Sermon Notes - Luke 1:26-38 - Called by God - January 18, 2026

1.        Last week we saw that Luke wrote with a purpose.

a.        Whether Theophilus was a specific person or a generic name used to mean people as a whole.

b.       Luke wrote to strengthen the faith of those who read this letter.

c.        The original audience and those of us here today.

d.       My prayer is that as we digest the Gospel of Luke our faith will grow.

2.        We looked at the prediction of the birth of John the Baptist.

a.        Zechariah and Elizabeth were already seen as righteous by God.

b.       But I suspect as the events played out their faith grew.

c.        Zechariah seeing an angel while serving in the temple, would strengthen his faith.

d.       Elizabeth becoming pregnant just as the angel Gabriel said, would strengthen their faith.

e.        God was at work.

f.          Zechariah and Elizabeth were being used by God.

g.        Their faith was growing.

3.        We are to do the same.

a.        Trust in God.

b.       Trust in His Plan and His Timing.

c.        We will not always understand what God is doing.

d.       But we need to trust Him and let Him work in us.

4.        As we continue, we are going to see about another person who needed to trust in God.

a.        Even when things seemed overwhelming.

b.       A series of events that are likely familiar to us.

5.        Luke 1:26-27

a.        We pick up in Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy.

b.       Gabriel is once again sent by God to deliver a message.

c.        This time it was to a young lady.

d.       Likely in her early teens as she was in the process of getting married.

e.        She was technically married under Jewish law.

f.          But had not been known by her husband yet.

6.        Mary, a virgin, is approached by Gabriel.

7.        You may be familiar with the prophecy in Isaiah.

8.        Isaiah 7:14

a.        The conversation between Gabriel and Mary is the start of the fulfilling of that prophecy.

9.        In Luke we were told that Joseph was from the house of David.

10.   Isaiah 9:6-7

a.        The coming Messiah will rule on David’s throne.

b.       He will be of the line of David.

c.        Even in this first couple of verses we are seeing God fulfill prophecy.

11.   Luke 1:28

a.        Another person who was likely shocked by Gabriel’s appearance.

b.       But I wonder what was more surprising.

c.        Seeing God’s messenger.

d.       Or hearing that she was favored by God.

e.        She was a very young lady.

f.          Likely had no say in how her life had recently been changed through being engaged to Joseph.

g.        I suspect she is concerned about the uncertainty of the future.

h.        Yet Gabriel says God is with her.

i.          That she is favored, blessed, or graced by God; depending on your Bible version.

12.   When we are hit with unsuspected news, it can be overwhelming.

a.        While we were trying to absorb or understand what was going on.

b.       If someone were to come up and tell us we are favored or blessed by God.

c.        We might question it.

d.       We might think the person who said it doesn’t understand what we are dealing with.

13.   Luke 1:29

a.        Mary doesn’t understand.

b.       The stress of life was getting to her.

c.        None of this made sense.

d.       She was afraid.

e.        As would be expected when Gabriel appears.

f.          She is uncertain why Gabriel would appear to her.

g.        Let alone struggling to understand what he meant.

14.   Luke 1:30

a.        That is easier said than done.

b.       None of this would make sense to her.

c.        How could she have found favor with God.

d.       Ladies were not much more than property at that time.

e.        I suspect the young ladies who were married off.

f.          Like Mary, felt like that.

15.   Luke 1:31

a.        Gabriel then tells her why she has found favor.

b.       She is going to have a son.

c.        Ok, knowing that would be a blessing to any woman at that time.

d.       Being barren was horrible.

e.        Only having female children was nice but was not enough.

f.          Having a son means they provided their husband an heir.

16.   On the surface Mary might begin to feel better.

a.        But why is an angel giving her this news.

b.       Why is he telling her that she is to name the baby Jesus.

c.        There has to be more to the story here.

17.   When God is working in our lives, we have to seek to understand.

a.        We won’t know everything.

b.       But seeking God and following His lead.

c.        Will help us take steps forward.

18.   Luke 1:32

a.        Remember the prophecies we just read out of Isaiah.

b.       Gabriel is filling in the pieces for her.

c.        Her child will be the Son of the Most High, meaning He will come from heaven.

d.       He will be the Son of God.

e.        He will reign on David’s throne.

f.          He will be King.

g.        Does she realize that he is the King of kings.

h.        Or think he will be the king of Israel, we don’t know.

i.          But she is told that she is going to have God’s Son and He will sit on David’s throne.

