An Angelgram For Shepherds

Luke 2:8–20 (NLT)

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Introduction:

We see in our text an message from Heaven by a host of angelic messengers. (Luke 2:13-14)

It was an “Angel-gram for shepherds.”

Notice the Keynotes in this Angel-gram :

1. It was sent to the Shepherds where they were. (Luke 2:8-9)

Luke 2:8–9 (NLT)

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

A- God meets us where we are with his message.

1- The Lord sent his message to shepherds in the field with their sheep.

ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ τῇ αὐτῇ ἀγραυλοῦντες = to spend time outdoors, with the possible implication of living outdoors—‘to remain outdoors.’

God did not require them to find Him, he found them!

2- The Lord comes to where you and I are with His message of joy.

(Romans 8:3)

Romans 8:3 (NLT)

3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

2. It was good news for a universal audience. (Luke 2:10)

Luke 2:10 (NLT)

10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

A- The good news is for everyone.

1- The good news that God sent in that original Angelgram was not just for a select few, but for all people.

παντὶ τῷ λαῷ= all people, every person.

Why? Love! (John 3:16)

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

πᾶς: any one of a totality

3. It was good news that provided the solution to man's deepest need. (Luke 2:11-14)

Luke 2:11–14 (NLT)

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

A- By nature, humans are sinners under condemnation for their rebellion against God.

(Romans 3:23)

Romans 3:23 (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

(Romans 5:12)

Romans 5:12 (NLT)

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

B- The good news is that Christ was born to pay the price for our sins.

(Romans 5:6)

Romans 5:6 (NLT)

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

(1 John 2:2)

1 John 2:2 (NLT)

2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

C- The good news is that we can be saved by placing our faith in Christ.

(Romans 3:28)

Romans 3:28 (NLT)

28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

(Romans 10:10)

Romans 10:10 (NLT)

10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

4. It was good news that was meant to be shared. (Luke 2:15-20)

Luke 2:15–20 (NLT)

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

A- The good news is to be shared with everyone!

(Mark 16:15)

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

CONCLUSION:

Illustration:

“Go Tell It On The Mountain”

By John W. Work, Jr.

While shepherds kept their watching O'er silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens There shone a Holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled When, lo! Above the Earth Rang out the angel chorus That hailed our Savior's birth

Down in a lowly manger Our humble Christ was born And brought us all salvation That blessed Christmas morn

Chorus:

Go, tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go, tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born That Jesus Christ is born