A Surprising Plan / The Unexpected King

Devotional

Day 1: God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

Mary was a young woman in an unremarkable town who was asked to carry out the most world-changing role imaginable; the lesson is that God delights in starting great work in the places people overlook and will meet people right where they are, inviting them to say yes even when it doesn't all make sense. [07:40]

Luke 1:26-38 (ESV)
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, "Do not be afraid, 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.

Reflection: Name one ordinary place in your life (home, workplace, neighborhood) where God might be asking you to say "Yes" this week; what is one concrete action you will take before Friday to step into that place (a phone call, a meal, a helping hand)?

Day 2: Small acts of faith defeat great obstacles.

A young shepherd with no status stepped into a frightening situation and acted in faith, showing that courage and reliance on God — not pedigree or power — enable ordinary people to face overwhelming challenges and see God bring victory. [03:15]

1 Samuel 17:45-47 (ESV)
45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."

Reflection: Identify one fear or "giant" in your life that keeps you from acting in faith; what is one specific first step you will take today to confront it (pray, ask for support, make a plan), and who will you ask to hold you accountable?

Day 3: God redeems painful betrayal into purpose.

The story of Joseph shows that being rejected, hurt, or set aside does not remove God's calling; pain can become part of a greater plan when a person remains true to God and is willing to be used despite scars and setbacks. [01:58]

Genesis 37:23-28 (ESV)
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers listened. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

Reflection: Is there a wound, rejection, or betrayal you've carried? Write a one-paragraph prayer offering that pain to God and identify one practical step to let him redeem it (forgive, seek reconciliation, serve someone), which you will do this week.

Day 4: Prophecy reveals God's surprising plan of salvation.

The prophets gave glimpses of a Savior people did not expect — a sign that God’s ways often surprise human expectations and that the coming of the Messiah would not fit people's preconceived notions of power or prestige. [00:39]

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Reflection: When God's plans feel unexpected, what promise will you choose to hold onto? Memorize Isaiah 7:14 and speak it aloud right now; then name one person you will share this sign-of-hope with before Sunday.

Day 5: God calls ordinary workers into kingdom service.

Jesus chose fishermen and everyday laborers to be his disciples, showing that God equips ordinary, hardworking people to carry out ministry and that kingdom work often happens through simple, faithful service rather than public acclaim. [04:13]

Matthew 4:18-22 (ESV)
18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Reflection: List one ordinary skill or daily task you already do (cooking, bookkeeping, listening, fixing) and choose a specific way to use it for kingdom work this week (prepare a meal for someone, mentor, volunteer); schedule the time now.

Sermon Summary

All through Scripture, God keeps surprising us with who He uses and where He works. Joseph, sold into slavery, stayed true and God raised him up. David, just a shepherd boy, stepped into a giant moment with faith. Jesus gathered fishermen without status and taught them to reshape the world. That same pattern runs straight into Nazareth, a small, overlooked town where a young girl named Mary hears a word so big it could undo her life—and yet she says yes. The story of Jesus’ birth is the story of an unexpected King and the unexpected ways God moves.

Luke shows us Mary’s fear and confusion and also her favor. Gabriel names a Kingdom that won’t end, and that Kingdom begins in a womb before it ever shows up on a throne. Mary asks honest questions, not to avoid God, but to understand enough to obey. The Holy Spirit overshadows, Elizabeth’s miracle confirms, and Mary’s simple reply—“I am the Lord’s servant”—opens the door to God’s plan in the world.

This is our invitation too. God delights to begin great work in ordinary places and through ordinary people. It’s less about status and more about character, less about platform and more about presence. I felt that this week on Lyle Avenue, handing out meals and a pair of gloves on a cold morning. We weren’t the best chefs; we just showed up. Sometimes faith looks like opening your trunk and loving the person in front of you.

Even in a backyard football game, I saw it again—a younger, smaller player who didn’t have the edge others had kept going, and at the right moment, he was ready. We don’t have to be the strongest or the most prepared; we just need to keep saying yes. Jesus didn’t arrive as a military hero removing all evil in a day. He came near, loved the overlooked, and asked ordinary people to walk with Him. As we enter this season, the question is simple: what can you say yes to today?

