AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND
Luke 1:26-33

Introduction:    John Newton wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace.” Grace has a sweet sound to those who are redeemed! This is a story about grace it is the greatest announcement ever given to mankind. As I ponder these verses all I can think of is grace and how sweet the sound of grace is to my own heart. (Illus: Religion – man’s attempt to get to God…Christianity (by grace) is God reaching down to man where he is and saving us from our sins). What makes grace such a sweet, sweet sound to the soul believer? Grace is:

I.          GOD HONORING (VV.26-27)

Salvation is God’s work from the beginning to end. Grace shows us that from conversion to when we stand on that golden shore of heaven, God is in charge.

            A.        God Designed The Plan (v.26a)

Timing (6^th month) (Illus: It’s all of God and it’s all of grace)

B.              God Designated The Place (v.26b)

( Nazareth ) A one-horse town (expound why) God dispatched an angel not to Jerusalem so religion could get the glory, not to Rome so government could get the glory, but to a despised place so God would receive the glory (it’s grace).

C.              God Determined The People (v.27)

The values of the Bible: Purity – Integrity – Character Salvation is not of man and what we can do – it is all of grace and that honors God.

II.         MIND BOGGLING (VV.28-30)

Getting something for nothing is a foreign concept. Religion says you must do something.

            A.        Mary’s Reaction

“Highly favored” = much graced She wasn’t chosen because she was super-human, God chose her because of grace – just because He wanted to – He favored (graced) her. He mind was boggled (v.29) - She was troubled – I’m just flesh and bones – Lord, you would save me? (That ought to be to reaction of everyone who gets saved).

            B.        Angle’s Response

You have found favor (grace) – it’s all of grace! Mary wasn’t the giver of grace she was the recipient of grace! Jesus is the fountain of grace and she got graced! Have you been graced? It is mind boggling that God would grace us. 

III.       SOUL SAVING (VV.31 -33)

(Eph. 2:8-9) What a tragedy it will be if you live your whole life and miss grace – miss God. Grace is all about Jesus – grace is about a gift. God gives us eternal life because of Jesus. The message of grace is I have my sins forgiven - I go to heaven because someone else paid the price and made the way.

            A.        His Humanity

            B.        His Destiny

            C.        His Majesty