Which two candles are we lighting tonight? Yes, the Prophesy
and Bethlehem candles. Do you remember what the Prophesy candle symbolizes?
Right, hope! What helped the people in the bible to have hope? Yes, the
prophesies. Do you remember what a
prophesy is? Yes, an announcement about the future. Good job!
Do you remember what the Bethlehem candle symbolizes? Right,
humble preparation. This week we’re talking about humility and obedience. God uses our obedience in small things to carry
out his big plans
Do you remember yesterday’s story? Yes, an angle told
Zechariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a baby! But Zechariah
didn’t respond with a spirit of humble obedience, so the angle made Zechariah unable
to talk.
A few months later, God also the angle Gabriel to tell Mary
that she would soon give birth to baby Jesus, who would save the world from
sin, just like God promised. Let’s read about what happened:
Gabriel appeared
to [Mary] and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused
and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid,
Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will
conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very
great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him
the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his
Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a
virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power
of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and
he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has
become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s
now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “I
am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And
then the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38?
A few days later Mary went to visit Elizabeth and Zechariah.
Elizabeth told her:
“God has blessed you above all women, and your
child is blessed. Why am I so honored,
that the mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the
baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 You are blessed because you believed that
the Lord would do what he said.” Luke 1:42-45
Just like Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their son John were part
of God’s plan to save us from our sins, Mary was also part of the plan. Did
Mary respond to Gabriel with humble obedience? (Yes) What happened then? (God
blessed her)
Being Obedient to God makes us happy and joyful. What things
were you obedient to yesterday? What will you be obedient to today? Doesn’t it
feel good to be obedient?
(Optional: Read Mary’s song in John 1:46-55)
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