Introduction

Although many of us hesitate to admit our desire to be important, we also do not want to be considered insignificant. There is a part of us that instinctively rejects the idea of being marginalized or treated as common. We don’t want to be ordinary, and yet that’s how we often feel about ourselves. In our passage today, we encounter a girl named Mary, who was likely 12 to 16 years old at the time, being given the extraordinary privilege of becoming the mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world! Who would have imagined that this young girl from the countryside would play such a significant role at such a young age? And yet, that’s exactly what happened. From ordinary, she became extraordinary! Her story serves as a model for us on how we should live our lives, even if we perceive ourselves as ordinary in our own eyes or the eyes of the world.

Three Principles:

1. Be *ordinary* but be *open* to God’s favor. (Luke 1:26-33)

We can embrace the fact that we are ordinary. We don’t have to strive to become someone special. However, we must be prepared when God intervenes in our ordinary lives. We must be receptive to God’s favor whenever He decides to bestow it upon us. His favor serves a purpose – to inspire and empower us for what He intends to accomplish through us.

2. Be *honest* but be *willing* to trust God. (Luke 1:34-38)

We may not easily understand God’s ways, so it’s alright to ask honest questions. God is not intimidated by our limited minds. We often define what’s possible based on our experiences, but God can do so much more than we can ever understand or imagine. Nothing is impossible with God. Therefore, we can be honest, but we must be willing to trust Him for the impossible.

3. Be *humble* but be *grateful* for His mercy. (Luke 1:46-56)

We are humbled whenever God chooses to reveal His purpose for us, but humility should not lead us to passivity. Instead, it should prompt us to express thanksgiving and praise to God. He is glorified through our weaknesses, not our strengths, and rejects those who are proud of themselves. So, if He chooses to use us, let us remain humble and give praise to His name.

Conclusion:

1. Turning Point: “Though *unworthy*, we can be *extraordinary* because of His *mercy*.”
2. Believe that God can use us even though we are just ordinary. Don’t strive to become special by your efforts. Stay humble and He will lift you in due time.
3. This week, accept the fact that you are just ordinary. But be ready when God intervenes to make you extraordinary.

Discussion:

1. How does the sermon define “being ordinary” and “being extraordinary”? How do these definitions differ from societal expectations?
2. How can we be open to God’s favor in our everyday lives, even if we feel insignificant?
3. Is it okay to question God’s plans, as Mary did? How can we balance honest questioning with trust in God’s will?
4. What does it mean to be “humbled” by God’s purpose? How can we avoid letting humility become passivity?
5. How can we live out the concluding statement: “Though unworthy, we can be extraordinary by His mercy”?