Sermon Manuscript122406
Sermon Worksheet & Manuscript
Robert L. Hutcherson, Jr.
Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church
Sermon Preparation/Delivery
Luke 1:46-55
“Magnificat: The REAL Christmas Spirit”
The Rev. Karla J. Cooper, Pastor
December 24, 2006
Sermon Worksheet & Manuscript
AUTHOR
1. Who wrote (or is credited with writing) the text?
2. From what perspective does the author write?
TEXT
" 46And Mary said: My soul exalts the Lord, 47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 51He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered {those who were} proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52He has brought down rulers from {their} thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." (Luke 1:46-55 NASBR)
BODY
If you're like me, you've heard the world's comments and evaluations of this time of the year. And one of the phrases that you hear a lot is "the Christmas spirit, we need to have the Christmas spirit."
And, of course, I began to think about that being somewhat analytical, just what is the Christmas spirit? And I suppose there are a lot of potential answers to that question. To Scrooge the Christmas spirit was a ghost. To the liquor industry the Christmas spirit comes in a bottle, somewhere around $75 million worth this month in America. Some people feel that the Christmas spirit is somehow the truce that takes place in the family where nobody brings up the issues, the quarrels. I suppose for some people the Christmas spirit is expressed in a card that conveys a sentiment of well being. Ninety-five percent of all Americans will be involved in sending five billion plus Christmas cards expressing these sentiments.
One little boy suggested that the Christmas spirit is really contentment because that's what you need to be when you don't get what you want. For some people the Christmas spirit is an attitude of happiness found in the fellowship of friends, or the party spirit while consuming 10 million to 15 million turkeys. For many, however, the Christmas spirit is not so trivial or so frivolous or so fun. For many the Christmas spirit is one of profound sadness, increased depression because all that is wrong in your life is then measured against the hilarity of the time and seems even more profoundly painful.
As one poet put it in a very personal expression of pain, "Christmas is a bitter day for mothers who are poor. The wistful eyes of children are daggers to endure. Though shops are crammed with playthings enough for everyone, if a mother's purse is empty there might as well be none." And then the poet ended with these words, "My purse is full of money but I cannot buy a toy, only a wreath of holly for the grave of my little boy." And Christmas is like that for some people.
For others it's a time for saying thanks for some very basic things. G. K. Chesterton years ago said, "When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings with toys at Christmas, why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?"
Mostly though, I guess the spirit of Christmas is giving presents, if the mall is any indication. Billions of dollars of worth as a result of people colliding and careening around in crowded stores, everything from nickel candy to multi-million dollar pieces of jewelry and everything in between and stuffing stockings and wrapping packages. And the spirit of Christmas, they tell us, is giving. And that's all right. I'm no Scrooge. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade. But I would just like to get down to the core of this deal...what is the true spirit of Christmas? Is it fun? Is it fellowship? Is it giving? What is it?
Well, as always, the best answer to that question is to go the Bible. And so I would like to take you to Luke chapter 1 and there we will find out what the spirit of Christmas really is. In this passage, Mary has made the journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also expecting a very special baby, John The Baptist. When Mary arrives at her cousins house and speaks to Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth's womb leaps for joy, reminding us that an unborn child is more than a mere blob of flesh. Elizabeth responds by telling Mary that she is blessed because she has believed the Lord and that God will do all that He has said He will do to and through her life. Hearing this, Mary, even though she is young, unmarried and pregnant, begins to lift her voice in praise to the Lord. In doing so, she reveals a heart that is in love with the Lord and also a mind that has been saturated with the Old Testament Scriptures. She teaches us that we can praise the Lord in spite of
our circumstances at the moment and that God's grace is sufficient even in the most troubled of times. Mary's great song of praise has come to be known as the Magnificat. This is the Latin translation of the first few words which Mary speaks and it literally means, "My soul celebrates the Lord." This doxology is a hymn of praise unto the Lord. It reminds us today that the birth of Jesus is about far more than gifts, trees, myths like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty, and my personal favorite, the Grinch. The Christmas season is about our relationship with the Lord and about learning to celebrate His glory and His goodness. Luke intended for us to see Mary’s attitude toward the birth of Christ as an example to us as believers. As we look at the godly characteristics of Mary this morning, let us be reminded as believers in Christ that we too can be used of God and blessed by God in a great and mighty way.
