Dennis' Sermon Prep Workflow | Luke 1:39–45

luke 1:39-45

In a remarkable story, Mary, hearing of the pregnancy of her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, goes to visit her. When she arrives the baby, John the Baptist, when he hears the voice of Mary leaps in her womb.

John Praised because He Heard the voice of Mary, who carried the Savior.

Here’s our Big Idea for this week:

Worship isn't about the act, it's about the heart. True worship flows from delight in Christ, not duty.

Worshippers WORSHIP

The thing that’s so remarkable about this story is the fact that a baby leaps for joy at the sound of the voice of Mary. Though we could dig into the implications of this truth and the issue of Abortion, we won’t today, though I will say this is a strong and enduring example of the humanity and dignity of the life in Elizabeth’s womb and in the womb of every mother.

But this truth highlights the instinctive response of God's people to His presence and works. Worshippers don't worship because they are instructed to, we worship because God gives us His Spirit. John’s leap in Elizabeth’s womb is a spontaneous act of worship, demonstrating that those called by God are drawn to worship by the Holy Spirit.

There is no question if John will be obedient to God, there's no question if he will do what He's born to do: he worships and causes others to worship.

"Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to worship God acceptably. Only the Holy Spirit can impart the knowledge of Christ to our hearts, giving us the joy of worship that John experienced even in the womb.” -A. W. Tozer

This is God's sovereign grace in the life of John. John was chosen by God, from all the people's of the world, to be the herald of God's gospel. This is not based on the goodness of John. We find later that John suffered from all the same frailties and questioning that we all face. In Luke, John expresses the same questioning we all face at some point in our lives.

Luke 7:18–19 ESV

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

But those who belong to God will worship God. Why did John worship, because he belonged to Christ before the foundation of the world. John is one of the "whosoever will", John was chosen for a specific purpose, to prepare the way for the Messiah, and his leap of joy is seen as an early recognition of that divine calling. His response is viewed as the work of the Holy Spirit, a sign of God’s initiating grace. It reveals that God’s call and purpose for individuals are established even before birth (Jeremiah 1:5).

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

God has a purpose, and he uses worshippers to accomplish that purpose, and what is that purpose: To Praise the Lord.

That God would endow an infant in utero and an elderly mother-to-be with the Holy Spirit and not a priest or a member of the Pharisees illustrates Mary’s testimony in the Magnificat that the humble and needy are favored over the powerful and privileged (1:52–53).

The three family members are filled by the Holy Spirit not for their own benefit but to empower them for witness.

John came to proclaim God's unfolding, redemptive plan, and like John our worship is supposed to point to something, or someone:

Worshippers Worship CHRIST

We are natural worshippers. Worship actually comes easy to us. The great author C. S. Lewis once noted:

"I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise… The world rings with praise—lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game. … I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”

— (Reflections on the Psalms)

We love to worship. We crave it.

That’s why we worship every day. We worship art, and literature, we worship the theater that plays on small screens in our pockets.

We worship games, and skill, and sport.

We are natural worshippers.

But true worshippers don't just worship anything. Being a worshipper without the right object of worship is idolatry.

In our story, John leapt for joy. This was more than just excitement for hearing the voice of Mary, it was recognition of who Jesus was, Jesus was the Messiah come to save God's people. True worship is not just good feelings, it's a response to the truth of Who God is.

True worship demands a True object.

Lewis continues, "The same is true of worship. It is the fulfillment of our joy in the One who is truly worthy."

Tozer agrees:

"Worship is the missing jewel of the church. We are called to worship God with our whole being. If we do not worship God, we will worship something else. The danger is not in failing to worship but in worshiping the wrong things—things that are not God. Idolatry is the worship of anything that is not God, and it leads us away from the true purpose for which we were created."

The problem with our worship is that our worship is idolatrous. And God will not allow his children to worship anyone or anything else but him.

The first commandment in Exodus 20:3

Exodus 20:3 ESV

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Jesus also calls us to worship. Matthew 22:37-40 gives us the Great commandment:

Matthew 22:37–40 ESV

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Worship is not just adoration, it's an acknowledgement of who God is in truth and Spirit (John 4:24). And that realization demands action and that action is worship.

