Advent 2005 -5- Immanuel Is Born

Reading: Luke 2:8-20
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NIV)

I. Good News of Great Joy (10)

A. The opening of the Gospel: Fear Not

1. 3rd angelic appearance. All begin: fear not

2. 1st response to sin: fear & hiding

3. The Good News dispels all fear

B. Great and Holy Joy

1. Not just a little joy, average, bigg ish joy

2. So much more than any worldly joy

3. Great/holy joy we can abandon ourselves to

C. Joy because He is Born (11)

1. God & people re-united in Jesus

2. He comes as Savior (not to punish/judge)

3. He comes as the Anointed one

4. He comes as Lord

A. Good News is Brought to us

1. Carried by angels from heaven to earth

2. Brought first to the shepherds

3. Unless the news is brought to us . . .

B. This is Good News for All of Us

1. Comes to us, but nor for us alone (17)

2. All the people: spread indiscriminately

3. All kinds of people: young/old, rich/poor, slave/free, men/women, worker/owner, etc.

C. He Has Come to us

1. He has come to us, who walked in darkness

2. He has come to us, not just our neighbor

3. This joy, peace (14), Savior, Christ & Lord has come, is born to us!

A. He is Totally wrapped

1. Lit.“swaddled” common practice (benefits)

2. He who once had the freedoms of heaven!

3. Wrapped now, and at his death

B. He Rests in a manger

1. He does not come with trumpets blaring

2. He rests/sleeps – so great his humiliation

3. The inn was full (7), no room among his own

C. Something to Sing about!

1. Angel choir: Glory to God in the highest (14)

2. Shepherds return glorifying/praising God (20)

3. What of us, who receive this news too?

We Glorify and Praise God for this Wondrous Gift!

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