I. MARY’S HUMILITY
She accepted God’s will. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy Word.” There is no evidence of Mary thinking that she was any different than anyone else. She realized that above all women she was fortunate to be the one to bear the Christ child. We do not understand all the reason why Mary, above all women, was chosen to carry the savior, but it could have been because of her humility and humbleness and submissiveness before God.
Again, Mary said, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior.”
Mary was just a sinner saved by grace. In humility she recognized Jesus as her savior. So must you and I if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven. Notice verse 48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” Literally he has looked upon the low or humble condition of his handmaid. In spite of her rank and poverty, he has shown her favor.
This is proof that God is no respecter of persons. He is looking for a humble vessel that he can use for his glory. It is wonderful that God can take nobody’s and make some body’s out of them. God is not looking for wealth, rank or honor. He is looking for a lowly servant who is willing to be used for his glory.
On one occasion an orchestra presented Handel’s “Messiah” so beautifully that the applause was thunderous, and everyone turned toward the composer. Handel stood up and with his finger pointing upward, silently indicated that the glory should be given to God rather than to himself. That is exactly what the virgin Mary did as she talked to Elizabeth. It is as if she were saying, “Don’t praise me, but magnify the Lord who is my Savior.”
II. MARY’S HOPE
Mary put her hope in the promises of God. Mary undoubtedly knew the scripture. She recalled from scripture what God had done in past generations.
Notice verse 55, “As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.” Mary knew the promise that was made to Abraham that the generations from Abraham would be blessed as the sands of the sea forever and ever. She knew that God would fulfill his promise.
She rejoiced that she was chosen to bear the Messiah that was prophesied so long ago.
Notice her words, “For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” Mary knew the magnitude of what was happening because she was familiar with the promises of God.
Verses 50-55 are spoken out of great hope for a future fulfillment of prophecy. The coming of Jesus would fulfill that hope.
The coming of Jesus brought great hope to the world…but there is a hope yet to be fulfilled…the Second Coming of our Messiah to rapture his church! One day Jesus will come and put down all the wickedness in the world and show strength with his mighty arm by putting down Satan and his armies at the battle of Armageddon.
He will have mercy on them that fear him and serve him. The rapture of the church is the next event on God’s calendar. For the Christian this event gives us great promise and hope. For the unsaved it gives a prophecy of gloom and doom.
One of the greatest gifts of Christmas is hope and promise of a bright tomorrow. Do you know the Christ of Christmas personally or is he just a figure of Christmas like Santa Clause? He is a real and living Christ. His birth in Bethlehem’s manger gives great hope. There is no hope outside of this life except in Christ.
At the death of his son Willie, Abraham Lincoln was convulsed in sorrow. In an effort to console him, Dr. Francis Vinton said, “Your boy is alive in heaven!” “Alive! Surely you mock me!” “No”, said the minister. “It is accepted by many as a most comforting doctrine of the church and founded upon the words of Christ himself.” For a moment the President repeated in credulously, “Alive! Alive!” Then his sorrow went away.
“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces” (Is. 25:8). The “Sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (35:10)
The hope that Mary received from the announcement of Gabriel still brings hope to the world today,
“And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
Again in Luke 2:10 the angel said,
“Fear not; for, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
Christ has come to give the world hope. If you do not have the assurance of eternal life, there is great hope for your future in coming to Jesus Christ! THIS is the real spirit of Christmas!! Will you catch it today? Let us pray…
CHILDREN’S LESSON
Order of Worship
Sunday December 24h, 2006
11:00 A.M.
Opening Hymn…………………….” Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, Hymn 115
Doxology………………………………………………..All
Call to Worship……………………………….Bro. Robert Hutcherson
Hymn…………………………………… “Angels We Have Heard on High”, Hymn 118
Prayer…………………………………………..Bro. Robert Hutcherson
Prayer Response………………………………….Give Us This Day”
Scripture Reading……………………………..Bro. Robert Hutcherson
Decalogue………………………………………Bro. Robert Hutcherson
Gloria Patri………………………………………….Congregation
Sermon…………………………………………Bro. Robert Hutcherson
Invitation to Christian Discipleship………...””Jesus, the Light of the World”, Hymn 112
Altar Call/Offertory………………………………………All
Offertory Response……………………………”All Things Come Of Thee”
Affirmation of Faith…………………………………Congregation
Benediction……………………………………..Bro. Robert Hutcherson