Christmas 2020

How to Celebrate Christmas.

Luke 2:8–20 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Intro: What a blessing it is that we can come to Jesus. In Prayer, in faith, for salvation. He is powerful and great, He is the almighty, He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. But as a man He was humble, He wasn’t born in a palace, He was born in a Stable.

Mary and Joseph were chosen to raise, to take care of the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the one who would save us of our sins. And His birth would be where the Scripture said, The city of David, Bethlehem. But they lived 90 mikes away in Nazareth.

Elab why they had to go to Bethlehem, and how they got, and what happened when they got there. “No room for them in the inn”

It was time for Jesus to be born: Making an announcement when a baby is born. (proud parent) God would make an announcement.

I. Glorify God

Luke 2:8–14 NKJV

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

It was time for the announcement of the birth of Jesus. Not Royalty, not religious leaders. Not a politician. Not someone that was public figure. It was Shepard's.

a. Shepard’s had an important job. But they were looked at as the lowest of the low in the system of people. They could not even testify in courtroom the were so despised. But when God announces the birth of His son it is the Shepard’s who were the first to hear.

VS 8

Elab on them watching the sheep. Protected them, 24/7 job. I like to think it was clear stary, but dak night.

VS 9 (Stood before them, not hovered over them) and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. This is the manifestation of God’s presence among his people.

1. This was a surprise, this was an event that brought fear to them. Elab why,

VS 10 First thing the angel does is to let them know that they have nothing to fear. I believe there was something about the voice of the angel that put them at peace.

They would come with bad news or to pronounce judgement, but good news. “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “

a. “Good tidings” euaggelizo Evangelize. The angels shared the good news of Jesus, now its up to us to share the good news.

b. The news then and now is for all people.

VS 11 (born to you)

City of David: Bethlehem.

“A savior” (One who saves)

“christ the Lord” (One who has authority)

VS 12

(Wuest

“And this shall be an unusual and distinguishing token of identification for you; you shall find a new-born infant which has been wrapped in cloth bands, and is lying in a feeding-trough” (Wuest)

1. There was most likely other new born babies, but not like this one. Most likely no others new born’s laying in feeding trough.

a. Then something amazing happened.

VS 13-14

Luke 2:13–14 NKJV

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

“Praising God” Elab the angels praising God.

a. How often do you really praise God?

VS 14 Giving glory to God in the highest degree. Why were they doing this? Salvation (good tidings) evangelism had come.

II. Spend time with Jesus.

Luke 2:15–16 NKJV

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

1.. They had the news, they had to command, and the location, but now they to choose to go or not. READ VS 15 and Elab they didn’t debate it, they just left the fields to find Jesus.

a. ELab on them looking for and finding Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

(How much time do you spend with Jesus?

III. Sharing the news of Jesus

Luke 2:17–18 NKJV

17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

1. Seeing the baby Jesus was not enough for the shepherds. They had to share the story. Everyone they met heard from them about angel, angelic songs of praise, and a trip to a manger to find the baby of God’s glory.

a. Most important, they shared what had been told them about this child. The fact of the child was news. The news of the child was gospel. Shepherds found in a manger the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord himself. They let everyone in hearing distance know

VS 18 The people that heard marveled. (Amazed)

IV. Glory God.

Luke 2:19–20 NKJV

19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

VS 20 first.

VS 19

Luke 2:51 NKJV

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

VS 19 along with Luke 2:51 indicates that Mary did not fully understand the implications of all that happened to her.

Know of us can fully understand what Jesus has done for us, if we did, we would be telling more people about Him. What a great way to celebrate Christmas.