SF384 - THE KING WHO CARES (Luke 2 8-20)

@PAGE NUMBER = SF384

@TITLE = THE KING WHO CARES

@LEVEL ONE = Luke 2:8‑20

@LEVEL ONE = INTRODUCTION

@LEVEL TWO = Series Background

@LEVEL THREE = A King Comes

@LEVEL FOUR = Abraham ‑ A Saving King

@LEVEL FOUR = David ‑ A Redeeming King

@LEVEL FOUR = Isaiah ‑ A Suffering King

@LEVEL FOUR = Mary ‑ The King of Our Hearts

@LEVEL FOUR = Joseph ‑ The King Of Your Home

@LEVEL FOUR = The Shepherds ‑ The King Who Cares

@LEVEL TWO = Sermon Background

@LEVEL FOUR = Earthly Kings ‑ Described

@LEVEL FOUR = Caring King longed for...

@LEVEL ONE = 1A. ONLY A KING WHO CARES...CAN MAKE HONORED GUESTs OUT OF SOCIAL OUTCASTS

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. Who They Were (v.8)

@LEVEL FOUR = Outcasts

@LEVEL FOUR = Considered to be liars ‑ not allowed to be witnesses in court

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. What They Did (v.8b)

@LEVEL FOUR = Made them ceremonially unclean

@LEVEL FOUR = Raising sheep for Passover

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 2

@LEVEL ONE = 2A. ONLY A KING WHO CARES...CAN MAKE INSIDERS OUT OF OUTSIDERS

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. They Accepted God At His Word (v.15)

@LEVEL THREE = God's Word will always conflict with the World's ways

@SCRIPTURE = Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

@SCRIPTURE = Prov 14:12 (NIV)  There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. They Acted On God's Word (v.16)

@LEVEL THREE = Acting on God's Word always requires that we move from where we are.

@SCRIPTURE = "come, follow me..."

@LEVEL THREE = You must act on God's Word when He speaks

@SCRIPTURE = "hurried..."

@ILL TITLE = Standing Outside

@LEVEL ONE = 3A. ONLY A KING WHO CARES...CAN MAKE AMBASSADORS OUT OF LIARS

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. Notice Their Proclamation (v.17‑18)

@LEVEL THREE = 1C. Amazing message ‑ Christ is born

@LEVEL THREE = 2C. Amazing messengers ‑ Common men

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. Notice Their Praise (v.20)

@LEVEL THREE = For God's glory!

@LEVEL THREE = For God's grace!

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 3

@LEVEL ONE = APPLICATION

@ILL TITLE = Paderewski

@ILL TEXT = The other day a friend told me a little story about Paderewski, the great Polish pianist.

@ILL TEXT = It seems a mother took her young son, eight or nine years old, to a concert by Paderewski because she thought the child had some musical talent and might benefit from hearing a genius play. They sat close to the stage, where the curtain was up, revealing the grand piano.

@ILL TEXT = Paderewski was in the wings; it wasn't quite time to start.

@ILL TEXT = The mother turned to speak to an acquaintance behind her.  As she did, the little boy wriggled out of his seat, ran up the steps to the stage, sat down and began to play "Chopsticks" with all his might. The mother was appalled.  The audience gasped as Paderewski himself strode onto the stage.

@ILL TEXT = But instead of being angry the maestro smiled, sat down on the piano bench with the little boy, whispered to him to continue and then, putting both arms around the little figure began to improvise a soft but brilliant accompaniment to the childish music. He kept it up until the audience, charmed and fascinated, burst into applause.

@ILL TEXT = I like to think that perhaps when we finally come into God's presence and try to explain our lives with all the faults and flaws, He will put His loving arms around us and turn our faltering notes into a triumphant song of redemption and fulfillment.

@ILL TEXT = ‑‑ Ruth Stafford Peale

@LEVEL TWO = The King Cares About You...

@LEVEL THREE = No matter who you are.

@LEVEL THREE = No matter what you have done.

@LEVEL THREE = He longs to put His arms around you and make beautiful music out of your life!