This past Sunday, Pastor Sebastian Martinez preached a message entitled “A Faith that Costs.” Pastor Sebastian walked us through Mary’s story in Luke 1, highlighting three movements in the text: God’s initiating grace in the Annunciation, Mary’s faith-filled response in the Conversation, and her worshipful surrender in the Magnificat. He emphasized Mary’s remarkable faith—one that trusted God despite the cost and the scandal of grace—captured in her words, “I am the Lord’s servant… may your word to me be fulfilled.” By connecting Mary’s song with Hannah’s prayer, Pastor Sebastian reminded us that God is faithful to His promises, lifts the humble, fills the hungry, and reverses human power. This message calls us to a faith that responds to God’s revelation with worship, surrender, and trust, knowing we are part of a much greater story.

✍️ Notes
⭑ The call that changed it all​

3 Movements of the Text​:

1. The Annunciation - God's initiating grace​
2. The Conversation – Mary’s Faith​
3. The Magnificat – Mary’s Worship​
​
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town​ In Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 The angel of the Lord went to her and said, "Greetings you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you."​ 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.​ 30 But the angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, ​Mary; you have found favour with God. 31 You​ will conceive and give birth to a son, and you​ are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:26 -33 (NIV)​

⭑ A Remarkable Faith​
⭑ The scandal of grace​

38 "I am the Lord's servant, "Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.

⭑ Nothing to lose​

46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord. 47 And my spirit rejoices in God my saviour, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the mighty one has done great things for me- holy is his name. ​50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has broken down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ​53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors. ​Luke 1:46 -55 (NIV)​

⭑ Part of a greater story​

⭑ Shared themes {side by side}​
 
Hannah (1 Sam 2)​ | Mary (Luke 1)​

“My heart rejoices in the LORD”​ | “My soul magnifies the Lord”​

• God humbles the proud​ | God scatters the proud​

• God raises the poor​ | God lifts the lowly​

• The hungry are filled​ | The hungry are filled​

• God reverses human power​ | God brings down the mighty​

• God remembers His covenant​ | God remembers His promise​

⭑ Revelation that leads to worship & surrender​
 
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS   
Check our Calendar here: https://fachurch.churchcenter.com/reg...

🔗 STAY CONNECTED
Take your NEXT STEP: fill out a short form that’ll help us get the conversation started: https://www.fa.church/nextsteps
First Assembly | @fa.church @fa.seton
https://www.fa.church
  / fa.church