Mary’s prayer stands out as one of the strongest expressions of faith in the entire Bible. She is humble yet bold, meek yet strong. Her words become a model for all of us on how to live a life surrendered to God.
Main passage: Luke 1:26-38; 46-55
Sermon OutlinE
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
Surrendering to God’s Word (Luke 1:26-38)
- Mary receives the angel Gabriel (1:26-28)
- Mary receives God’s Word to her (1:30-33, 35-37)
Surrendering with Humility (Luke 1:29, 34, 38, 48)
- Mary’s humble questions (1:29, 34)
- Mary’s humble service (1:38)
- Mary’s humble situation (1:48)
Surrendering with Joyful Gratitude (Luke 1:46-55)
- Joy in God’s Activity on Her Behalf (1:46-49)
- Joy in God’s Activity on Behalf of the Humble Everywhere (1:50-53)
- Joy in God’s Activity on Behalf of His Covenant People (1:54-55)
Learning to Pray with Mary
- Receiving God’s Word in Our Lives
- Responding to God with Humility
- Responding to God with Joyful Gratitude
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have experienced a special gift in your life from someone or specifically from God? What happened? How did you express your gratitude?
- This week we continue our “Great Prayers of the Bible” series by looking at Mary’s prayer in Luke 1:26-38, 46-56. Ask God to speak to you and then, whether you are with a group or on your own, read that passage aloud.
- Background: Mary is a young woman in a relatively small town in the northern region of Galilee. She is in the first stage of two-stage marriage process, involving the public promise of marriage (like engagement) before the final marriage ceremony when a husband would take his wife home, sometimes up to a year later.
- The angel Gabriel appears to Mary with a great message about a miraculous child to come. What do you make of Gabriel’s greeting to Mary in Luke 1:28?
- How does Gabriel describe this promised child in Luke 1:30-33, 35-37?
- How would you characterize Mary’s response to this dramatic announcement in 1:34 and 38?
- How might you respond if you were in Mary’s situation?
- After this, Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, where she speaks a psalm of response to God about this miracle child. Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-56, known by its Latin name the Magnificat, is one of the most personal and powerful prayers in the Bible. What are some of the themes of Mary’s psalm of praise?
- What stands out to you personally from Mary’s song?
- If you were to compose your own psalm of praise to God for things in your life, what would it sound like? Maybe you could take time to write a psalm of praise to God yourself right now.
- What is one specific thing that God is speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and pray for one another. If you are studying on your own, write it down and share it with someone.