Richvale Community Church
Sunday, November 30 2025
- Good morning! I trust you had a great Thanksgiving.Christmas season has already begun ready or not!As we step into the Advent season, we are beginning a new series’s entitled .. “The Songs of Christmas.”Over the next few weeks, we’re going to explore the songs that rise out of the Advent in Luke’s Gospel—These songs are—where ordinary people are moved by God’s works in Salvation..To the point that they couldn’t contain their praise… that they burst into extravagant worship through -song..Worship isn’t a new idea.It goes all the way back to the beginning—.Scripture teaches us that Even before creation, worship filled heaven.Job tells us that when God laid the foundations of the earth…there was worship..
Job 38:7 ESV 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?Not only has worship been arround since the beginning. but we were we created to worship…We are designed for worship..because we were created for a relationship with our Creator.Our deepest joy is found in Him. And when our joy is centered on Him, we find completion..Throughout the centuries, God has filled His people with songs.The Bible is full of Songs of praise..We have the song of Moses and Miriam after Israel crossed the Red Sea.We have the songs of David and the sons of Korah in the psalms.We have the songs of the joy of Advent in the gospels..We have the song of the Lamb of God in THE BOOK OF Revelation.From beginning to end of the bible , from book end to book end ..God’s story is a singing story.This continues throughout Church Historywhere we have voices that shaped and still shape worship.From..Martin Luther in the Reformation.Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley in the Great Awakening.Wesley alone wrote more than 6,500 hymns—Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, and countless others.New songs and Hymns are still being written today…Gaithers, the Gettys, Sovreign Grace, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong, Brandon Lake…God keeps giving His people new songs….Darlene Zschech (zseck) from hill song In her book Extravagant worship puts it like this“the greatest songs are still to be written, and the resource of our creative, expansive, generous, ever-loving God is inexhaustible!”Darlene ZschechThat is what songs are stilling being written today..We looking at Songs of Christmas from the book Luke - ..Luke’s is not only the most comprehensive Gospel, but the most musical of the all gospels..It is interesting..God chose Luke—a Gentile, a physician, a careful investigator—to write this Gospel.He wasn’t an apostle, but he traveled with them. He listened to eyewitnesses. He examined everything closely. His goal was accuracy, clarity, and truth.Let’s read our text…said introduces the gospel..Luke 1:1–3 ESV 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,Luke begins by addressing “Most Excellent Theophilus.” Who was he?He may have been a Roman official—someone of high status.. Apparently he was a new believer needing clarity and encouragement. The early church father Origen suggested the name might even be symbolic—since Theophilus means “one who is loved by God.”Speaking of the whole church..Regardless..Here is the thing..Whether Luke wrote to a single individual or to all believers as a whole, hispurpose is clear:Luke wants his readers to have a trustworthy, account of the story of Jesus.The birth of Jesus wasn’t legend. It wasn’t myth. it was not coincidence.It was God’s divine plan unfolding at the perfect moment…T/sLuke starts by showing us that God has always been working out his plan. That.1. God Prepares for the Miracle in AdvanceI recently read that Amazon receives and sends out over 17 million packages every single day…But at Christmas, that number rises into the billions.Just think about what it takes to get one package to our doorsteps: there are Workers who pack it,sorters organize it, loaders move it,and drivers navigate traffic to deliver it. They say between 10–15 people touch one package——before it reaches our homes.And when you multiply that by billions of packages at Christmas…Wow,, it’s mind-boggling. The coordination. The timing. The planning.In the same way,Long before the miracle of Jesus’ birth, God was already arranging the timing,preparing the people, and orchestrating the circumstances—quietly, faithfully—until everything came together perfectly.Luke shows us the behind-the-scenes through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth.Let’s read:.Luke 1:5–7 ESV 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.We are introducedTo Zechariah and ElizabethZechariah was a priest, and Elizabeth came from the daughters of Aaron.In essence Elizabeth was a preachers kid…They were both raised in devotion to the Lord. In priestly families…Even though they were godly people they struggled.. their personal story was marked by deep pain.Elizabeth was barren. In ancient Israel, a woman who couldn’t have children were often seen as a failure. Elizabeth, now older, had carried that disappointment for years.there is a great lesson here Being faithful doesn’t always mean prayers are answered right away. If doesn’t mean we don’t have struggles..Zachariah and Elizabeth were righteous and blameless, yet their longing went unfulfilled.But..Their story fits a pattern in Scripture:Where God often allowed woman to be barren …because…he had something greater in mind Abraham and Sarah waited decades for Isaac.Rachel cried out for years before having children.Samson and Samuel were born after long seasons of barrenness.. God often works through disappointment,And reverses fortunes to show us his glory..Psalm 30:5 “..Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”What seemed like a dead end was actually the beginning of God’s work. Elizabeth’s would give birth to a son named John— John would be the forerunner of Christ, the one who would prepare the way, And call God’s people to repentance, and ready their hearts for the Lord.Elizabeth reminds is that even faithful people walk through long seasons of disappointment and difficulty. God may lead us into a season, but He always leads us through it. Nothing in His plan leaves us stuck. Nothing in His timing is wasted.Here is the thing..The God who comes near at Christmas is the same God who conquers at Easter.The cradle and the cross are chapters in the same story—God is a God who steps into our waiting..moves in our weakness, and brings His purposes right on time.FIRST God prepares the way through Zechariah and Elizabeth. Then through MaryGod Prepares MaryLuke continues the story:Luke 1:26–31 ESV 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.Luke GIVES US A TIME LINE. “In the sixth month…” Sixth month of what?The sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.I’ll be honest—it took me a moment to figure that our.l As men, we don’t usually measure time in pregnancy months. But Pam reminded me: for a woman carrying a child, every month matters. Every step is counted. Every movement, every change is noticed.In our text.. God is orchestrating two stories at the same time.,..He is moving the pieces on the divine chess board.. and he Already known the plays all the way to the end..When Gabriel appears to Mary,Elizabeth is already showing… .Long before the manger,long before the shepherds hear the angels,long before Jesus takes His first breath, God is arranging the timing, preparing hearts, and setting the stage…Here is the thing..: Often, we feel like God is behind or that life is unpredictable.But Scripture reminds us—God is always already at work, preparing the next chapter of our story before we even see it.Mary has an Encounter with Gabriel..Mary is a young teenager, likely in her early to mid-teens, living with her parents in the small village of Nazareth.You would imagine that the appearance of an angel would have been a frightening . —Yet she remains calm! See is more concerned about the greeting…Gabriel says.,“Greetings, O favored one.”Those words alone sent her mind racing. Why would heaven know her name?Why would God single her out?Why would God choose her?She wonders how someone like her could receive such honor?Then Mary is the given a promise.She will conceive and bear a Son, and she is to name Him Jesus—Yeshua, “The Lord is Salvation.”Gabriel goes further and reveals Jesus’ identity:“He will be great” —“The Son of the Most High” —“The Lord God (Kyrios Theos) will give Him the throne of His father David.” In Semitic thought, “son of” means “the exact representation of.”Or a carbon Copy… of the Father..In other words… Mary isn’t simply being told she will raise a prophet or a king—she is being told she will carry the One fully equal with YHWHThat .God Himself has entered the world inside her womb.That is a lot to take in! The weight of it, the mystery of it, the impossibility of it—all landing on young shoulders.This encounter between Mary and Gabriel.. teaches something important:..Before your song is sung, God is already writing the score.He arranges the moments.He sends the right voices.He gives the confirmations.He lays out the provisions.Mary shows us the importance of walking by faith—of holding onto God’s word even when you don’t see how it will all work out.She simply says,“Be it unto me according to your word.”Frist..1. God Prepares for the Miracle in Advance2 — God Forms the Miracle in the Waiting RoomMost of us don’t enjoy waiting rooms or the Dmv… I found this cartoon… that illustrates the experience.. caption says “Have you been waiting long…”He looks like he is in poor shape.. We all know the the feeling waiting..In the Bible God often works in the waiting room.The prophet Isaiah wrote..young men stumble old men get weary..but..“Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”Here is the thing about waiting on the Lord…is it exposes our hears…our need for the Lord..Andrew Murray the South African theologian.. wrote extensively in prayer.The great secret of a right waiting upon God is to be brought down to utter impotence.Andrew MurrayYou see,Waiting heightens our dependency on God..We have all been there..Wait for resultsWe wait for response to resume..We have waited for the anniversary or celebration.. we have waited in airports for loved ones..There is a blessing in waiting.. because .when God answers..if is on his schedule..After the Angel give Mary the news about Elizabeth we told that Mary - rushes to Elizabeth’s houseMary travelled from Nazareth to the hill country in Judah —a journey of roughly five days on foot.Luke 1:39–45 ESV 39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”This journey must have felt like an eternity..…— The longest 5 day journey..ever.. …But then you have this moment when Elizabeth and Mary finally meet..Several amazing things happen..John the Baptist leaps in the womb, recognizing the Messiah’s presence.Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit.Elizabeth proclaims:“Blessed among women”“Mother of my Lord”“Blessed is the fruit of your womb.”This is a God moments..Elizabeth had no prior human awareness—about Mary’s pregnancy..Elizabeth has an revelation.. .. divine revelation.God confirms Mary’s miracle in a very real and tangible way.Each of Elizabeth’s words carries deep spiritual significance:“Blessed are you among women” –Mary is chosen for a unique role in salvation history.