Sermon Tone Analysis

Tonight I want to look at an unusual group of people who God used in “The Greatest Story Ever Told”.

This group of people would be the last in that culture or that most of us today would put at the top of the list to have a heavenly visit to announce the birth of the Savior!

That group of people are the Shepherds.

Text; Luke 2:8-20

Shepherds;

Shepherds- Shepherds were near the bottom of the social ladder.

They were mostly uneducated and unskilled people.

They were viewed as dishonest and unreliable characters, so much so that they were not allowed to testify in court.

Because sheep required care seven days a week, shepherds were unable to fully comply with the “man-made” Sabbath regulations developed by the Pharisees.

As a result, they were viewed as being in continual violation of the religious laws, and hence ceremonially unclean.

Not to mention the aroma they carried on them from the sheep.

It’s amazing that though men didn’t care for shepherds Scripture often uses shepherds to symbolize all who care for God’s people, including God himself.

Moses and David, both shepherds, were called to lead the nation of Israel!

So let’s look at why God chose to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds instead of the religious or political leaders.

1. Shepherds are Caring; 8

Shepherds care for their flocks 24/7/360.

It says they were living in the fields with their flock.

This was to provide for and protect them.

These flocks were pastured near the town of Bethlehem.

Most likely these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen.

The shepherds were responsible for making sure that newborn lambs had no defects since the sacrificial animals had to be without spot or wrinkle.

So the shepherds would tightly wrap the lambs in cloth to keep them from becoming blemished and injuring themselves.

[ref .

v.12, pointing to the Lamb of God]

These shepherds symbolize the constant care that the Great Shepherd “Jesus” has for His flock.

2. Shepherds Believed; 15-16

The shepherds have just been given the greatest news to mankind! “A Savior is born who is Christ the Lord.”

Then they were given instructions [sign] of how to find Him, “Wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger.”

And finally they were given the benefits of what this Child brings to those who seek Him, “peace, good will towards men!”

Now many things could have happened at this point between these shepherds.

They could have discussed this and figured it would be to costly to leave the sheep unattended.

Bethlehem was a 5 or 6 mile journey from the sheep fold and a lot could happen in that time to the sheep.

They could have figured that people would have thought them lunatics [moon struck] if they were to go in town talking about looking for a baby king in a stable because some angels talked to them in the fields.

They could have simply ignored it.

Why would God tell us something like this anyway.

We’re shepherds, not Pharisees and Scribes.

They Believed and went in haste!

Look at [v.15] “this thing that has come to pass”

What they actually did is what changed their lives.

They simply took the message at face value and went to Bethlehem to see the Christ child.

That is the only response to God’s invitation that will bring salvation to the soul.

When the message comes to a lost sinner, it is a crucial moment.

Either that sinner will heed the message and go to Christ, or that sinner will reject the message and continue in their sins.

What they do with the message of the Gospel determines determines how they will live out the remainder of the earthly lives, and where they will go when this earthly life is over.

Carr, A. (2015).

When Shepherds Meet (Luke 2:8–20).

In The Sermon Notebook: New Testament (p.

1249).

Lenoir, NC: Alan Carr.

3. Shepherds Evangelized; 17-18

Good news is not to be kept to ourselves.

The shepherds became the first evangelists of the Gospel!

They made “widely known” everything concerning this Child.

[10] Good tidings and great joy [remember Luke associates joy with salvation]

[11] A Savior, Christ the Lord [The Anointed One, our Messiah has come]

[14] Angels giving glory to God for giving men peace and good will who will seek this Child and believe [Peace with God]

Listener’s Marveled- marvel means to wonder, be amazed or astonished.

They were taken back that mere shepherds would have a message this important.

Christians are to be faithful to evangelize the world regardless of what the response might be.

4. Shepherds were Faithful; 20

These shepherds were faithful in their duties not only in believeing the angels, seeking the Christ Child and evangelizing everyone everywhere, but they were faithful to their responsibilities in the field watching over the sheep.

Christians need to be faithful in their jobs to be the best employee that business has.

After all, your job is your greatest mission field!

col 3 16-17

Close;

I believe it was only fitting that God would choose shepherds who looked after the temple lambs to be the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and take part in “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

I’m so thankful that God saw fit to allow you and I, the bottom of the social ladder, to hear this wonderful message and allow us to take part in it as well.

Amen!