PENTECOST METHODIST CHURCH

LIVE-IT-OUT GUIDE

FAITHFUL ONES: SESSION 6 – MARY

(70mins – 90mins)

Sermon Date: 17^th December 2017

Text/s: Luke 1:34-38

Speaker: Mr Justin Ang

(The sermon recording and slides can be found on the PMC website and MyPMC App.)

Sermon Recap & Discussion (20mins)

A) Key Lessons

From the passage, we see that Mary’s faith was…

(i) Exercised in very trying circumstances;

(ii) Built on her knowledge of God’s Word;

(iii) Acted upon immediately by going to visit Elizabeth;

(iv) Lived out consistently throughout her life;

(v) In response to God’s sovereign grace.

B) Key Application Questions

1) In the introduction to his sermon, the preacher declared: “Faith is what brought PMC here and faith is what will keep PMC going.” What is true for us as a church is also true for us as individual believers.

a) Take some time to reflect on the year that has passed. What is one thing God has taught or shown you this year?

b) In the year to come, how will you respond in faith to what God has taught or shown you?

Further Observations on the Text (20mins)

Read Luke 1:5-38

1) These 2 episodes (the birth of John the Baptist foretold, and the birth of Jesus foretold) were recorded side-by-side not by accident, but purposefully, to show a contrast.

a) Consider the identities of Zechariah and Mary. How were they different?

b) How would the angel’s announcements to Zechariah and Mary affect their circumstances?

c) Consider the way Zechariah and Mary responded. How were their responses different?

2) Mary’s faith was built on her knowledge of God’s Word. Consider the following promises in the Old Testament. How were they fulfilled in the angel’s announcement to Mary?

a) Psalm 2

b) 2 Samuel 7:12-13

c) Isaiah 7:14

Further Application (30mins)

3) In our own lives, how can we be more like Mary in her submission to God’s Word? What prevents us from declaring, like Mary, that “I am the servant of the Lord” (v38)?

4) “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (v37) How have you experienced these words in your own life? Share it with your group and give thanks together.

Concluding the Series (Optional – 20mins)

1) In concluding the ‘Faithful Ones’ sermon series, the preacher referred to Proverbs 3:5-6.

a) Do you think Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good way to summarize the life of faith we are called to live? Why or why not?

b) What is your key takeaway from this sermon series?