Cell Praxis

Teaching Text

Luke 1:67-79

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72  to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 

Sermon Synopsis: “Zechariah’s Song”
In Luke 1:67–79, Zechariah’s Benedictus reminds us that we were created to sing because God Himself sings – and His salvation awakens song in His people. As Zechariah blesses God for fulfilling His ancient covenant, we see a God who works on both a cosmic scale and an intimate, personal one: orchestrating redemption for the world while tending to the private ache of a barren couple. Even Zechariah’s doubt becomes a doorway to grace, showing that God’s salvation is rooted not in our faithfulness, but in His generosity and mercy. And as Zechariah turns to his newborn son, we discover our purpose as well: like John the Baptist, we exist to prepare the way for Jesus, pointing others to the sunrise of God’s healing light. Advent invites us into this posture of receiving God’s grace with wonder and helping others encounter the God who sees, remembers, heals, and gives Himself abundantly.

Key Takeaway:
God’s salvation is both cosmic and personal. He redeems the world and remembers your wounds and His grace not only restores you but gives you a purpose: to prepare the way for Jesus and help others see the light of His coming.

Sharing Prompts

1. Where have you recently seen God remember you? A moment, big or small, where God met you personally in a tender or unexpected way.

2. Where do you need God’s healing light to shine today? Name a place of darkness, fear, or pain where you’re longing for His light.

3. What song of praise do you need to sing again? What truth about God have you forgotten that needs to be voiced and remembered?

Practice: Walking in the Light
Purpose: To help our community name where God has met us, where we need His healing light, and how we are invited to prepare the way for Jesus in each other’s lives.

Step 1: Scripture + Silence 
Read Luke 1:78–79 slowly: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

After reading: Invite the group to sit in 60 seconds of silence, noticing what word or phrase stands out.

Step 2: Sharing in Triads 
Break into groups of 3. Each person briefly answers two prompts:

1. Where have you recently seen God remember you? Share one moment—small or significant—where God met you personally.

2. Where do you need God’s healing light to shine today? Name a place of darkness, anxiety, fear, or discouragement.

Step 3: Prayer of Blessing
After each person shares, pray for the light of Christ to shine on each person. Pray for the healing, peace-giving light of Christ to rest on each person.

Teaching Text

Luke 1:46-56

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Sermon Synopsis: “Magnify the Lord”

Mary’s Magnificat is the first song of Christmas — and it erupts from the realization that God has seen her, chosen her, and stepped into her story. In her song, Mary reveals three truths about God:

1. The God Who Sees
God looks upon the lowly, the ordinary, the overlooked — and invites them into His redemptive work. Mary’s “yes” shows that availability matters more than status.

2. The God Who Redeems
The Magnificat is a revolutionary announcement: God lifts the humble, brings down the proud, fills the hungry, and empties the self-sufficient. Jesus’ coming turns the world’s value system upside down and begins the restoration of all things.

3. The God Who Saves
God does not lower His standards to save us — He lowers Himself. In Jesus, God enters our lowliness, takes on our weakness, and offers salvation through His humility.

Key Takeaway:
Advent invites us to magnify the God who sees us, redeems what is broken, and saves us by becoming low. Like Mary, when we surrender our small “yes,” we are swept into God’s greater story.

Sharing Prompts

1. Mary is an ordinary, overlooked girl — but God sees her. Where in your life do you feel unseen, overlooked, or insignificant right now?

2. Mary’s response (“Let it be to me according to your word”) is simple obedience. What might a fresh “yes” to God look like in this season?

3. The Magnificat holds together worship + justice. Which one comes more naturally to you — worship or justice? Why? What would it look like to hold both together?

Tim Keller said, “The essence of gospel humility is not thinking more of myself or less of myself, but thinking of myself less.” How might God be inviting you to practice humility this Advent season?

Practice: Listening

The practice of listening invites us to slow down and pay attention—to God’s voice, to our own hearts, and to the stories of others. In a world full of noise, distraction, and pain, listening becomes an act of love. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to notice and care for the poor, positioning ourselves alongside them for their flourishing. This week, as we remember the poor during Advent, we intentionally listen to those who are often overlooked.

Practice for the Week

Choose one or more ways to practice intentional listening and presence:

1. Walk With the Poor

Spend time with someone who is struggling—unhoused, lonely, overlooked—and give them your full, undivided presence. Listen without fixing. Honor their dignity.

2. Join Garden Street Ministry (Dec 20)

GSM gathers monthly in MacArthur Park to worship, share a meal, and build relationships with our unhoused neighbors. On December 20th, sit with someone experiencing homelessness, hear their story, and remind them that they are seen and valued. GSM is also collecting new blankets for their winter blanket drive—an extremely practical and needed act of care.

3. Angel Tree — Urban Immersion

Partner with Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program by providing a Christmas gift to a child with an incarcerated parent.
As you do, reflect on how listening and presence can restore hope and dignity to a family in pain.