Key points
- 1
1The angel's announcement to Mary — though framed as grace and favor — put her security, reputation, and even her life at genuine risk.
- 2
2Grumbling comes from fear; it locks us in a loop where we can't see past our own pain or unmet expectations and causes us to miss what God is doing.
“God's good news is, by my power, I invite you into my story to be who I made you to be. And it may be tough, but I'll empower you and you'll get to a blessing that's beyond anything you can imagine, but it's not anything like what you imagine”
- 3
3Mary's response — 'I am the Lord's servant; may everything you have said about me come true' — is the definition of humility: allowing God to do whatever He wants in your life, no matter what it looks like or what it costs.
“I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true”
“God, I want you to do whatever you're gonna do in my life. Do it. No matter how that looks, and no matter what that cost me. That's what it means to be humble”
- 4
4Joseph's acceptance of God's plan cost him his reputation and the respect of his community for the rest of his life, yet he chose humble obedience over grumbling.
- 5
5God doesn't want to change your address — where you are — He wants to change who you are, and that is why you are where you are.
“says, I don't wanna change where you're at. I wanna change who you are. And that's why you are where you're at”
- 6
6Jesus is the good news of great joy for everyone; anything in your life that takes you to Jesus is good news, and humility is what keeps you from missing Him.
“Good news of great joy is any news, anything God brings into your life that says I'm bringing you to my son. I'm bringing you to Jesus. Anything that takes you to Jesus, that's good news that should bring great joy, and that's for everyone”
A story from life
Preacher's daughter Micah almost refused to join a family trip to New York City, then was overwhelmed with gratitude once she arrived
A story from life
Preacher describes being stuck in Black Friday freeway traffic returning from Thanksgiving with his family
Application
The sermon's 'so what' is a direct and personal one: stop praying address prayers — asking God to change your circumstances — and start praying attitude prayers, asking God to change you. When life feels like stopped traffic and God's news doesn't seem good, the choice in front of you is grumbling (driven by fear) or humility (driven by faith). Mary and Joseph both faced that choice at real personal cost and chose surrender. The pastor's challenge is simply this: what are you grumbling about right now, and what would it look like to say, like Mary, 'I am the Lord's servant — do whatever You're going to do in my life, no matter what it looks like and no matter what it costs'? That posture of humility is how God's good news becomes great joy for you — and how you keep from missing Jesus this Christmas.
