Bible Talk Outline

On-Schedule with God

Lk. 2:1-7

The circumstances of Jesus’ birth remind us that God graciously (and sometimes sovereignly) guides us to be on-schedule with God’s will for our lives, just as…

◊ Caesar’s decree was on-schedule (vv. 1-2)

◊ The multitudes’ travel was on-schedule (v. 3)

◊ Micah’s prophecy was on-schedule (vv. 4-5a, Is. 11:1; Mi. 5:2)

◊ Mary’s delivery was on-schedule (vv. 5b-6)

◊ Jesus’ incarnation was on-schedule (v. 7)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Expect a Special Christmas Delivery

Lk. 1:67-80

God’s gift of Jesus the Messiah both delivers us from sin’s effects and delivers to us abundant life. Christmas brings…

◊ the delivery from uncertainty into INSIGHT, like Zechariah

experienced (v. 67)

◊ the delivery from slavery into FREEDOM, like Moses and

Israel experienced (v. 68)

◊ the delivery from worldly kingdoms into a DYNASTY, like

David experienced (vv. 69, 74-75)

◊ the delivery from threat into SECURITY, like the prophets

promised (vv. 70-71)

◊ the delivery from incomplete community into a FAITH-FAMILY,

like Abraham experienced (vv. 72-73)

◊ the delivery from spiritual darkness into SALVATION light, like

John the Baptizer proclaimed (vv. 76-80)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Mary the Magnifier

Lk. 1:46-55

God is…

◊ magnified through Mary’s praise of Him (vv. 46-47)

▪ Mary the humble worshipper (v. 46a)

▪ The Mighty Lord, worthy of worship and praise (v. 46b)

▪ Mary the humble sinner (v. 47a)

▪ God, the Mighty Savior (v. 47b)

◊ magnified through Mary’s blessings from Him (vv. 48-49)

▪ Mary, one humble servant, is blessed (v. 48a)

▪ Generations, many voices, call her blessed (v. 48b)

▪ God, the Mighty One, provides

◦ powerful blessings (“mighty,” v. 49a)

◦ pure blessings (“holy,” v. 49b)

◦ personal blessings (“for me,” v. 49c)

◊ magnified because inequity is reversed by Him (vv. 50-53)

▪ God’s inequity-reversing mercy (v. 50) to the…

◦ powerless (v. 51a)

◦ poor in spirit, humble (v. 52b)

◦ poor materially (v. 53a)

▪ God’s inequity-reversing might (v. 51) toward the…

◦ proud (v. 51b)

◦ privilege3d and powerful (v. 52a)

◦ prosperous (v. 53b)

◊ magnified by fulfilling Israel’s covenant with Him (vv. 54-55)

▪ Israel, God’s humble servant (v. 54a)

▪ God, Israel’s mighty and merciful Promiser (vv. 54b-55)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman