As our sermon series The Gospel of Luke, Part I: The Arrival of the King continues, we witness the grace of God lavished upon Elizabeth and Mary and their response of praise. Likewise, we must continually be reminded of God’s abundant blessings in our lives and testify of His goodness to our fellow believers and unbelievers alike.

3 Things God did for Elizabeth:

• God allowed Elizabeth to learn through her unborn child that the Messiah had come.

• God gave Elizabeth a sweet sisterhood of faith with Mary.

• God gave Elizabeth a Savior.

3 Things God did for Mary:

• God gave Mary blessedness.

• God saved Mary through the child she carried.

• God did great things for Mary.

• God showed Mary that there is none like Him.

4 Things God does for those who Fear Him:

• God shows mercy towards those who fear Him.

• God gives grace to the humble.

• God satisfies the hungry.

• God keeps His promises.

4 Applications from Today’s Message:

• Receive Jesus as your personal Savior.

• Exalt the Lord.

• Rejoice in God your Savior.

• Repeat.

Key Takeaways

• Mary’s joy is not manufactured, but deep and real because she is truly seeing and personally experiencing God.

• True Christianity doesn’t stop at doctrine or morality, but erupts from our innermost being as we God more clearly and love Him more deeply.

• The gift of miraculous pregnancies for Elizabeth and Mary allowed them to relate to one another, understand one another, encourage one another, and praise God together.

• Mary rejoiced because her knowledge of God was not solely theological, but personal.

• Mary was an ordinary girl that God used in extraordinary ways.

• Mercy is not getting what we deserve for what we’ve done. All of us deserve death, but receive pardon through faith in Christ.

• Jesus didn’t come to save perfect people, but imperfect people who understand their need for a perfect Savior.

• Because the salvation that Christ came to accomplish has been accomplished, we can be certain that our future glorification will also be accomplished.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• Have you received Jesus?

• How will you exalt the Lord this week for your edification (reminding yourself of what God has done for you personally), for the encouragement of other believers, and for the evangelism of unbelievers?

• How will you intentionally rejoice in God your Savior this week?
  

Discuss with your community group:

• Why is it vital to mourn not only the consequences of our sin, but first and foremost grieve how our sin grieves God?

• Spend time praising God together for specific things He’s done for you and in you in this current season.
  

Passages Referenced 
Luke 1:39-56; Luke 1:13-18; Matthew 5:3-12; Colossians 1:15; 1 Peter 5:5.

Worship Set List

Worthy of More, Oh But God, A Thousand Hallelujahs, Doxology (Amen), Great Are You Lord