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SERIES: |
Christmas Dream |
MESSAGE: |
The Magnificent Mother of Messiah |
SPEAKER: |
Skip Heitzig |
SCRIPTURE: |
Luke 1 |
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MESSAGE SUMMARY
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is central to the story of Christmas. Unfortunately, people are greatly divided about her importance and her role. Some magnify her too much, making her more important than even Jesus. Others ignore her and fail to give her the esteem she deserves. Today, we briefly consider Mary and five notable attributes that formed her personality.
STUDY GUIDE
Recap Notes: December 18, 2016
Speaker: Skip Heitzig
Teaching: "The Magnificent Mother of Messiah"
Text: Luke 1
Path
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is central to the story of Christmas. Unfortunately, people are greatly divided about her importance and her role. Some magnify her too much, making her more important than even Jesus. Others ignore her and fail to give her the esteem she deserves. In this teaching, Pastor Skip considered Mary and five notable attributes that formed her personality.
- She Was Real (vv. 26-37)
- She Was Humble (v. 38)
- She Was Worshipful (vv. 46-19)
- She Was Scriptural (vv. 46-55)
- She Was Needful (v. 46)
PointsShe Was Real
- Jesus and Mary had a strong bond---one that may not have included Joseph (most scholars think he died early on in Jesus' life). Mary was the only person who was at both Jesus' birth and death.
- Many people get Mary wrong, elevating her to co-redemptrix (co-redeemer) with Christ, among other nonbiblical teachings.
- Though some people question Mary's historical precedence, Luke clearly conveyed Mary's life's coordinates; she was a real, historical person.
- In the text, we learn that an angel came to Mary stating a place (Nazareth), a person (Mary, a Jew), and a purpose (bringing forth a Son, Jesus).
- The Hebrew name for Mary---Miriam---means wished-for child or bitter. Mary's genealogy is found in Luke 3. She was from the tribe of Judah and was between twelve and fourteen years old when she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- Probe: Discuss what you were like when you were twelve to fourteen years old. Would you have been able to handle something as mind-boggling as a miracle from God? What does Mary's age tell you about her spiritual maturity?
She Was Humble
- Mary's last words to the angel were words of submission (see v. 38).
- Though Mary was special, she was also spiritual, exuding humility.
- Maidservant means slave maid. In antiquity, servants were free people and were compensated; slaves had no rights or legal privileges and had to obey their master.
- In effect, Mary was saying that the Lord came to a nobody in a no-place town; her privilege came in the person she bore.
- Probe: Why is humility a hallmark of honor for the Christian? Discuss the role of humility in the Christian's life (see Romans 12:16; Ephesians 4:2; Philippians 2:3; James 4:10).
She Was Worshipful
- Mary's prayer is known as the Magnificat in Latin.
- The words she used (magnifies, rejoiced, holy, etc.) are words of praise and proclamation.
- When life bumps up against you, what comes out? In Mary's case, it was praise and worship.
- If prayer is a window to the heart, Mary's heart was filled with hues of worship and wonder.
- Probe: Worship is an expression of reverence and adoration. Discuss how we are to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (see John 4:24), showing reverence (deep respect) and giving adoration (love and honor).
She Was Scriptural
- Over fifteen allusions connect Mary's prayer to the Scriptures, especially to parts of Hannah's prayer in 1 Samuel 2.
- This tells us that Mary had access to Scripture and memorized it.
- Notice some of the allusions:
- "Magnifies" (v. 46): Psalm 34:2-3
- "Savior" (v. 47): Isaiah 45:21
- "Blessed" (v. 48): Genesis 30
- "Done great things" (v. 49): Psalm 126:3
- "Holy is His name" (v. 49): 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalm 111:9
- In addition to Scripture, she knew theology: "To Abraham and to his seed forever" (v. 55).
- Probe: Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45). What comes out of your mouth when you're bumped? Is it Scripture or smut? One way to internalize Scripture is to memorize it. Share a verse you've memorized.
She Was Needful
- Mary was not immaculate and does not dispense grace. Rather, she was a sinner in need of a Savior---and she knew it.
- The greatest thing God did for Mary was save her; she is blessed among women as the receiver of the Savior.
- If you want to honor Mary, worship the Savior she bore.
- Mary included all Christians in her prayer with the phrase "from generation to generation" (v. 50). The same mercy God showed Mary is available to everyone.
- Probe: Discuss the key words Savior (someone who saves; see v. 47) and mercy (compassion and forgiveness; see v. 50). How is God's mercy connected to His salvation (see 1 John 4:19)?
PracticeConnect Up: Mary opened her prayer with the phrase "My soul magnifies the Lord" (v. 46). The word for
magnify is
megalunó. It means
to make or declare someone or something as great; to enlarge or increase. How do we enlarge our view of God through worship?
Connect In: How is Mary a model for us as believers? (Hint: think of her praise, her knowledge of theology and Scripture, etc.)
Connect Out: Pastor Skip reminded us that there are many false views of Mary. How can you reach out to individuals who have nonbiblical ideas about Mary and witness to them in truth and love?
OUTLINE
- She Was Real (vv. 26-37)
- She Was Humble (v. 38)
- She Was Worshipful (vv. 46-49)
- She Was Scriptural (vv. 46-55)
- She Was Needful (v. 47)