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Preparing for the Sermon - Luke 1:46-56; 2:1-20

December 21, 2020 by Dalton Vansell Preparing for Sunday
Christmas Eve event

Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

This past week we started a Christmas series in the gospel of Luke. We looked at Luke 1:26-45, and you can watch or listen to that sermon here. On Christmas Eve we’ll be looking at Mary’s response of worship in Luke 1:46-56, and this coming Sunday we’ll look at the birth of Jesus in Luke 2:1-20.

Carefully Think

  • Read Luke 1:46-56. How does this reflect the response of Mary we saw last week in vv. 26-45? What is Mary responding to in this section?
  • What is the main thing Mary does in these verses? What are the reasons she offers for exalting the Lord and rejoicing in him?
  • Did Mary know her OT? How is that reflected here? What does she know about the child she will have in light of the OT?
  • Read Luke 2:1-20. What is the focus of this passage as a whole? How is that different from how the birth of Christ is generally presented?
  • How is the birth of Christ spoken of in vv. 6-7? Was he glowing? Was Mary glowing? Where are the halos? How is it maybe, less than ordinary?
  • Who are the royal guests who come to see this newborn king? How were shepherds viewed during this time period?
  • Consider the proclamation of the angel(s) in vv. 9-14. Who was this baby?
  • What was the response of the shepherds in vv. 15-20? How did Mary respond in v. 19?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • Consider Mary’s response to Elizabeth in Luke 1:46-56. How did she view the child that she would give birth to? How is Mary exemplary for us?
  • How informed was Mary about the coming Messiah? How did she come to understand and believe these things?
  • How is what Mary said regarding the proud and the humble instructive for us and our response to the Messiah?
  • Consider the humility and glory of Christ in the incarnation as pictured in Luke 2:1-20.
  • Consider the proclamation of the angels in light of the rest of the NT. How should we respond to this good news?
  • Consider the response of the shepherds. How should we follow their example today?