Sermon Central
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Preparing For The Unexpected
Contributed by Vinnie Cappetta on Dec 19, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: God wants to do the impossible with you. How can you prepare yourself to be part of His plan? How can you prepare yourself for life’s unexpected moments?
Preparing for the Unexpected
Hook: What things do each year to prepare for Christmas?
Each holiday season, we spend a great deal of time preparing for the expected. Trees, presents, pix with Santa, etc.
Mary didn’t have that luxury.
Imagine you were Mary...
Unexpected pregnancy, nearly divorced, cousin’s unexpected pregnancy after being barren, trip to Elizabeth’s (130 miles) trip to Bethlehem to pay taxes (130 miles).
Mary knew about the unexpected and unwished for
In her story, we see how God works through unexpected circumstances
Mary was a virgin yet she was pregnant
Off all women, God chose Mary (an engaged woman)
Imagine the stigma that followed Jesus
Imagine Mary being pregnant, but not wanting to tell anyone because of the shame it could bring on her
On the surface, she seemed dishonorable, in God’s sight she was honorable
How did Mary prepare for the unexpected?
How can we prepare for the unexpected?
See if you can find some clues . . .
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God." 38 "I am the Lord’s servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Her Fear
Greatly troubled and wondered about greeting
Frightened when God spoke to her
Why? Because His ways were not her ways
Impossible
v.34 How will this be?
Impossible that she could be the one
Impossible that she could get pregnant b/c she was engaged
Angel: “nothing is impossible with God”
Overshadowed
This is the answer to the question, “How will this be?”
Mary’s response: “I am the Lord’s servant”
Her Standing
“Highly favored” not dishonorable
“May it be as you have said”
Power of saying what God is saying
God’s ways are not your ways; when He speaks it might be frightening to you.
Deal with your fear like Mary did.
Speak it like Mary did, do not hide it.
How are you dealing with the fear of the unexpected?
Expect the impossible
In what ways does God want to stretch your faith?
Let HS overshadow you
Are you allowing God more and more control?
Embrace your standing
Do you really understand how favored you really are?
Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
Crossroads Community Church
Framingham, MA
crosscommchurch.org
