As we come to the end of our journey of Rediscovering Christmas

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Gwen Mitchell
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1 Rediscovering Christmas Go Tell It on the Mountain Rediscovering Outreach: spreading the word about what we have seen and heard LUKE 2:15-21 Pastor Sandi Evans Rogers December 27, 2015 If you had some really important and exciting news to tell, Who would you share it with? Do you know? Why would you choose that person to tell? Might be different people different news New job Getting married Having a baby Bought a house Won the lottery.oops, maybe not As we come to the end of our journey of Rediscovering Christmas We remember that: God has had a very special announcement to make, yet He chooses some unlikely people to share this news with. Rather than go to really important and powerful people; the angel appears first to a bunch of shepherds hanging out in a field, night shift with their sheep. Shepherds what do you know about shepherds? [holding shepherds crook/staff] Once upon a time during the time of the Patriarchs, shepherding was a noble occupation. In nomadic societies, almost everyone was a shepherd. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were shepherds... And were considered wealthy. Jethro, the priest of Midian, employed his daughters as shepherdesses (Exodus 2:16). Later, Moses went to work for him. David, who became King, began as a shepherd. 1

2 Eventually. arrogant religious leaders, maintained a strict caste system, at the expense of shepherds and other common folk. Shepherds were officially labeled sinners At the time, a technical term for a class of despised people. Palestine: just as Jesus was preparing to enter into our world shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They were right on the same rung with tax collectors and dung sweepers. They truly held what would be considered a subordinate position Experienced hardship and danger - - wild beasts Protecting sheep o Rod o Staff o Sling Food often whatever they could find. Lots of time outside watching over their herd. They couldn t enter into the mainstream of Jewish life, Couldn t maintain the ceremonial washings Couldn t celebrate religious festivals and feasts. No one envied them; nor were they anxious to become one. As Brian mentioned these shepherds were Bethlehem Shepherds Often their sheep were offered as sacrifices So, even while He was being born, Abba is pointing to the sacrificial lamb Jesus will become in His death. 2

3 New Testament mentions shepherd 16 times Smelly dirty and disliked. Grinch- Stink, stank, stunk So it was into this social context of religious snobbery and class prejudice, God s Son stepped forth. How surprising and truly significant that Abba handpicked lowly, unpretentious shepherds to first hear the joyous news. Last week Brian had us thinking of all the folks God could choose o So, why did the announcement come to Shepherds at all? o Why not to priests and kings? o Who were shepherds that they should be eyewitnesses of God s glory and receive history s greatest birth announcement? AND.. o What would they do with this amazing opportunity? Scripture lets us know Luke 2:15-20 The Message (MSG) As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. Let s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us. They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing! They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed. 3

4 19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they d been told! After the Angels left What could the Shepherds have done? Can you believe that? Did we really see that? Did we have some bad grape juice? Stunned Shocked What DID the Shepherds do? Listened Talked it over Took off.in a hurry - running - in haste - as fast as they could - quickly. They were NOT going to miss this special invitation. Obedient. Once they saw God s promise fulfilled Once they stood in awe of the Messiah Once they saw the baby Life for them would NEVER be the same. Then. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed Did you hear that? 16 So they ran into town, The Voice 4

5 and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, 17 they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. 18 Everyone who heard their story couldn t stop thinking about its meaning. They could NOT CONTAIN themselves they spread the story they made known they related what they had been told the shepherds told everyone what had happened They told everyone they met Did you know about the baby? Can we tell you about what we saw? You won t believe this - - but it is true - - saw it MYSELF! The Shepherds had been blessed beyond measure They were the first, To see the baby Jesus, The Savior The Messiah The Master God had sent them a very special invitation, A one-of-a-kind invitation They RSVP d with great joy and enthusiasm. What they saw, What they found, What they felt, What they experienced Could NOT be held in 5

6 It HAD to be shared. The Shepherds did not hesitate Their response to the coming of The Messiah, The deliverer They become JOYFUL WITNESSES As I have been reflecting on their story I have been pondering how it was so easy for them to share? How could they have shared in such a way; that their news was impactful for all? 18 Everyone who heard their story couldn t stop thinking about its meaning. Why do we have such a difficult time sharing our stories? Why are we hesitant? Have you come up with a plausible reason? How have we justified not sharing? How do we understand our mission in light of the Shepherds? In light of The Christ? During this advent season, several g.groups have been participating in an Advent study entitled Sent Been a great study looking at advent through a new lens. Full title: Sent, Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas Lanecia Rouse Joining Jesus mission to liberate means overcoming by the grace and unconditional love of God, our own self-doubt and fear. Our need to control, and our need to fix or manipulate outcomes. Joining Jesus mission challenges us to understand ourselves in new ways, 6

