Welcome to Day 2769 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.
Day 2769– A Baby at Our Age – Get Serious! Luke 1:5-25

Putnam Church Message – 11/30/2025

Luke’s Account of the Good News

“A Baby at our Age? Get Serious!” – First Sunday of Advent

Last week, we began a year-long study of Luke’s Narrative of the Good News in a message titled: “Only the Best -A Gospel of Excellence: Thanksgiving for the Truth.”

This week is the first Sunday of Advent as we build anticipation of the coming Messiah. Today’s passage is the beginning of a story titled: “A Baby at our Age? Get Serious!” “HOPE IN THE SILENCE — GOD STILL SPEAKS” Our Core verses for this week will be Luke 1:5-25, found on page 1587 of your Pew Bibles.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

OPENING PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
As we enter this Advent season, we come with hearts longing for Your presence. We remember that for four hundred years, Israel waited in silence—yet You were not absent; You were preparing the fullness of time. Today, remind us that hope is not just an emotion—it is a person, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Help us listen for Your voice, even when life feels silent. Open our hearts as we study Your Word and renew our strength through the power of hope.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

INTRODUCTION — THE SOUND OF SILENCE

There are moments in life when God feels silent. We pray and wait… and nothing changes. Perhaps there are some here today who feel that now. We wonder, “Has God forgotten me? Does He still hear my prayers?”

Israel wondered the same.

The story of Christ doesn’t begin with shepherds, angels, or even a manger. Luke begins with silence — over four hundred years without a single prophetic word. No visions. No miracles. No new Scriptures. No prophets. A long, painful pause from heaven. Yet… not a single promise was forgotten.

In fact, the last words heard from God in the Old Testament were not judgment, but a promise and a hope:

Malachi 4:5–6 (NLT)
“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers…”

God’s final words were not anger—but restoration. Not rejection—but reconciliation. God ended the Old Testament with a promise of hope.

But hope often begins in the dark.

For four hundred years, the promise remained…but remained unanswered. Israel waited. And still waited. Empires rose and fell. Kings came and went. Priests became corrupt. Rome took control. Spiritual life faded. And many began to believe God had forsaken them…

But then — Luke 1:5 breaks the silence.

It begins not with a king… but an ordinary priest. Not in a palace… but in the temple. Not with political power… but with the heart of an older married couple.

And in this quiet, hidden place… hope was reborn.

MAIN POINT 1: HOPE IN A HOPELESS WORLD – (Bulletin Insert)

Text: Luke 1:5–7

“When Herod was king of Judea…”

Those words would send chills down the spines of first-century Jews. Herod was a brutal, paranoid ruler. He wasn’t even Jewish by blood—but Rome put him on the throne as a puppet king. He built monuments to his own glory—but didn’t hesitate to kill his own family if he felt threatened.

The spiritual leaders of Israel were equally corrupt. The priesthood had become a political machine. The temple was often abused for financial gain. Righteous people were outnumbered. Faithful worshipers felt powerless. Hope was nearly gone.

Ancient Illustration — A Lamp Without Oil

Imagine walking through Jerusalem at night. The lamps lining the street are burning dimly. Some have already gone out. The darkness grows thicker with each step. That was Israel under Herod. The lamp of faith flickered, but felt too weak to shine.

Modern Illustration — The News Cycle

Today, many feel the same way. We scroll through news headlines—war, violence, corruption, division. Morality seems optional. Truth feels negotiable. Families feel strained. Trust in institutions is fading. Even some churches have drifted into confusion.

Like ancient Israel… our age is desperate for hope.

Object Lesson — The Unlit Candle

Hold up an unlit candle.

Say: “This candle is built to shine… but without flame, it remains dark. It was made for light — but without power, it cannot fulfill its purpose.”
Then light it.
Say: “Hope is like this flame. When hope returns, everything changes.”

Summary of Point 1:
God often allows darkness to set the stage—so His hope can shine brightest.

MAIN POINT 2: HOPE IN AN ORDINARY LIFE

Text: Luke 1:8–10

We expect God to work through prophets and kings—but instead, Luke zooms in on an ordinary priest named Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth.

They were faithful. They were blameless. They served God.
But they had one deep wound… they were childless.

In ancient Israel, childlessness was not only emotionally painful, but socially and spiritually humiliating. Many whispered, “What sin did they commit?” Others assumed God had cursed them. Every baby shower, every family gathering, every passing year was a reminder—your hope is gone.

And yet… Luke says they were righteous before God.

