Grown-Up Christmas Questions: How Can I Be Sure of This? (Luke 1:18) Billy Russell 12/02/2018

Grown-up Christmas Questions

(Giving a Reason for Our Hope in Jesus)

“How Can I Be Sure of This?”

 

                                     “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this?                                           I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ ” (Lk.1:18)

                                             

Welcome to the Holy-days of wonder, awe, and mystery! The Incarnation is about what God was doing in sending Jesus to rescue us. Our new series centers on answering the questions found on the lips and hearts of the characters in the story of Jesus’ birth. Today, we explore Zechariah’s request for certainty of the birth of his son, John (Lk.1:11ff), the forerunner of Jesus. Can you give a reason for your hope in Jesus this Christmas?                                   

 

How Can We Be Sure of This?

 

• Trust the Prophetic Voice (Lk.1:19-20)- God has spoken! Listen.
  • We can trust the Word entrusted to us (by the angel Gabriel, Zechariah, Luke, through the Church, inspired by God’s Spirit).

 

• Entrust my Personal Need (Lk.1:11-17; 1:1-4)- It was personal for Zechariah/Elizabeth & for Luke/Theophilus.

    

•   We can entrust... the quiet and stormy desires of our hearts to God.
  • What personal matter do you need to entrust to God?

 

•   We can trust... God is at work revealing Himself to us through all that we are going through (life!).

                            

•   We can choose... to trust the Word who became flesh, Jesus!
  • We can live by faith because God can be trusted.

 

• Prepare to share your hope in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15)-
  • Celebrate the Incarnation- Jesus is our Immanuel! (God with us).
  • Understand Incarnation’s meaning and impact (knowing what the
  • Incarnation is and why you believe it).
  • Give a reason for your hope in Jesus.