Promise And Fulfillment | Luke 2:1-20
Promise And Fulfillment | God’s promise of a Messiah is finally fulfilled through the birth of Jesus. His birth in a stable, and visit from lowly shepherds foretell the kind of kingdom He is bringing. This story focuses on God’s kingdom, which will not be as expected, but upside down.
Promise And Growth | Luke 1:57-80
Promise And Growth | In spite of Zechariah’s doubt, God still fulfills His promises to give Elizabeth and Zechariah a son, John, the forerunner to the Messiah. God uses Zechariah’s time of being mute to grow his faith and further anchor his trust in the promises of God. This story focuses on God’s faithfulness, his testing, and the desired result of His testing.
Promise And Faith | Luke 1:26-46
Promise And Faith | God’s promises in the Hebrew Scriptures continue to take shape as the angel Gabriel visits a virgin named Mary, who is engaged to be married to a man named Joseph—from the ancestral line of King David. The angel tells her that the promises of God in the Scriptures of a Messiah will be fulfilled through the son she will bear through immaculate conception. In contrast to Zechariah’s response, rather than doubt, Mary responds to God’s promise in faith. This story focuses on God’s promises, and God’s desired human response, humility and faith.
Promise And Doubt | Luke 1:5-25
Promise And Doubt | The Hebrew Scriptures tell the story of God’s creation, humanity’s failure, and God’s faithfulness through the promise of a savior. The OT scriptures consistently testify that one will come to save the people from their sins, but with Malachi, the words of God go silent. 400 years of silence is broken by the appearance of an angel to a priest named Zechariah. The angel Gabriel proclaims God is sending the forerunner to the Messiah, and he is going to be born to he and his wife—even though they are barren. Zechariah hears this promise that seems impossible, and struggles to believe it could be true. This story focuses on God’s promises, humanity’s doubt, and God’s continuing work.