This week, we have seen how Elizabeth committed to God when it didn’t make sense and how she was a faith-filled friend. In the final episode in which she speaks, we’ll see how she also submitted to God. It came eight days after John's birth. That was the day Jewish boys were circumcised, and at that ceremony, the parents would name the baby.
Read moreElizabeth Was a Faith-Filled Friend (Luke 1:39-45)
Here we come to the second episode in which Elizabeth appears. It occurred after the angel Gabriel met with a relative of Elizabeth, Mary, telling the young virgin that she would give birth to the Messianic descendent of David, who would sit on the throne forever. Even without knowing a man sexually, Mary would bear the Son of God. And, since Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was also pregnant, Mary took a trip to visit Elizabeth.
Read moreElizabeth Committed Herself to God When It Didn’t Make Sense (Luke 1:4-7, 24-25)
Here we have Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah (5). Zechariah was active as a priest. Both of them belonged to the family line of the priests. And both of them loved and served God, blamelessly walking in God's commandments(6).
Read moreThe Son Who Came To Make Sons: How He Arrived (Galatians 4:4c)
The book of Galatians is one of Paul's earliest works. In it, he combatted the idea that faith plus works lead to salvation. He warned his audience about the danger of trying to obtain God's favor through the keeping of the law (and losing God's favor when disobeying the law). (4 Minutes/900 Words)
Read moreWomen Of Christmas, pt. 1: Elizabeth (Luke 1)
Sunday Sermon: Women Of Christmas, pt. 1: Elizabeth (Luke 1)
Elizabeth was a woman after God's own heart, a woman who lived in fear of the Lord, and through her body, the dawn of the gospel began to break. Her steadfast hope in God, her prophetic counsel as a messenger for God, and her determined obedience to God all paved the way for *the Son of God*.
Read moreJesus Is the Culmination of God's Plan (Mark 1:5-7)
Mark uses what most assume to be hyperbole to describe John's popularity. He said, “All the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized.” John was wildly popular, and the masses were coming out to him for this fresh awakening. (4 Minutes/1000 Words)
Read moreWhat Does The Magnificat Say About Us?
Last week we considered what the Magnificat says about God. The previous week we thought about what the song said about Mary. Today, we will set our minds upon what the song says about us. (3 Minutes, 800 Words)
Read moreWhat Does The Magnificat Say About God?
Last week we thought about what the Magnificat, Mary's song in response to Elizabeth's greeting, said about Mary. Our next question is: *What does the song say about God? (5 Minutes/1400 Words)
Read moreWhat Does the Magnificat Say About Mary?
Allow me to introduce you to a much better Christmas song than any modern artist could compose. In the early chapters of Luke, three songs were sung. Simeon sang the third after he held baby Jesus in his arms in the temple. Zechariah sang the second after his wife, Elizabeth, in her old age, bore a son they named John. And Mary sang the first after visiting Elizabeth, a relative, while both of them were pregnant. (7 Minutes/2000 Words)
Read moreThe Millennial Reign of Christ (Revelation 20)
Revelation 20 has caused no small controversy throughout the life of the church. My view is that the received position of the early church was that Jesus would one day return literally and visibly to reign on earth for a thousand years. (8 Minutes/2000 Words)
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