Chris Tomlin wrote a song several years ago that expresses this:

“Before the day, before the light Before the world revolved around the sun God on high stepped down into time And wrote the story of His love for everyone

He has filled our hearts with wonder So that we always remember

You and I were made to worship, you and I are called to love You and I are forgiven and free You and I embrace surrender, you and I choose to believe Then you and I will see who we were meant to be

All we are and all we have Is all a gift from God that we receive Brought to life we open up our eyes To see the majesty and glory of the King

He has filled our hearts with wonder So that we always remember”

Worship isn't just an external act of adoration; it’s an internal delight in the One we worship. Just as John leapt for joy at the mere sound of Mary’s voice, we, too, should respond with joy at the recognition of who Christ is. And this joy—this delight—is what we are called to nurture in our hearts. Worship is not only what we do, it’s also how we feel, and that feeling comes from the Holy Spirit's work in us.

Worshippers worship and delight in Christ

John worshipped when He heard the mother of Christ because it was Christ upon whom his soul delighted, and that delight was a gift of the Holy Spirit.

True worship is a partnership between the Spirit of God and the heart of the worshipper.

Psalm 37:4 ESV

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Notice what this verse says. If we’re not careful, we’ll miss it: Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires, or delight, of your heart.

When we love God, our hearts are aligned with him, and he gives us our desires because our desires are attuned with God’s desires.

John's leap is not just spontaneous, but a reflection of his deep joy in the Messiah. John delights in Christ, and so that is what he gets!

Do you want to see God move in your life? Do you want to receive the desire of your heart, then attune your desires to his!

We are to delight in the Lord like John, but how? How can we cultivate a joyful delight in Christ that moves beyond the emotions of the moment to a deeper, sustained joy in our Savior.

As we move into this Holiday season, how can we center our delight on Christ?

1. Meditate on His Word. (Psalm 1:2)

Psalm 1:2 ESV

but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

I know I may sound like a broken record, but if we’re going to delight in God, it starts with delighting in his word. You study what you delight in.

Several years ago I got a drone for Christmas. When I got it I spent hours pouring over the instructions on how to make this drone fly and take pictures. Why? Because I delighted in it

2. Worship Him Daily. (Psalm 145:5)

Psalm 145:5 ESV

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Through prayer and song. By praising Him for what He's done we fill our hearts with worship of him.

3. Rejoice in Salvation (Psalm 51:12)

Psalm 51:12 ESV

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Reflect on the grace you've received in Christ.

4. Serve Others in His Name (Matt. 25:40)

Matthew 25:40 ESV

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Call to Action 1: Cultivate Daily Worship and Delight in Christ

"Let us commit this week to prioritize worship in our daily lives. Take time each day to meditate on God’s Word, and allow it to stir your heart toward deeper joy in Christ. Let’s not let the busyness of the holiday season distract us from delighting in the Savior. As we move into the Thanksgiving season, this is a wonderful time to practice thankfulness. Take some time over the next few weeks to begin your time of prayer by telling God what you're thankful for.

As John leapt for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice, may we too experience the joy of Christ in our hearts, moving beyond fleeting emotions to a deep, sustained delight in Him. Begin each day by spending time in prayer and worship—whether through reading Scripture, singing, or reflecting on His goodness. Let this be a time of renewal for your soul as we anticipate the coming of Christ."

Call to Action 2: Reflect on Your Worship and Serve Others

"Take a moment today to reflect on what you are truly worshipping. Is it Christ, or have you allowed other things to take His place? Let the Holy Spirit guide you to realign your heart with the truth of who Jesus is.

Also, as we move into this season of giving, look for one opportunity to serve others in the name of Christ. As a family, seek a way to serve others together. Serving is a tangible expression of worship, and it helps us delight in Christ by reflecting His love to those around us. Ask God to show you how you can bless others this season and be a light that points back to the Savior."