Gateway Church
The King Has Come
Pastor Lance Ainsworth & Lindsay Reid Luke 1 November 30th, 2025 Joy to the World.
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:00 AM
Sunday 11:31 AM
Introduction
Luke 1:13-17 NASB
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
John the Baptist is the royal messenger for the new King, Jesus. He is sent to prepare the way. He is the forerunner, not the king, pointing forward to this new King and new Kingdom to come.
Luke 1:32-33 NASB
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
This new King does not rise through violence, force, or power, but by God’s spirit. Jesus is the rightful ruler of life.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
This new King does not rise through violence, force, or power, but by God’s spirit. Jesus is the rightful ruler of life.
Luke 1:38 NASB
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary’s faith is not passive; it is a trusting surrender to God’s will.
The inbreaking of God’s Kingdom begins through lifting up the humble and bringing fruitfulness where there was barrenness.
The inbreaking of God’s Kingdom begins through lifting up the humble and bringing fruitfulness where there was barrenness.
Luke 1:39-45 NASB
39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
“Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room”
Isaac Watts, 1719
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room”
Isaac Watts, 1719
The King has Come
Pastor Lance Ainsworth & Lindsay Reid
Luke 1
November 30th, 2025
Joy to the World.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What is your favorite Christmas tradition??
Read Aloud: Luke 1:13-45
1. v.32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Why is it important that Jesus is fully God and fully man? Is Jesus establishing an earthly or heavenly kingdom? Or both?
2. v.38 “And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” What can we learn from Mary’s faith?
3. v.43-33 “43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.” Why does Elizabeth call Jesus “Lord?” What is the natural response of John the Baptist to Jesus? Why is joy the response to Jesus’ kingship?
Pastor Lance Ainsworth & Lindsay Reid
Luke 1
November 30th, 2025
Joy to the World.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: What is your favorite Christmas tradition??
Read Aloud: Luke 1:13-45
1. v.32-33 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Why is it important that Jesus is fully God and fully man? Is Jesus establishing an earthly or heavenly kingdom? Or both?
2. v.38 “And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” What can we learn from Mary’s faith?
3. v.43-33 “43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.” Why does Elizabeth call Jesus “Lord?” What is the natural response of John the Baptist to Jesus? Why is joy the response to Jesus’ kingship?