19.   Luke 1:33

a.        As Gabriel shares more, I suspect Mary’s understanding would grow.

b.       Her son is going to reign forever.

c.        His kingdom will have no end.

d.       He is not just going to be an earthly king.

e.        He will be the Messiah.

f.          The one who will fulfill many prophecies.

g.        The one who will rule over all people and nations.

20.   Luke 1:34

a.        Mary has been hit with a lot.

b.       She knows where babies come from.

c.        And she has not been part of that yet.

d.       A virgin birth had not happened before.

e.        She needed some clarification.

21.   Luke 1:35

a.        Gabriel spells it out.

b.       The Holy Spirit will be involved.

c.        She will become pregnant with the Son of God.

22.   This child is one of a kind.

a.        That is one of the key points here.

b.       Nothing like this has ever happened.

c.        And nothing like it will ever happen again.

d.       Jesus was fully God before conception.

e.        And His earthly life began in a way that points to the fact that He is God.

23.   If we think about how one of Luke’s primary reasons for writing this Gospel is to strengthen the faith of others.

a.        Reenforcing that Jesus was Holy at conception should help strengthen their faith.

b.       Including the virgin birth would show that Jesus is God.

c.        These verses might help some who were unsure of what to think, step into faith.

d.       They may have helped those who were questioning certain things grow their faith.

24.   Hopefully we have times in our lives that we can reflect on, that strengthens our faith.

a.        Things where we know God was at work in our lives.

b.       Times that remind us that God is in control.

c.        That He is with us.

25.   One of mine, that I have shared before, is when I was called into ministry.

a.        When God told me he was preparing a place of ministry for me.

b.       I thought Alexis, who had previously said she never wanted to be a PW, was not going to be happy.

c.        But God was at work in her already.

d.       She was ready to jump in.

e.        It is one of those times I hold on to that reinforces my faith.

26.   Luke 1:36-37

a.        Gabriel mentions Mary’s relative Elizabeth and her pregnancy to help Mary know that God is at work.

b.       Mary likely knew her as that nice relative who could not have any children.

c.        Hearing that Elizabeth was pregnant, well past the normal child rearing age.

d.       Would have been reassuring.

e.        Would have let her know… read verse 37.

27.   Luke 1:38

a.        A perfect response.

b.       Re-read the verse.

c.        She is the Lord’s servant.

d.       She is willing to be used by God.

28.   In Acts 27, when Paul and others are about to be shipwrecked.

a.        He shares the news with those on the boat with him.

b.       Sharing that they will be shipwrecked but that none will be lost.

c.        Acts 27:3

d.       The God he belongs to and serves.

29.   That is the way we should approach our following of Jesus.

a.        We are His.

b.       We belong to our God.

c.        We are His servants.

d.       We should be praying for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

e.        That includes how we live our lives.

f.          Including the things He calls us to do.

30.   The question we need to answer is are we willing to respond to God as we read in verse 38.

a.        Re-read Luke 1:38.

b.       Are we willing to accept that we belong to our God.

c.        That we are here to serve Him and others.

31.   Has God called you to do something.

a.        Serve here at church.

b.       To stretch yourself and grow as a teacher or preacher.

c.        Lead in worship.

d.       Give more in support of the ministries we support.

e.        Or many other ways we can be called to serve.

32.   If God has called you, how are you responding?

a.        Are you sitting on your hands because it makes you uncomfortable?

b.       Are you waiting for someone to challenge you?

c.        Are you waiting for all the resources to be available?

33.   If God is calling you, believe that nothing is impossible with God.

a.        When you are in His will.

b.       He will guide you.

c.        He will provide.

d.       He will prepare you and equip you.

e.        He will walk with you through the challenges.

34.   We are all called into His service.

a.        Each of us in different ways.

35.   Don’t hold back.

a.        Don’t delay.

b.       Step out and let God work in you.

c.        Let Him use you.

d.       We belong to Him and we are to serve Him.

36.   If God is calling you to step up, I would love to talk with you.

37.   If you don’t know Jesus, He is knocking at the door.

a.        He wants you to choose Him.

b.       To follow Him.

c.        It starts with realizing you are a sinner.

d.       Repenting of your sins.

e.        And giving your life to Jesus.

f.          If that is you this morning I would love to talk with you.