Key Takeaways

1. God works through ordinary people and places God doesn’t wait for status to show up. He delights to begin in Nazareth-sized towns and unnoticed corners, because He’s shaping character, not chasing crowds. Your address and your résumé don’t limit Him; your willingness does. Live open-handed where you already are. [08:22]
2. Obedience when it doesn’t make sense Mary’s “yes” didn’t remove her fears; it reoriented them toward God’s presence. Obedience is often consent to holy mystery, not mastery of the plan. When we agree to what we can’t yet understand, we make room for God to do what only He can. [18:52]
3. Questions can live beside trust Mary asked, “How can this happen?” and she was still chosen. Honest questions aren’t rebellion; they’re part of relationship with a God who invites real engagement. Ask, listen, then walk forward with the light you have. [14:31]
4. Faith grows by moving toward need We prepared what we could, then we went—imperfect, present, and prayerful. Love isn’t theory; it’s embodied in simple acts that carry warmth on a cold wrist. You grow by going, and you find God already at work there. [17:33]
5. The King came low and near Jesus chose presence over spectacle, mercy over might, people over platform. His power is seen in healing the overlooked and sitting with the unwanted. When we mirror His way, small faithful acts become Kingdom seeds. [25:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - The Unexpected King theme
[01:28] - God uses unlikely people: Joseph
[02:45] - David the shepherd and Goliath
[04:13] - Disciples: ordinary fishermen called
[05:55] - Reading Luke 1:26
[07:40] - Mary receives impossible news
[08:22] - Nazareth: ordinary place, extraordinary plan
[12:31] - Mary’s question: How can this be?
[13:23] - God’s plan and our obedience
[16:02] - Lyle Avenue outreach story
[18:52] - Mary’s yes and a willing heart
[20:24] - Turkey Bowl perseverance story
[25:33] - The King who came lowly
[27:11] - Closing prayer and Advent focus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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, "Do not be afraid, 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 specific greeting does Gabriel give Mary, and how does the text describe her immediate reaction?
What promise does Gabriel make about the child’s identity and future rule (look at verses 31–33)? What words in those verses point to both kingdom and humility?
The preacher illustrated that God often begins great work in small, ordinary places (Nazareth). What concrete examples from the sermon show this idea in action? [08:22]
How does Luke describe Mary’s question and the angel’s reply about the Holy Spirit? What detail in verse 37 addresses Mary's doubt?

Interpretation Questions

How would someone reconcile the magnitude of the angel’s promise (an eternal kingdom) with the ordinary setting of Mary’s life in Nazareth?
When the sermon says obedience is often "consent to holy mystery," what would that mean for a person who must decide without full understanding? [18:52]
How might Mary’s question, "How will this be?" serve as a model for someone who wants to hold honest questions and still obey? [14:31]
In the preacher’s outreach story, volunteers prepared imperfectly and went anyway. How should someone evaluate when preparation is enough and when they must simply step out? [16:02]

Application Questions

Identify one ordinary place you already occupy (work, home, a neighborhood) that feels like "Nazareth" — small or overlooked. What is one concrete thing you will do there this week to serve or show up (time, a phone call, a prepared meal)? [16:02]
Think of a decision or invitation from God you don’t fully understand. What would saying “yes” look like in the next 48 hours (one specific action you can take)? [18:52]
Who in your life feels overlooked or cold (emotionally, physically, spiritually)? Choose a specific, doable gesture to offer them this month (a meal, gloves, a visit, a phone call) and set a day to do it. [18:01]
What honest question are you holding about God’s call in your life? Who will you bring that question to this week (a friend, leader, Scripture, or prayer), and when will you do it? [14:31]
Name one skill, job, or limitation you think disqualifies you from God’s use. How can you use that exact thing in one small, faithful act this season (list one action and when you will start)? [09:27]
The sermon pointed to keeping at the task until a decisive moment comes (the younger player who kept going). What long-term effort in your life needs steady persistence right now, and what is one measurable milestone to aim for in the next four weeks? [24:02]

Sermon Clips

He chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes. And as you see that as people gain power and as people gain authority and as people gain royalty, they don't even always do it perfectly. King David is a great example of a person who was given, earned some amazing power. And we know that he made some terrible choices along the way. And yet God still uses him in mighty, mighty ways. Pointing us to the story of Christmas. [00:04:50] (49 seconds) #OrdinaryToExtraordinary

