An Important Announcement
Notes
Transcript
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Friday - 6pm potluck (sign-up in Realm) and 7pm gathering for prayer and testimonies
*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card
DECLARATION:
Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.
We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.
Prayer for...
INTRODUCTION:
Review:
TODAY: And Now, for an Important Announcement
WHY?… Most church-goers dread announcements. Announcements are considered dull, but not this announcement.
Opening Scripture: Luke 2:8-13
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.
This announcement...
I. It Was Personal—“I bring you.”
I. It Was Personal—“I bring you.”
A. The shepherds were surprised at what they saw and heard. They did not expect to hear such songs or see such sights.
B. We are surprised that shepherds were chosen to receive this greatest of all announcements. We would expect that the heavenly choir would sing for a prestigious audience. Can you imagine the Metropolitan Opera putting on a performance for illiterate herdsmen?
C. We may never know why they were chosen, but the fact that they were chosen is a comfort to all of us ordinary people.
D. Paul suggests a possible reason in 1 Corinthians 1:26–29. God often chooses humble things for grand purposes, and ordinary people to do extraordinary deeds.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
E. Now centuries later we must sill hear the message as a personal message. The fact that hundreds of years have passed and thousands upon thousands have heard must not diminish the impact of the message. It is still personal!
II. It Was Universal—“to all people.”
II. It Was Universal—“to all people.”
A. The fact that it was universal does not contradict the fact that it was personal.
B. It was personal in impact, but universal in scope. All people were to have the opportunity to respond individually and personally to a God who loves them individually and personally.
C. The fact that the announcement is universal destroys any ethnic pride that we may have.
D. This fact also makes us humble. God’s chosen people today are those who choose to believe.
E. It makes us evangelistic. God wants us to share the message with everyone.
F. It gives us missionary zeal. God wants us to share the message in every place.
G. The apostle Peter learned that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34, 35) His words “every nation” were the proper response to Jesus’ words “all nations.”
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
III. It Was Timely—“born today.”
III. It Was Timely—“born today.”
A. Spiritually it seems that every Christmas we are celebrating the birth of Christ for the first time.
B. Nationally and internationally we seem to need Christmas especially at this time.
C. Perhaps in your life Christmas has special meaning this year.
D. We must never be content with simply recalling a past event.
E. The famous Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem (v. 4) says “Be born in us today!”
IV. It Was Also Timeless—“The Savior/Messiah.”
IV. It Was Also Timeless—“The Savior/Messiah.”
A. That’s what people needed then.
B. That’s what people need now.
C. That’s what people have needed in all the years between then and now.
D. That’s what people will need until the end.
Conclusion
Conclusion
It is never enough to just listen to the announcement even if we listen attentively. It is not enough to just listen to the announcement, even if we listen reverently. We must respond to this angelic announcement.
Illustration:
While it is proper to pay special attention to these verses in December, it is equally true that they are important to us every day of the year. On any Sunday we could appropriately sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!” At any time of the year we could appropriately sing “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
Bibliography
Shannon, Robert. Sermon Outlines for Special Days. Edited by Sam E. Stone. Standard Sermon Starters. Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1995.
