Sermon Study Guide | Series: Come All Ye Faithless | Sermon: Come All Ye Joyless | Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 | Date: December 7, 2025

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Update:

We’ve developed a daily Advent reading plan on YouVersion! Come All Ye Faithless is an honest journey through the stories of Scripture for those who feel hopeless, joyless, anxious, or lonely. Across twenty-five days, this devotional invites you to slow down, reflect, and encounter the God who meets us where faith feels thin.

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Each day includes Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer to help you discover that hope grows in silence, joy emerges through surrender, peace is born in trust, and love is revealed in presence.

Because the invitation of Christmas isn’t just for the faithful—it’s for all of us.

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CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

The holiday season often pushes us to “put on a happy face,” even when we feel anything but joyful. Take a moment to reflect:

Where do you feel the pressure to “be happy” even when you’re not?

Maybe it’s family expectations, the chaos of the season, or financial strain.

This week’s message reminded us that joy isn’t about everything being fine—it’s about trusting that God is present even when it’s not.

So, how are you—really—doing right now?

Share honestly with your group, trusting that God—and your community—can meet you there.

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read Luke 1:26–38 and reflect together on the following:

• What stands out to you about Mary’s emotional response to the angel’s message? Why do you think being “favored” by God was initially so troubling?
  
  
• How does this passage challenge our modern idea that blessing and comfort always go hand-in-hand?
  
  
• What’s one example in your life where fear got in the way of joy? What helped shift your focus?
  
  
• Mary didn’t ask to be in control—she simply chose surrender. Where in your life do you tend to confuse control with trusting God?
  
  
• Consider the phrase: “Joy isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you receive.” What would it look like for you to receive joy this Advent season instead of chasing happiness?
  
  

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• Name what’s really happening in you. Where do you need to stop pretending and be honest—with yourself, with God, or with someone else?
  
  
• Release what you can’t control. Is there an area of your life (finances, relationships, your image, your expectations) where you’re holding on too tightly? What would surrender look like?
  
  
• Stay close to God in what you don’t understand. Joy doesn’t require clarity—it requires closeness. How can you stay rooted in God’s presence this week, especially in the parts of life that still feel unresolved?
  
  
• If you were to pray Mary’s words—“Let it be to me according to your word”—about one area of your life this week, what would it be?
  
  
• Commit to reading the Come All Ye Faithless daily devotional plan on YouVersion (Bible app) from today until Christmas Day
  
  • Don’t worry if you miss a day, just catch up so you can stay on-track! 
    
    • Think practice over perfection.
  • Note: YouVersion is a mobile app so you’ll need to install it on your phone or tablet to access the reading plan.
    
    • Use the link above or search “Menlo Church” in the Bible app
  • Share with a friend! If you’re someone who has seen God’s faithfulness break through a long season of silence, who else might benefit from a daily spiritual centering?

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

God, thank you for meeting us not in perfection, but in our reality.

Thank you for the example of Mary—her honesty, her surrender, and her joy that was rooted in You, not her circumstances.

Help us slow down enough this Advent to receive the joy you want to grow in us.

Clear out our fear. Quiet our anxiety. Make space in us for your peace to guard our hearts.

May joy take root in the soil of surrender, not certainty. And may we walk through this season, not just chasing happiness—but experiencing the deeper joy that only You can give.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.