``God delights in starting great work in the places that others overlook. When we have expectations that God is going to do mighty, miraculous things, and he's going to do it in the biggest places possible so everyone can see, sometimes he does that. More often, he works in his people no matter where they are. [00:08:10] (25 seconds) #GodUsesTheOverlooked

It's less about the spots you find yourself in. It's less about the status with which you hold. And it's more about who your character and identity truly is. Don't take a discount on the fact that we live here in Hilton or around this little city of Rochester. Don't take into discount the jobs that you are fulfilling in your life. Do whatever you do for the Lord. God can use you no matter where you are right now if you are willing to be used by him. God met Mary where she was. And he said, I'm going to give you a child. [00:09:04] (60 seconds) #CharacterOverStatus

Even though we may feel unqualified at times, maybe exactly where you are is a space where God needs you to be. Maybe knowing all of the right answers and all of the things is not exactly what God needs in the moment because God uses surprising ways, unexpected ways. Verse 31 to 34. Reread a little bit. You will conceive and give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor David and he will reign over Israel forever. [00:11:53] (51 seconds) #NeededWhereYouAre

When God has a plan, we said this last week. When God has a plan, he doesn't need us to fulfill his plan. He chooses us. He asks that we be obedient to him in all situations. So often, God's plans are so much bigger than our understanding, we have to choose where our faith is. Is our faith rested in him? Is our faith put in a place that I don't fully understand how we're going to get there? But I know that God does. And as God calls to me, things will become more clear. [00:13:17] (58 seconds) #TrustGodsPlan

But at a certain point, we can only prepare for so many things. And we just had to step out and go. We had to trust that God had our back. We weren't the absolute best chefs in the whole world. We weren't trying to create the best possible. We were trying to fill a need in a place that we could fill a need. Simply got to have a woman come up and we gave her a pair of gloves. And I just put my hands on her wrist because her wrist was so cold. Thanksgiving morning. Just to provide a small amount of warmth. [00:17:29] (42 seconds) #SmallActsBigWarmth

We're not called to go out in street ministry. I'm not personally called into street ministry every single day of my life. It's not like I need to flip my entire life upside down. But God has a plan. And just to show up. Just to say yes. Just to step forward. Is what God asks of us. Mary responded, I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true. And then the angel left her. I'm not sure in Mary's steps. Granted, I'm a guy. But I'm not sure in Mary's seat what I would respond here. [00:18:19] (59 seconds) #ShowUpAndSayYes

She is saying yes to something that's so massive and way too big for her to accomplish on her own. But what God can accomplish with a willing heart. What God can accomplish when somebody has a posture of humility. When God can accomplish when we trust in Him. When we surrender ourselves to Him. Through Mary, God changed the world. The greatest and most miraculous things that ever happened in the world. Moses parting the Red Sea. It's simply trusting that something that you don't understand how it can happen can happen because of God. [00:19:19] (66 seconds) #WillingHeartChangesWorld

God makes surprising, amazing plans. It doesn't always go the way that we expected. The Savior did not come as a military leader who just wiped out all the evil and just moved on with things. He didn't wipe all evil off the planet. He came as a shepherd. He came as a sheep. He came alongside. He loved the people that nobody else wanted to love. He healed the people that nobody else wanted to heal. This is the unexpected king. This is who I want to model my life after. [00:25:26] (45 seconds) #UnexpectedKing

God's not asking us to be perfect. He's asking us to fulfill the life that we're able to do, to be the best you you can possibly be, and to surrender ourselves to him. We can't always understand what the plans are. We can't always understand how God is going to use us in the future. But we can look around at the things God is asking us and say, what can we say yes to today? What incredible, surprising plan may be unfolding in your life right now that God is just asking you to take a step in the direction he's asking you to walk, to step in faith and follow him, because every person here can be used in mighty, mighty ways if we say yes. [00:26:11] (56 seconds) #SayYesToday

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What defines the unexpected kingship of Jesus?

How does questioning God coexist with obedience?

Why does God choose ordinary people for extraordinary purposes?