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Motherhood: From Fairytale to Reality (Luke 1:26-28)


Motherhood: From Fairytale to Reality

A Glimpse into Mary’s Life as the Mother of Jesus

Mary was not….
  • A mediator between God & men
  • To be worshiped, enshrined, or idolized
  • A perpetual virgin
  • Sinless (Immaculate Conception, 1854)
  • Bodily ascended into Heaven (Assumption, 1950)
Mary was…

A Mother in Tough Circumstances: Luke 1:26-38
  • “But she was greatly troubled…” v.29
  • “Do not be afraid, Mary…” v.30
  • “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” v.34
  • "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife” (Matthew 1:20)
  • “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother…’and a sword will pierce through your own soul also’”(Luke 2:34-35)
  • “And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.’ [49] And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?’ [50] And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.” (Luke 2:48-50)
Favored & Blessed

  • “you have found favor with God” v.30
  • “For nothing will be impossible with God.” V.37
  • “that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”(Matt.1:20)
  • “For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed [49] he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” (Luke 1:48-49)
Trusting & Obedient
  • “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” v.38
  • “My soul magnifies the Lord, [47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Luke 1:46-47)
Raising Her Son to Love & Obey God

  • And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2:22)
  • And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (Luke 2:40)
A Sinner, yet Christ-focused: John 2:1-5

  • “When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” [4] And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” [5] His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” v.3-5
A Disciple First, A Mother Second: Matthew 12:46-50

  • “And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” V.49-50
  • “his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)
Loved & Cared for by Her Son: John 19:25-27

  • “but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ [27] Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
Loved & Cared for by Her Husband: Matthew 1:18-25

  • “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:19)
  • “knew her not until he had given birth to a son.” (Matt.1:24)

The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)


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The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20)

[10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [19] and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)

BE STRONG in the Lord
  • Who?
  • Whose?
  • “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”(1 John 4:4)
PUT ON the whole armor of God
  • Why?
  • you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil
  • we do not wrestle against flesh and blood
  • but against: the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places
“8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

What?
BELT: Truth
BREASTPLATE: Righteousness
SHOES: Gospel of Peace
SHIELD: Faith
HELMET: Salvation
SWORD: Word of God

How?
“7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:7-8)

Journey to the Cross: The Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)


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A Journey to the Cross: The Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (English Standard Version – ESV)
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, [2] and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Remember the Gospel
  • “Now I would remind you, brothers” (v.1)
  • “of the gospel I preached to you, which you received”(v.1)
  • “in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” (v.1-2)
Center your life on the Resurrected Christ

Humble yourself before God

  • “one untimely born” (v.8)
  • “I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (v.9)
  • “by the grace of God I am what I am” (v.10)
  • “his grace toward me was not in vain” (v.10)
Live & Share the Gospel

  • “I delivered to you…what I also received” (v. 3)
  • “I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the Grace of God that is with me” (v.10)
  • “so we preach and so you believed” (v.11)
  • “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (v.58)

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