| • Opening up God's Word in Luke 1:26-45 | |
| • The Annunciation of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel | |
| • A discussion on the current challenges and hardships faced by the community, including the loss of a church member, COVID cases, unemployment, and strained relationships | |
| • The concept of faith and its ability to help individuals persevere through difficult times, even when it doesn't make sense to others | |
| • Faith as a way of living and being in the world | |
| • The story of Mary and Elizabeth from Luke 1 as examples of faith in the face of the impossible | |
| • The concept of "reasons of the heart" by Pascal, referring to convictions that come from the heart rather than just reason or logic | |
| • Christian faith as a conviction of the heart alongside reason, but ultimately transcending it | |
| • The contrast between Mary and Elizabeth, with Mary being young and unmarried, and Elizabeth being old and part of the priestly class | |
| • The picture of community and inclusivity in the story of Mary and Elizabeth, with Elizabeth deferring her privilege to Mary | |
| • The main obstacle to evangelism is Christians who focus on bad news rather than good news | |
| • Mary and Elizabeth are examples of faith because they welcome each other with humility | |
| • Their faith is rooted in the word of God, which has power and authority | |
| • The promises of God's word are the reason for enduring hardships and trials | |
| • Faith is not about having enough faith to achieve a specific outcome, but about trusting in God's character | |
| • A lie perpetuated in some Christian circles is that faith can guarantee material blessings or success. | |
| • The importance of faith being in the right person (Jesus) rather than having a certain amount of faith | |
| • A comparison between faith and grabbing onto a branch to prevent falling using an illustration from Tim Keller | |
| • The definition of true faith according to the Heidelberg Catechism, including its content and wholehearted trust aspects | |
| • Faith as a gift created by the Holy Spirit through the gospel and granted by God's free will | |
| • Examples of people who have revealed the gift of faith in practice (Mary and Elizabeth) | |
| • Expressing gratitude to those who have had faith in them | |
| • Recognizing the impact of others on their life and faith | |
| • Considering one's role as God's messenger for others | |
| • Acknowledging the presence of Jesus as a reason from the heart | |
| • Praising God for speaking clearly, being present, and giving the gift of faith | |
| • Thanking those who have shown love and support in times of need |