1st WISE WOMAN OF CHRISTMAS: ELIZABETH
"When Herod was king of Judah there was a priest named Zechariah. . . and his wife was named Elizabeth. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous and godly people. Their lives pleased God because they always did everything God commanded and they lived with a clear conscience before God. But they had no children, because Elizabeth had been unable to conceive and now, they were both too old." Luke 1:5-7
Elizabeth's Story: The Miraculous Birth of John the Baptist
Luke 1:5-25, 56-66
- "Your persistent prayers have been heard." vs. 13
- "Every word I've told you will happen at just the right time." vs. 20
"Some time later, Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months she never left her house. But she kept praising God saying 'The Lord did this for me!
He has shown his blessing and taken away my shame and pain.'" Luke 1:24-25
ELIZABETH WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE: To trust God's plan instead of being bitter
Action Plan: Continue to pray persistently and ask God for your heart's desire. To learn more about prayer, click here and watch this message from Pastor Buddy Owens.
2nd WISE WOMAN OF CHRISTMAS: MARY
"In the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a young virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph. The girl's name was Mary. The angel said, 'Greetings! God has chosen you for a SPECIAL BLESSING and he is with you!' Mary was frightened and confused and tried to figure out what this greeting might mean. So the angel said to her, "Don't be frightened Mary, for God has decided to bless you in a wonderful way!" Luke 1:26-29
Mary's Story: The Miraculous Virgin Birth of Jesus
Luke 1:26-56,
- "Mary was frightened and confused" vs. 29
- "Nothing is impossible with God" vs. 37
- "I am the Lord's servant and I accept his plans for me. Let it happen according to your word." vs. 38
- Elizabeth to Mary: "God has blessed you because you believed that God would keep his word." vs. 45
MARY WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE: To believe God's word instead of her fears
Action Plan: Read Mary's Song of Praise this week in Luke 1:46-55.
3rd WISE WOMAN OF CHRISTMAS: ANNA
"After the birth of Jesus Joseph and Mary took the baby to the Temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to God, because the law that God gave Moses said 'Every first born boy is to be dedicated back to God.'" Luke 2:22-23
"That day there was also a woman named Anna worshipping in the Temple courts. Anna was a prophetess and she was very old. She'd been a widow most of her life because her husband had died after being married only 7 years. Anna was now 84 years old and since she had no family, she never left the Temple courtyards. She stayed there day and night, worshiping God with prayers and fasting. Just as Simeon was dedicating the baby to God, Anna walked by and she paused to listen. Then Anna joined in praying for the baby and she thanked God for sending a Savior. From then on Anna talked about Jesus to everyone who was looking for redemption and freedom in Jerusalem." Luke 2:36-38
ANNA WAS BLESSED BECAUSE SHE CHOSE: To focus on God's presence and talk to everyone about Jesus!
Action Plan: Make a plan for who you are going to invite to Christmas services this year. Check out saddleback.com/Christmas for all info on Christmas at Saddleback.
Doable Discipleship: This week's special episode of Doable Discipleship continues a reading of the Christmas Story by Pastor Buddy Owens. New episodes release every Tuesday. To listen, click here.
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over, click here
