Blessed Mary

Dr. Bob, today's sermon was on 'Why God Chose Joseph' and in two weeks it will be on 'Mary'. However, my S/S lesson for our 4 year olds was on 'Mary Gets Good News' today.

Well said! We should all be found as 'worthy' as Joseph, a righteous man, and Mary, a humble servant! Mary was WILLING to be used.

Diane

[ December 07, 2003, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: dianetavegia ]

 

Twenty-five Questions for Mary by Max Lucado taken
from God Came Near © 1987

WHAT WAS IT like watching him pray?

How did he respond when he saw other kids giggling during the service at the synagogue?

When he saw a rainbow, did he ever mention a flood?

Did you ever feel awkward teaching him how he created the world?

When he saw a lamb being led to the slaughter, did he act differently?

Did you ever see him with a distant look on his face as if he were listening to someone you couldn’t hear?

How did he act at funerals?

Did the thought ever occur to you that the God to whom you were praying was asleep under your own roof?

Did you ever try to count the stars with him . . . and succeed?

Did he ever come home with a black eye?

How did he act when he got his first haircut?

Did he have any friends by the name of Judas?

Did he do well in school?

Did you ever scold him?

Did he ever have to ask a question about Scripture?

What do you think he thought when he saw a prostitute offering to the highest bidder the body he made?

Did he ever get angry when someone was dishonest with him?

Did you ever catch him pensively looking at the flesh on his own arm while holding a clod of dirt?

Did he ever wake up afraid?

Who was his best friend?

When someone referred to Satan, how did he act?

Did you ever accidentally call him Father?

What did he and his cousin John talk about as kids?

Did his other brothers and sisters understand what was happening?

Did you ever think, That's God eating my soup?

http://www.maxlucado.com/read/manger/index.html

It Began in a Manager

 

The latest issue of Christianity Today magazine carries a cover story on just this topic.

The list of questions makes me think of the song, "Mary did you know...".

 

Here's a link to that full article, Debby!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/012/1.34.html

Thanks for pointing that out to us.

Diane

 

My Pastor did an excellent sermon yesterday on Mary.

 

It's unfortunate that we're often fo fearful of being "catholic-like" that we aviod the topic of Mary like the plague. Mary is one of the best examples of selfless service to God, and I'm thankful to God for people like her.

 

To the Blessed Dr. Bob Griffin,

You make a good point.

Dave.

 

I think that's true of a number of other people in church history that the Catholic church calls "saints." We can learn from their stories without deifying them. My personal favorite is Patrick, missionary to Ireland. When you examine the truth of his story (not the legend), there is much to learn.

PS Thanks for finding the link to the article, Diane!

 

You're welcome Debby. And Johnv and you are both so right. I tell my AWANA kids about Patrick of Ireland (who called himself Patrick, a sinner and servant of Jesus Christ) and others and how they died for their beliefs without making them persons to worship but just examples of great missionaries!

We should NOT be afraid to even speak of Mary and her willingness to be used of God. She easily could have been stoned to death for being pregnant outside of marriage! She didn't even hesitate to say 'use me Lord'.

Diane

 

That's pretty much what I preached on yesterday in our AM service.

 

I have enjoyed this thread, especially the questions. I blew a chance to witness to a Roman Catholic gentleman in my youth because I tried to counter his extreme view of Mary with a more "ordinary" view of her. Looking back on it I can see that I had actually done Mary a disservice and didn't give to her the respect she is due. Think of how few Bible characters that you cannot find anything bad about, Mary, John the Baptist, Jacob's son Joseph. "highly favoured"...yes, indeed.

 

Coming out of Catholocism, it's easy to do a complete 180 degree change, and even sound hateful towards Mary. When I talk with my mom about her, it's always a train wreck. Refusal to worship, or offer prayer to her, somehow gets spun into disrespect.

She certainly is a great example of humble submission, in the face of peril. She is a great role model for everyone. Thank God in Heaven for Mary. She was most certainly blessed.

 

I was never Catholic, but I find it hard to talk with Catholics about those issues. I have no problem with calling Mary blessed as the Bible says she is, but it's not easy to confront the errors without sounding mean or somehow better than them (which I'm certainly not). It is a very passionate issue for so many people.