Rise Community Church

This message invites us into the tension of Advent—a season where we celebrate hope while honestly acknowledging the brokenness surrounding us. Drawing from Romans 8, we're reminded that all creation groans in anticipation of redemption, and we ourselves wait eagerly for restoration. The contrast between Zechariah and Mary in Luke's Gospel reveals two fundamentally different responses to God's promises. Zechariah, despite his religious authority and priestly status, demanded proof and certainty before believing. Mary, a powerless young girl from Nazareth, simply asked how she could participate in God's plan. Her question wasn't rooted in doubt but in faithful submission: 'How will this be?' versus 'How can I be sure?' This distinction transforms everything. We're challenged to stop acting as God's consultants, trying to figure out whether His promises are realistic, and instead become His servants, asking what role we can play in His redemptive work. God consistently chooses the vulnerable, the overlooked, an