Ancient Storytelling Perspective

Imagine Elizabeth sitting alone in her courtyard, listening to other children play in the street. Each laugh was beautiful… but also painful. Each year she aged, hope seemed to fade. In a society centered around family legacy, she felt overlooked. Forgotten.

Maybe some people here today can relate. You’ve prayed for years — over your health, your children, your finances, your relationships — and nothing seems to change.

But hear this clearly:
Delayed hope is not denied hope.
Holdbacks are not setbacks — they may be setups.
Sometimes God does His best>work when our strength is gone.

Object Lesson — The Priest’s Lot

In those days, priests were chosen by lot to serve in the holy place. With 20,000 priests, Zachariah waited his entire life for this one opportunity.

Object Lesson: Bring a handful of slips of paper marked “Zachariah.”

Say: “This was probably the only time in his life that Zachariah would be chosen. He likely thought it was an honor—but nothing more. But God saw more.”
“Sometimes what feels random to us is appointed by God.”

Summary of Point 2:
God sees ordinary people. He uses faithfulness in unseen places to write eternal stories.

MAIN POINT 3: HOPE DELAYED IS NOT HOPE DENIED

Text: Luke 1:11–20

A Moment of Shock — “A Baby at Our Age? Get Serious!”

When Gabriel appeared in the temple, Zachariah’s daily routine turned into a divine interruption. This wasn’t a vague feeling, an inner voice, or even a dream. It was a celestial messenger standing right beside the altar of incense — in the holiest place Zachariah had ever been. The silence of four centuries was shattered in a single moment.

And what was Heaven’s first message after 400 years?
Not judgment… not rebuke… not condemnation — but hope.

“But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”
— Luke 1:13 (NLT)

Now imagine Zachariah’s very human response. After decades of unanswered prayers, disappointment, and fading hope… how could this not be shocking? In fact, if Zachariah had spoken freely, we might imagine him blurting out something like:

“A baby? At our age? Gabriel — get serious!”

It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t rebellion. It was… human.
It was the reaction of someone who wanted to believe — but found it hard to dare hope again. Here is here actual response in Luke 1:18: Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

Can we blame him?
Hope can be scary when we’ve tasted disappointment.
Sometimes, the hardest miracle to believe is the one we prayed for the longest.

When dreams die slowly, they don’t always die with bitterness.
Sometimes they die with quiet resignation.
And like Zachariah… we simply move on.

But Gabriel responds with gentle firmness:

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the very presence of God.” (Luke 1:19)

In other words:
“Zachariah… I didn’t come from a committee room.
I just came from the Throne Room.
And God said your hope is not dead.”

Modern Parallel

Many of us have a prayer that we’ve silently stopped praying. Not because we’ve turned from God — but because we’ve quietly stopped hoping.

It might be:

• A fractured relationship
• A health diagnosis
• A prodigal child
• A financial hardship
• A persistent fear
• A dream that feels “too late.”

And perhaps if Gabriel appeared to us, we, too, might say:
“At this stage? Really? Lord — get serious.”
But that is precisely where hope is strongest.
Because hope doesn’t ask us to pretend.
Hope asks us to believe God despite what we see.

This humorous and deeply human moment reminds us:
Faith is not the absence of doubt — faith is choosing to trust God despite it.
Hope flourishes best not when certainty is strong, but when circumstances are weak.

Delayed hope is not dead hope.
God had not forgotten Zachariah.
And He has not forgotten you.

Not only would they have a son, but this child would prepare the way for the Messiah Himself. Their waiting had not been wasted. Their prayers had not been lost. God had heard every word.

Because of his doubt, Zachariah is struck silent.
Sometimes God must quiet us… to help us finally listen.

Ancient Illustration — Seeds in the Ground

If you plant a seed, you don’t see life immediately. It seems dead and buried. But underground — God is working.
Hope often grows where eyes cannot see.

Modern Illustration — The Waiting Room

Hospitals have waiting rooms, courtrooms have waiting areas, and even airports have waiting lounges. Waiting does not mean forgotten. Often, it means preparation.

Object Lesson — A Packet of Seeds

Hold up an Acorn and say:
“Hope is like this acorn — silent at first… then powerful in time.”
If I plant this acorn in soil and I water and nourish it, waiting with expectation, then I will soon see a small sprout that, if cared for, will turn into a mighty oak.

Summary of Point 3:
When God seems silent — He may be preparing something sacred beneath the surface.

MAIN POINT 4: HOPE THAT SPEAKS — EVEN IN SILENCE

Text: Luke 1:21–25

Zachariah leaves the temple mute — but his silence spoke volumes. His voice was gone… but his faith was being strengthened. His nine months of silence reflected the 400 years of prophetic silence.

