Sermon Questions 2025-12-07

Series: Do Not Be Afraid (Advent)
Text: Luke 1:26-38
Title: Mary’s Fears and the Gift of Peace

Invited: Have you ever taken on a new role without knowing much about it? How did that feel? What did you worry about? What did you hope for?

Loved: There’s no doubt that Mary was offered an extraordinary task as part of God’s redemption plan. And this sermon was about working through our fears to accept tasks that seem beyond us. But talk about your ordinary lives: identify how each of you, in ordinary (and extraordinary!?) ways, are contributing to God’s plan of bringing peace and flourishing to all.

Shaped:

• Put yourself in Mary’s shoes (sneakers!). How would the conversation with Gabriel make you feel? Why might Gabriel have to say, “Do not be afraid”?
• What, do you think, leads Mary to agree with God’s plan? What might have happened if Mary had said no?
• Do you feel “highly favoured”? How might God’s message to Mary, “Do not be afraid; you have found favour with God!” be of assurance or encouragement to you?
• Have you ever knowingly said ‘no’ to God? Why? What happened?
• Share a story, if you can, of yourself (or someone else) being offered a task in God’s kingdom, in his work of peace-bringing, and saying ‘yes!’ How did God provide his favour and his Spirit?

Sent to live like Jesus:

• Is there something God may be inviting you to do, that you have been resisting? What would it look like to take one step closer to saying yes?
• Pray for one another: your need to feel beloved and favoured, your need for courage, your desire for the Spirit’s presence and power, and your work in God’s kingdom.