in a snowstorm, which led us to think about how memory works—how we often look back with rose-colored glasses. From there, we tested a few “common knowledge” Christmas ideas and found some of them aren’t actually in Scripture: the star wasn’t the shepherds’ sign that night, there weren’t necessarily three wise men, and “no room in the inn” likely meant no space in a family guest room. These aren’t gotchas; they help us see the real, grounded beauty of the incarnation more clearly.

We then turned to Mary. I made it clear that we do not worship Mary. Out of love for our neighbors and loyalty to Jesus, we named and biblically challenged several Marian doctrines (Immaculate Conception, perpetual virginity, assumption, co-redeemer). Jesus alone is our Redeemer, Mediator, and Lord. Yet Mary remains a profound example—especially in her surrendered, worshipful response to God: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

We explored what worship is: a heart posture that magnifies God as higher, wiser, and worthy; it shows up in singing, praying, listening, obeying, and the ordinary places of life. Why worship? Because of who God is and what He has done. He is Savior and Lord. He is mighty and personal, holy and merciful, just and faithful. True growth doesn’t come from rule-keeping alone; it comes as our affections are stirred by the living Christ. Like the rich young ruler, we all have a “lordship test”—some rival that wants first place. Worship begins when Jesus gets it.

Finally, we asked how to worship. Mary shows us: surrender. She surrendered even when it was difficult and shameful in her culture; she surrendered with honest questions; and she surrendered without all the details. That’s our invitation this Christmas—choose worship by saying, “I am Your servant.” Not because all our questions are gone or the path is easy, but because Jesus is worthy, and because in tasting and seeing His goodness, our hearts learn to want Him more than anything else.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship begins with surrendered posture Worship isn’t a mood; it’s a decision to yield. Mary’s “let it be to me” names God as Lord and herself as servant. Surrender is where praise turns into obedience and where songs become a life. Start there, and everything else will follow. [16:08]
• 2. Let affection, not rules, lead Lists can restrain behavior, but they can’t reorder love. Spiritual growth happens as Jesus becomes more compelling to your heart than your rival treasures. Pursue the Person, not just the practices, and the practices will take root. [22:29]
• 3. Jesus claims first place over rivals The rich young ruler’s issue wasn’t money—it was lordship. Jesus put His finger on the one thing that ruled him and invited him to follow. The same Lord lovingly exposes our rivals so He can set us free to belong fully to Him. [20:00]
• 4. God’s holy mercy anchors our praise Mary’s song names God as mighty, personal, holy, merciful, just, and faithful. Worship deepens when we rehearse His character and let it interpret our circumstances. His holiness humbles us; His mercy lifts us; His faithfulness steadies us. [24:38]
• 5. Surrender amid shame, doubts, and unknowns Mary said yes knowing it could cost her reputation, without having all her questions resolved, and without a full map of the future. Faith is not the absence of uncertainty but trust in God’s word in the middle of it. That kind of yes is worship. [31:33]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - Snowy tree-cutting and nostalgia
• [02:36] - Christmas myths quiz
• [07:12] - Why we don’t worship Mary
• [08:13] - Four Marian doctrines examined
• [14:46] - Gabriel’s announcement; Mary’s yes
• [16:49] - What worship is
• [18:46] - Savior and Lord: whole-life allegiance
• [20:00] - Rich young ruler: the lordship test
• [22:09] - Changed affections over rule-keeping
• [24:38] - God’s character that fuels worship
• [26:47] - Mercy and justice at the cross
• [28:46] - A testimony of God’s faithfulness
• [31:03] - How to worship: surrender in practice
• [35:43] - Choose worship this Christmas

Bible reading (ESV)
Luke 1:28-38
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
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,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
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.
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.
For nothing will be impossible with God.”
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

1. What greeting and title does Gabriel use for Mary in the opening verse of the passage? [14:46]
2. What two immediate reactions does Mary show when Gabriel speaks to her? [15:40]
3. List the three specific things Gabriel tells Mary about the child to be born (name, identity, reign). [15:16]
4. What words does Mary use to accept God’s plan? Where in the passage does she say them? [16:08]

Interpretation questions (third person)

1. How does Mary’s declaration “I am the servant of the Lord” function as both worship and surrender in the narrative? [16:08]
2. What is implied by calling God both “Lord” and “Savior” in the surrounding passages, and why does that tension matter for a believer’s commitments? [17:04]
3. In what way does the rich young ruler example highlight the “lordship test” and how might that test show up differently in people’s lives today? [20:00]
4. What does the sermon mean by saying affections, not rules, reorder the heart—how does that alter the approach to spiritual growth? [22:29]

Application questions (personal and specific)

1. Identify one area of your life (money, time, relationships, career, habits) where you have trouble letting Jesus be “Lord.” What is one concrete, specific first step you will take this week to surrender that area to him? [20:00]
2. Describe a time when you obeyed rules but did not love Jesus more for it. What regular practice will you start this month to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8)—where and when will you do it? [24:23]
3. Mary risked shame by saying yes. Is there a reputation, relationship, or comfort you are protecting that keeps you from obedience? Name it and one risky, practical action you can take in the next 30 days to move toward obedience. [31:33]
4. What question or doubt do you carry that you’ve been waiting to have fully answered before you trust God? How will you bring that question to God this week and what small act of trust will you do even without all the answers? [34:01]
5. The sermon clarified that Christians worship Jesus alone, not Mary. How would you briefly explain to a friend why Jesus alone is mediator and redeemer (pick one Bible verse to use)? Prepare a two-sentence explanation you could say this week. [07:12]
6. Worship shows up in ordinary places (singing, prayer, listening, obedience). Pick one ordinary moment this coming week (a commute, a meal, a work break) and plan a specific worship practice for it (e.g., sing a short song, read two verses, say a one-line prayer, serve someone). Who will check with you to help you follow through? [17:45]

(End of guide)