God the Father could have chosen any woman to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. Of all the women He could have chosen, He selected Mary, a young teenage girl with a humble background. Throughout Scripture, Mary’s humility and servant heart shine. She is an example for all of us of what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Christ by the way she humbly and faithfully gave of herself in order to be used by God in a remarkable way.
What comes to mind when you think about Mary, the mother of Jesus?
1.How was Mary different from what many would have expected the mother of the Son of God to be?
2. Read Luke 1:26-38. What characteristics do you learn about Mary from this passage of Scripture?
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.” 38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
3. What stands out to you about Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement?
4. Read Luke 1:46-54, which is a prayer Mary prayed shortly after the angel Gabriel visited her. Summarize Mary’s message in this passage of Scripture.
Luke 1:46-54
46 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. 50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. 51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. 52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. 54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. 55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
1. How did Mary demonstrate a lifestyle that was fully devoted to God?
2. What holds people back from humbly and faithfully giving their lives to God as fully devoted followers of Christ?
3. What is one way you would like to grow by following Mary’s example?
Mary gave of herself sacrificially, committing to be used by God however He wanted to use her. How can you sacrificially give back to God and be used by Him by the way you live your life? Maybe you can take inventory of the gifts He has given you that you can give back to Him by serving, sign up to serve at Sagebrush, or make a commitment to begin tithing. Whatever it looks like for you, share this with your group and commit to taking a step to give sacrificially to God this week.
Mary demonstrated courage and bravery as she stepped into God’s calling for her life. When Gabriel announced that she would give birth to Jesus, she set aside her questions, fears, and even safety, knowing that Joseph had the right to have her killed if he believed that she had been unfaithful to Him. She protected and took care of Jesus when King Herod tried to kill all of the Jewish baby boys in an effort to find Jesus. She watched Jesus endure rejection and hardship. She also saw Him killed on the cross. How did she persevere throughout all of this? One of the reasons why she endured courageously is that she understood what was to come at the end of the story. She understood that, through Jesus, in an act of grace, God was doing something new and life-changing that could never be overcome. Like Mary, we, too, know the end of God's story, which impacts everything we do. Let's take a look at Mary's confidence in God and how the story would end, and how we can respond by being confident in the end of God's story, too, which is really just the beginning.
When Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to a son, he also told her what was to come in the future. This news must have emboldened her and carried her through her own challenges as she watched Jesus endure hardship and pain. Let's read about this moment when Gabriel let her know what would happen in the future.
1. Look back at Gabriel’s message to Mary in Luke 1:30-33.
Luke 1:30-33
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
2. What specifically did Gabriel reveal about Jesus to Mary?
3. How did Jesus fulfill these words spoken by Gabriel?
4. How do you think Gabriel's message about Jesus and what was to come impacted Mary throughout her life as she gave birth to Jesus, watched His earthly ministry take shape, and ultimately watched Him be crucified on the cross?
Like Mary, we also know the end of the story. Scripture reveals what will happen in the future when Jesus returns and comes back for His people. The end of the story, which is really just the beginning, is good news for all who have placed their faith in Christ. Take a few moments to look at what Scripture teaches will happen in the future when Jesus returns.
1. Read Revelation 21:1-7.
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
2. What will happen in the end times, according to this passage of Scripture?
3. What connection do you see between this passage of Scripture and Gabriel’s message in Luke 1:30-33
4. How does this passage of Scripture bring you hope?
Knowing the end of the story, which is really just the beginning, has implications for our lives right here and right now. Every day, we are to live with eternity in mind, knowing that in the end, Jesus will return and make everything right. Let’s take a few minutes to see how Scripture calls us to live today in light of these truths.
1. Read Ephesians 5:15-20, a passage of Scripture that instructs us how to live in light of what Christ has done.
Ephesians 5:15-20
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Summarize how we are called to live in this passage of Scripture.
3. What does it look like today to “make the most of every opportunity?”
4. How does what Christ has done impact our daily living?
The news that Jesus will come again and make everything right is the greatest news we will ever receive. It is too good to keep to ourselves. We have to go and spread this good news to everyone around us who needs the hope of Christ. What places can you start going to to develop relationships with those who are far from Christ and share the hope of Christ with them? Share that with your group and make plans to begin going to those places regularly this week.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