“Blessed is the fruit of your womb”– Refers not only to Jesus but to the blessings that will flow to all humanity.Elizabeth recognizes that participating in God’s plan is an incredible privilege. “Why is this granted to me?” –Up to this point in Luke’s story, the word kyrios (Lord) always refers to God Himself.But once Mary conceives, something shifts. When she enters Elizabeth’s home, Elizabeth says:“How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”For the first time in the Gospel, Lord is used to describe Mary’s unborn child.The same title used for God is now used for the baby Mary carries, showing that the Holy One is already present in her womb.Notice..Mary doesn’t rush home. She doesn’t panic about Joseph or the uncertainties ahead.She remains in the quiet space where God is forming her heartIn Elizabeth’s house,Here God is:preparing her emotionally and spiritually for the responsibility ahead.Forming her praise – teaching gratitude and worship before she sees the fulfillment.Deepening her understanding – showing her God’s faithfulness through Elizabeth’s confirmation..Frist..1. God Prepares for the Miracle in Advance2 — God Forms the Miracle in the Waiting Room3 — GOD TURNS His STORY INTO A SONGPam will at times introduce a new song… to be honest it takes me a minute to get I to it..but the n I really like th song.. once I get to know it.. most us struggle with the new…The book Psalms is book full of Hymns — and over and over it says… Sing to the Lord a New Song…There is this invitataion to be creative and to write new words… —-form scripture and our experience if the word..How does that look… I was reading..Darlene Zschech (zsek)book on Extravegant worship..She is known as a worship leader with Hillsong and a prolific songwriter. She-wrote so he“A the Cross’“Shout to the Lord”“Worthy is the Lamb”Her have been sing by millions of churches around the world…In her book Extravagant Worship, Zschech shares the process she uses in songwriting—She says that meaningful worship songs are“birthed through the well-worn path to the throne room of God.”They aren’t created by accident; they flow from time spent in prayer, Scripture, and heartfelt devotion.Whenever she begins a song, she opens the Bible and starts by worshiping , letting God’s Word guide her voice and her heart.when she writes a song see is seeking for songs where heaven touches earth.She says worship is not just performance—it is an encounter with God,This is what we find inMary’s song, the Magnificat, It was —a song born from a heart prepared by God,praising Him for His faithfulness and miraculous work in her life.Mary song is called the the Magnificat.—- which mean to magnify..Luke 1:46–55 ESV 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”Mary’s song, is her response to the incarnation ..arguably the first Carrol..It is a song that flows naturally from God’s work in her life and becomes a model for all worship.A. A Personal Song (vv. 46–48)Mary begins with a personal expression of praise:“My soul magnifies the Lord…” — μεγαλύνει (megalunei)The word magnifymeans “to make great”—not by increasing God, but by enlarging our response to Him.We can’t make God bigger than he already is … but we can magnify him in our own hearts..She continues:“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”Even before a single miracle is visible,Mary worships. She rejoices because God has:Seen her humble estateNoticed herChosen herPoured grace upon her. True worship begins in the heart, acknowledging God’s intimate work in our lives.B. A Theological Song (vv. 49–51)Tim Keller in his book Encounters with Jesus.. say thatWorship is not a surface-level emotional experience; it is a deep encounter with reality —the truth of who God is and what He has done. He says that..“Worship is grasping a truth about God and then letting that truth strike you in the center of your being.” Tim KellerMary’s worship is not merely emotional—it is Scripture-saturated and theologically grounded.Mary’s worship is characterized by her understanding—she“knows what she’s singing about” and is “gripped by the truths of the Christian messageShe declares:“For the Mighty One has done great things for me…”Her song praises God’s attributes:Power – He brings down the proudHoliness – He acts in purityMercy – He lifts the humbleIt is interesting that..Mary’s words echo Hannah’s song from the Old Testament and root her praise in the character of God, showing us that true worship is always anchored in who God is, not just what He does.Her song is a..C. A Generational Song (vv. 52–55)Mary’s song connects her personal moment to God’s ancient covenant.Her words stretch both backward and forward:Backward: To Abraham—the promise that through his seed all nations would be blessedForward: To Christ—the fulfillment of every covenantHer song becomes an anthem for all generations, reminding every believer that God’s promises transcend time.Good songs are grounded theologically in who Christ is..Mary’s hymn is not just hers; it becomes ours. Like her,we praise a God who:Sees usLifts usRescues usKeeps His promisesRemembers His covenantBrings Christ into our worldGod turns personal moments into public testimony.We should love singing Hymns and new songs… because both express…the Joy that we have in Savlation..CONCLUSION —Question…What Song Is God Writing in You?You may be in a waiting room. You may feel unseen, uncertain, unqualified, or overwhelmed.You may be carrying a promise that no one else sees yet.But the God who orchestrated Mary’s story is orchestrating yours.He is writing the melody in hidden places.He is confirming His work through others.He is forming your character in the quiet months.And in His time— your life will sing.Our CHALLENGE is to Trust God with the part of our story we cannot yet see.Lord our beleived,Let’s pray.. Job 38:7CSB
Luke 1:1–3CSB
Luke 1:5–7CSB
Luke 1:26–31CSB
Luke 1:39–45CSB
Luke 1:46–55CSB
Richvale Community Church
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