Unbearable Weight of Fear

Fear Not Series

Week 1

Tim Bycroft, Lead Pastor 

THE POINT EXISTS TO WELCOME THE UNCHURCHED TO BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. 

Pointing People to God  

Pointing People to Jesus  

Pointing People to Community 

A church characterized by Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness.

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but God has given us a spirit of power, and of love, and of self-discipline." 

Luke 1:26-28, "… God sent an angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David." 

Vs 28, "Gabriel appeared to her, and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!'" 

Vs. 29, “Confused and disturbed…”

Vs. 29 cont., “Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”

WHAT WE CALL GOD'S DISTURBING INTERRUPTIONS ARE OFTEN GOD'S DIVINE INVITATIONS.

YOU HAD A PLAN, BUT GOD HAS A PURPOSE. 

YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PLAN TO TRUST THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE. 

verse 30, “Do not be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “you have found favor with God.” 

FAVOR IS THE UNDESERVED BLESSINGS GOD LAVISHLY POURS OUT ON HIS CHILDREN WHOM HE LOVES. 

Verse 31, "You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus." 

Verse 32, "He (Jesus) will be very great and he will be called the Son of the Most High." 

"The Lord will give him (Jesus) the throne of his ancestor David, and he'll reign over Israel forever. His kingdom will never end." 

SOMETIMES, GOD'S FAVOR DOESN'T SEEM FAVORABLE AT FIRST. 

Verse 34, Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

Verse 35 & 37 (ESV), "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child will be born. He'll be called holy - the Son of God. For nothing will be impossible with God.’"

Verse 38, Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you've said about me come true."