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Still time to turn in a commitment card Three options: Focus on behaviors and attitudes of our hearts (discipleship) Still time to turn in a commitment card Three options: Offering box at service graceb3.org/commitment/ Turn into the church office Page 74 Momentum Field Guide

Two themes we will trace in Luke during Advent The promise fulfilled Thy kingdom come

Great Promises are on the cusp of being fulfilled John 1:5-7: 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. -- The forerunner to the Savior is about to be born

But who will god use to fulfill these promises? A Major contrast John 1:5-7: 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

A Major contrast: Who will God use to fulfill his promise John 1:5-7: 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

A Major contrast: Who will God use to fulfill his promise Luke is telling us something significant: Jesus is going to bring an upside-down kingdom. It includes the lowly. It is built as God works in and through the lowly.

There is a lot about Jesus’ kingdom that seems upside-down An upside-down King An upside-down victory An upside-down reward An upside-down people

An upside-down people: A considerable theme in Luke Who God uses: Zechariah & Elizabeth…not Herod Mary & Joseph…not Caesar

An upside-down people: A considerable theme in Luke In Luke 4:18-19: Jesus said that he is fulfilled Isaiah 61 which says “18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

An upside-down people: A considerable theme in Luke Luke 6:20-26: 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

An upside-down people: A considerable theme in Luke Luke 6:20-26: 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Jesus’ upside-down kingdom is good news It’s good news for sinners…whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, important or unimportant.

Jesus’ upside-down kingdom is good news It’s good news for sinners…whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, important or unimportant. It’s good news for a world that is plagued by right-side up thinking.

Jesus’ upside-down kingdom is good news Right-side up thinking can be ungodly and quite dangerous!

1 Samuel 8:10-18 10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.”

1 Samuel 8:10-18 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

A few applications Take joy in the forgiveness Christ offers. When you feel undervalued and unnoticed, remember that God sees and notices you…and he can use you. Beware of feelings of pride and arrogance when people do notice you. Nurture habits of noticing others who often go unnoticed.