God was preparing his voice to carry a greater message.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth responds not with doubt — but with joy:

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” (Luke 1:25 NLT)

Sometimes, the difference between hope and despair is simply this:
“The Lord has done this for me.”

Object Lesson — The Sealed Envelope

Show a sealed envelope:
“Inside is a message—but it cannot yet be spoken.”
“Sometimes, God seals our voice so that when it is finally opened—His glory is heard clearly.”

Summary of Point 4:
Even in silence—God is preparing a testimony.

APPLICATION & TAKEAWAYS — THREE TRUTHS OF HOPE (Bulletin Insert)

1. When God Seems Silent — He Is Still Working

Key Thought:
Silence does not mean absence. God often works most powerfully when we cannot see Him.

Illustration (Dialogue Form):
Picture a young believer praying:

“Lord… I’ve prayed for months. Nothing seems to change. Are You there?
Do You see me? Do You care?”

Heaven seems quiet, but God may reply…

“Child, I am not ignoring you. I am preparing you. My answers will come—not in the way you expect—but in the moment you need them most.”

Scripture Integration:

• Psalm 27:14 (NLT) — “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
• Isaiah 64:4 (NLT) — “No ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who wait for Him.”

Modern Illustration: The Potter’s Wheel
Potters often shape clay in silence. No speech. No music. No rush. Just hands… pressure… shaping… molding. The clay may think nothing is happening — but a masterpiece is in the making.

Summary:
God’s silence is often sacred preparation. When He appears quiet — He may be shaping something eternal.

2. Our Disappointments May Be Divine Appointments

Key Thought:
What feels like “the end” may actually be God’s beginning.

Illustrative Dialogue:
Imagine Elizabeth praying for decades and then quietly deciding,

“Maybe God wants me to accept this. Maybe this prayer was not meant to be answered.”

But what she thought was a buried dream was actually a planted seed.

If we asked her after John’s birth, she might have testified:

“I thought my hope was dead… but it was only waiting to bloom in God’s time.”

Scripture Integration:

• Romans 5:3–4 (NLT) — “We can rejoice… when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
• Genesis 50:20 (NLT) — “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”

Modern Illustration — Corrie Ten Boom
After surviving the horrors of a concentration camp, Corrie famously said:

“There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

Object Lesson — Broken Pottery
Show a piece of broken pottery and say:
“This looks useless… but in the hands of a skilled artist, it becomes ‘kintsugi’ — a Japanese art form where the cracks are filled with gold. The broken parts become the most valuable parts.”
Sometimes God restores us in ways stronger than we were before.

Summary:
Our disappointments may be divine appointments — God writes His best stories through surrendered hearts.

3. Hope Is Not a Feeling — Hope Is a Person

Key Thought:
Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope has a name — Jesus Christ.

Illustrated Dialogue:
Someone might say:

“I hope things get better.
I hope the diagnosis changes.
I hope I get that job.
I hope my children come back to faith.”

But biblical hope is more profound.
It does not say “I hope circumstances change…”
It says, “I hope in Christ — even if my circumstances don’t change.”

Scripture Integration:

• Romans 15:13 (NLT) — “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him.”
• Hebrews 6:19 (NLT) — “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”
• 1 Peter 1:3 (NLT) — “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance…”

Illustration — The Anchor
In the catacombs of Rome, early Christians often carved anchors on the walls. Why? Because hope wasn’t just theology to them — it was survival. It reminded them:
“The storms may rage… but Christ is our Anchor.”

Object Lesson — A Rope or Anchor
Hold up an anchor or rope:

“Hope is not hanging on to God…
Hope is knowing God is holding on to us.”

Summary:
Hope is not found in changing circumstances — hope is found in Christ alone.

FINAL REINFORCING TRANSITION

As we enter Advent, we do not deny the pain of waiting, the sting of disappointment, or the ache of silent prayers. Instead, we declare:

God still speaks.
God still moves.
God still remembers.
God still brings hope.

Just as He remembered Elizabeth and Zachariah…
He remembers you.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord of Hope,
As we enter this Advent season, help us wait with expectation, not despair. Teach us to trust Your timing, even when our hearts grow weary. Like Zachariah and Elizabeth, may we remain faithful in the ordinary moments of life—believing that no prayer is wasted, and no season is forgotten. Awaken hope within us and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. We praise You for Jesus, our Living Hope. In His name we pray—Amen.

Next week is the second Sunday of Advent, which is Joy. We will continue to prepare our hearts for the coming Messiah. Our message will be “The Day Mary Met Gabriel!”  It will cover the scriptures of Luke 1:26-56.