The Gift of Others

Week 1

The Gift of Others

Purpose:

God’s intention all along has been for people to be in a right relationship with God and others. Within the incarnation moment, God was making a way for humanity to unite around the Savior and person of Jesus. Just as the birth of Jesus drew Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and the various onlookers together on that silent night, Jesus is drawing us back together in authentic and loving community.

Scripture Focus:

Luke 1:26-45; Genesis 2:18-24.

Emphasize humanity’s need for community and show how Mary needed the encouraging presence of Elizabeth and Zechariah after she found out she was pregnant with the Messiah.

Sermon Introduction:

Opening Question: (Show of hands) How many would say, “ALL the relationships in my life are right, good, and leave me with a deep sense of joy?” How many would be honest and say, “I have some relationships (whether at church, home, or your workplace) that feel distant?”

This morning my assignment is to talk to you about how the birth of Jesus makes a difference in our relationships and our sense of commUNITY. God is revealed to us in perfect community within himself. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect community and are completely satisfied with each other. God created us to join him in this community and be the center of our relationships. Humans, being made in the image of God, have been given a wonderful gift in others. Practically, this means people will do best when they are in an encouraging community with God and one another. Through Jesus Christ, people can be part of the community with God and others, which was God’s intention from the beginning.

Sermon Outline:

Read: Luke 1:26-45

Luke 1:26–45 ESV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Observation:

Isn’t it interesting, just after the angel visited Mary and gave her the incredible news that she would give birth to the Savior of the world, Mary felt compelled to visit her aunt and uncle (Elizabeth and Zechariah). Most likely, Mary needed the comfort and encouragement from someone else who was experiencing a miraculous pregnancy. The angelic news was too much to bear on her own. Mary needed community and the gift of others.

Community was God’s idea from the beginning.

Genesis 2:18-24 – Note: The plural identity of God, “Let us make…”

Genesis 2:18–24 ESV

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

The Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect community and are completely satisfied with each other. The Father loves and enjoys the Son and the Spirit, the Son loves and enjoys the Father and the Spirit, and the Spirit loves and enjoys the Father and Son. God created people to join him in this community. Out of this perspective of community, humanity was created.

Question: Does the “Lone Ranger” image fit into God’s plans for his people?

Question: What words describe a relationship?

Helper - come alongside of and live life together

Intimacy - bone of bone, flesh of flesh (no shame)

Unity - the two will become one

The BIG Dilemma - Sin was and is a community breaker.

Sin wrecked relationship between God and humankind and sin wrecked relationship between people.

*Share examples.

God’s GRAND Solution - God sent his Son to save people and restore community (relationships) (Luke 1:26-33; 1 Corinthians 12:27).

1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

God who is relational, created a space where he and humanity could dwell together and once again be in authentic community. It all begins through a relationship with Jesus.

Mary and Elizabeth show us two unique ways to practice authentic community with others:

When a need arises, take the initiative and share it with others.

Revisit the section in Luke 1:39-40 when Mary hurried to Elizabeth’s home.

Luke 1:39–40 ESV

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

*Share a story of you or someone in the church taking the initiative to pursue others.

When someone shares a need, listen and bring spiritual encouragement.

Revisit the section in Luke 1:41-45 when Elizabeth greets and blesses Mary with spiritual encouragement.

Luke 1:41–45 ESV

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

*Share a story of you or someone in your church bringing spiritual encouragement to someone who shared a need.

Reflection Questions:

Where does the church fit into God’s plan of community restored?

How should the church be a space where God and people dwell together?

How does Jesus draw people together in unity?

Are there any relationships in your life that need to be repaired so that you can experience deeper levels of transformation and unity?

Application:

Community matters to God. Everyone flourishes when we make time for our relationship with God and people.

God really loves people. We need to value people as God does. Pray that God would give us the grace to do this.

Conclusion:

We will do best in community with God and his people. This Christmas, as always, it is good to reflect on the fact that God loved the world so much that he sent his Son so that we can be saved. In addition to this, ponder the fact that Jesus has made it possible for harmonious community, as God intends it to be, a reality that you experience. An authentic relationship with God and people awaits us through the grace made possible by Jesus Christ.

700 years before Jesus came onto the scene, the prophet Isaiah used the symbolic name, Immanuel (Is.7:14) to describe the coming Messiah. Immanuel means God with us! There is now a space where God and humanity can dwell together. God invites us through Jesus to be part of his community.

*Provide an invitation to enter a relationship with God and his people.