INTRO

What is the “Spirit of the season?”

  • Vibes (Polar Express)
  • Hallmark movies
  • Traditions

TENSION

The darker “spirits”

  • Drinking
  • Depression
  • Loneliness/loss
  • Suicide (higher during holidays than any other time)

The spirit of Christmas is worship.

  • Worship in the Christmas story (references).
  • You were made for worship.

Specifically, the spirit of Christmas is when a teenager worships God…

TRUTH

(Luke 1) Setup the story of Mary the Teen Mom…

  • Zechariah & Elizabeth
  • Mary & Angel (and Joseph)
  • Mary visits Elizabeth – John kicks
  • Tension: Geriatric Elizabeth & Mary the Teen Mom

Mary worships: Luke 1:45-55

What can we learn about worship from Mary the Teen Mom?

  1. Worship is recognizing God for who he is.

Mary recognized God for who he is…

  • My soul (self-aware)
  • It was spontaneous
  • Magnifies/megalynō – to make conspicuous
    • Present continuous…a lifestyle
  • The Lord – she admitted that God was Lord and she was the servant
    • V.38 – “I am the Lord’s servant”
    • Mary in 2021 – Bragging post-game press conference?

[Frank Reich video “In Christ Alone”] In Jesus, we have the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:16)

Will you recognize God for who he is?

  • Our self-aware soul was created to worship God.
  • We can either use our lives to point to ourselves, or to point to God.
  • Be a spotlight-holder on Jesus.
  • Worship is rejoicing in the gospel.

Mary rejoiced that Jesus would save her…

  • My spirit (God-aware)
  • It was authentic
  • Rejoices in God (ēgallisen – often has to do with a glad heart and emotions)
  • MY Savior – The baby in her belly would one day die for her sins
    • Promised to Joseph: “He will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
    • Mary wasn’t perfect. She was a teenager who had sin in her life like everyone else.
    • Mary was bursting with excitement because she knew something no one else did: the Savior was close. Redemption was only 9 months away!

In Jesus, we know just how “low” God would go to save us.

Will you rejoice in what God did for you?

  • Gospel amnesia – forgetting that the same gospel that saved you is what keeps you going.
  • You need a savior, just like Mary. He didn’t just die for Mary’s sins, he died for yours, too.
  • After you’ve been saved, you keep on needing a savior (1 Cor. 15:2).
  • Worship is reflecting on God’s goodness.

Mary reflected on…

  • What God did for her (v.48-49).
    • He looked on her
    • Specific blessings
  • What God did for others (v.50-53).
    • He offered mercy
    • He showed strength
    • He scattered the proud
    • He filled the hungry
  • What God promised to do for his people (v.54-55).

All of God’s goodness is found in Jesus at Christmas!

How often do you reflect on God’s goodness? How often do you reflect on anything? You can’t reflect while scrolling through TikToks.

  • Worship is responding with obedience.

Mary’s words were backed up with her lifestyle.

[Jimmy Needham – Clear the Stage]

The question isn’t whether or not you worship Jesus with your lips. The question is: Do you worship him with your life?

The spirit of Christmas is worship.

APPLICATION

#1 – Hush

Take time to think about what God did for you at Christmas. Turn the volume and the blue lights down.

#2 – Honest

Get real about your need of a Savior. Mary needed Jesus, and so do you. Christmas means Jesus is hear. Trust in Jesus as your Savior. Lean on him every day of your life.

#3 – Hype

Get over yourself. Realize who God really is, and hype him up to everyone you know. Dedicate your life to magnifying him, even on your social pages.

#4 – Honor

Worship God with your life. For Christmas, God wants your life.

  • Long Term: College, career, companion, family
  • Short Term: Backpack Christmas, Ebenezer, baptism

LANDING

Let’s worship God through music.