7 as disciples sent to engage the world to prepare for new ways of healing, for hope to be awakened, dignity restored, and the weight of guilt and shame released by the unconditional love of God. Lanecia reminds us that is our Self-doubt Fear Need to control Need to fix and manipulate that binds us and holds us in a place of bondage not allowing us the freedom to tell the Story of Jesus in our lives. Instead We need to allow our encounter with Jesus, The Messiah The Deliverer Our Savior To impact our lives; To be in Awe of what we have seen; To accept what we have heard; To be transformed from within By His grace and unconditional love. Just last Wednesday as our staff group were on the final session of our advent study, Jesus Changes Everything, Rachel Billips shared When we as the church think about being sent or going out We want to keep it all in HOLY HOARDING. But Hoarding doesn t work. 7

8 In scripture when God s people hoard God doesn t bless them God doesn t allow them to be the people they were called to be. It is only when they give it away, freely, unconditionally That God can do a real miracle in our lives. WOW. Holy Hoarding! How that resonated with me when I heard Rachel speak; Not just for me but for many of us. What am I going to get out of it? How is God going to speak to me this Advent? What new thing is He desiring to bring to life in/or through me? Am I drawing nearer to Him this Advent? A LOT about me. Abba, Forgive me may I not keep it for myself May I not hoard!! May I see that it is about being Sent Sharing what I have seen What I have heard! What I have experienced! Sharing the Good news The great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide! The angel told the shepherds I bring you glorious news of great joy which is for all the people. They received the proclamation the invitation We have to Go!!! We have to share! But it was for all people Everyone Worldwide All people everywhere Rich/Poor/Citizen/Refugee/City/County/American/Iranian/ Red/Yellow/Black/White...they are precious in His sight 8

9 Simple share what we have What we have seen - What we have heard - What we have experienced - John Acevado SENT Jesus favorite word GO!!! The last thing Jesus said was Go!! As the Father sent me I send you. Share it ALL!!!! As we are Rediscovering Christmas May we rediscover Christmas as a time to share, a time to reach out, a time to be witness of the work of God the work of God in you! What can we learn about Abba from the fact that He intentionally chose a bunch of lowly shepherds to be the first ones to hear about the birth of the Savior of the world? God Loves ALL His children No respecter of titles, cultures, status, class He loves YOU unconditionally No matter what those around you might think, You are loved deeply by your Creator, your Abba. He likes to surprise and show up in unexpected ways, At unexpected times always pay attention. He gives YOU a story that only you can tell, He is counting on you to share ALL you have heard and ALL you have seen. Most of us are just ORDINARY folks Maybe not the bottom of the rung, but not Kings, Priests or Potentates. just ORDINARY folks with an extraordinary opportunity! Just like the Shepherds 9

10 We, the church, have been called You have been called This is our time! This is your time! It is up to us to discern how we tell our story. May we, like the shepherds, be found obedient. So what have you experienced this Advent and Christmas time? Reconciled with a friend? Begun to see yourself for who you are; flaws, gifts and attitudes? Has your engagement in the Word of God stretched and enlightened you? Have you discovered the gift of attentiveness seeing the Holy Spirit s work around you? Have you discovered a new depth to your relationship and dependence on Jesus? My prayer for 2016: May God grant you, May God grant us, the life changing spiritual experiences and the ongoing attitude of enthusiasm and responsiveness that causes you [and me] to tell others that you [we], too, have seen Christ the Lord. And everything is different. 10

11 WHO ARE YOU GOING TO TELL? 11

Our Coming Savior The Shepherds a Story of Joy Luke 2:8-20 Pastor Pat Damiani December 13, 2015

Our Coming Savior The Shepherds a Story of Joy Luke 2:8-20 Pastor Pat Damiani December 13, 2015 Do you ever feel like you don t really matter to God? Do you ever think that God is so busy running the universe