A Mary Christmas

Sermon notes: “A Mary Christmas” Pastor Benny Tate, Rock Springs Church. Tate is an old school preacher at a growing, North Point-like church. Instead of young millennials leading the singing, everyone is 40-50 year old baby boomers – so that’s who makes up the most of the worshippers as well, along with their parents.   

The notes: our character should be like Mary’s,

to do whatever God’s will is.

To do whatever God says to do. 

Luke 22:42 Jesus asked not my will, but Your will be done.

Luke 11: 28 blessed are they that hear the work of God AND do the will of God…

…not just at church, but at home as well.

Mary was committed to the word of God

“Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee.”

Mary had concern for others

- so also should we.

Ran out of wine at the wedding,

had Jesus make more.

Help out in the little things,

not just at church but at home as well.

Help others without complaining or arguing.

God likes it when we help,

even if it’s just one other person.

John 19:27 At the crucifixion Jesus looked down from the cross

and said to his beloved disciple

“behold thy mother”

…and from that hour the disciple took her into his own home and cared for her.

This applies to everyone.

Benny: “as good as you think you may be,

we all need Jesus.”

Whatever or whoever you think is wrong with your life

Jesus is the answer.

A few other verses that have convicted me recently:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and there thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 7: 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

God does provide. It was really my old boss Steve Apollo who taught me about being generous, but I still have a long way to go. Supposedly social media is creating anxiety in young people because they see these great lives other people live, not knowing what’s real and what’s fake, what’s paid for and what’s bought on credit, who’s in debt and who’s living beyond their means.