Commitment Or Contribution
CHRISTMAS ADVENT: WEEK #3
Mary and Joseph
Luke 1:26-38
Matthew 1:18-25
INTRODUCTION –
FRAME --
Luke 1:26-38
26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
34Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37For nothing will be impossible with God."
38And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
FRAME --
Matthew 1:18-25
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "God with us."
24And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
God is all about the impossible. That is never more evident than through the Christmas story. Mary and Joseph are asked to do what seems from a human standpoint to be impossible. Let us look at what the impossible might mean in our lives through five non-negotiables.
When God asks you to do what seems impossible. . .
NON-NEGOTIABLE #1. . . it is extremely .
NON-NEGOTIABLE #2. . . it often doesn't .
NON-NEGOTIABLE #3. . . it must be done .
NON-NEGOTIABLE #4. . . it is part of a .
NON-NEGOTIABLE #5. . . it requires a .
CONCLUSION -- What is God asking you to do that seems impossible? Are you more about you and your plans? Or, are you willing to listen to God?
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