1 Come and Worship advent series December 14, 2014 Joy The shepherds Luke 2:8-20 Video to use at the beginning of the series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83hufamote0 Bebo Norman Come and Worship Call to Worship: Chorus # 184 Joy, joy, wonderful joy, Peace, peace, naught can destroy, Love, love, so boundless and free, All this my Lord gives to me. Songs: #93 While Shepherds Watched #89 Silent Night #75 Come and Worship Advent Reading: Reader 1: On this third Sunday of Advent, as we think about the coming of Jesus Christ, we light the candle of joy. Reader 2: When Christ comes into our lives, He brings the fullness of joy. He anoints our hearts with the oil of gladness. (Isaiah 61:3) Reader 1: When Jesus was born, the angels said that His coming was good news of great joy for all people. (Luke 2:10) Reader 2: Because Christ has come to us, we can live every day in the joy of the Lord. Praise to His name! (Light the third candle pink)
2 Title: Come and Worship The Shepherds Scripture Reference: Luke 2:8-20 SERMON OUTLINE Introduction: Last week we took a look at Christmas through the eyes of the Nativity scene through the angels. The job of the angels that night was to announce and celebrate the love of God through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ. This week we share in the joy of the shepherds at the good news brought that night. Point 1: UNEXPECTED JOY v.8-14 Explanation (WHAT is happening in the Scripture?): The Scripture tells us that the shepherds were the first people told of this miraculous birth. They were tending to their flocks at night in the fields near Bethlehem. The angels came in all their glory and changed the shepherds lives forever. For the shepherds, it was probably just another ordinary night. Making sure the sheep were fed and in their places, guarding from any predators that may come, sharing stories around the fire, and trying to get some rest for the next day. But the unexpected happened, and the message of love came just for them. Argument (WHY is it important?): The Life Application Study Bible says, God continued to reveal the news about His Son, but not to those we might expect. Luke records that Jesus birth was announced to shepherds in the fields. These may have been the shepherds who supplied the lambs for the temple sacrifices that were performed for the forgiveness of sin. Here the angels invited these shepherds to greet the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world forever. The shepherds were terrified at the great host of angels, but their fear turned into joy at the announcement they proclaimed. Application (HOW does it apply to their lives?): The greatest event in history had just happened! The Messiah had been born! For ages the Jews had waited for this, and when it finally occurred, the announcement came to humble shepherds. The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and the ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don t think you need extraordinary qualifications he accepts you as you are. Life Application Study Bible Illustration: The birth of a king is usually a grand event. Announcements are sent out far and wide, celebrations are held, and everyone knows. The first people to know and experience this new life are those of the highest, noblest birth. However, in the case of the King of Kings, those that were the first to know were lowly shepherds. They were hardly deserving of the honor, but that is what makes the story beautiful. In one of the first stories of Jesus s life we see what his ministry will become reaching out to the unexpected people and loving them all. Transition: With this unexpected joy came the curiosity to see what had happened and the reaction of the shepherds to the good news.
3 Point 2: EXPERIENCING JOY v.15-16 Explanation (WHAT is happening in the Scripture?): Once the angels were gone and the shepherds had a moment to catch their breath and think about what had been said, they decided to go and see this thing that has happened. They wanted to see for themselves that what the Lord said was true. The Scripture tells us they hurried off. They didn t waste any time. They didn t linger around or decide that they would do it in the morning when the town woke up. They went immediately and with haste. They found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in the manger. They saw it all for themselves and got to worship at the feet of the newborn King. Argument (WHY is it important?): These shepherds did not have anything to offer to this baby. They didn t bring a crotched blanket, flowers, or a new stuffed animal. They didn t bring all the lavish gifts of the Magi. What they brought were curious hearts open to experiencing the joy of Christ. How important this little baby must be to be announced by a host of angels! These shepherds were the first ones in recorded Scripture other than Mary and Joseph to see the miracle of God. Application (HOW does it apply to their lives?): The wonderment of the birth of Christ is available to us all. It is presented in the Scriptures and is the focus all month long leading up to our celebration of Christmas. We can become dulled to the feelings of joy that the shepherds felt. For them this was new and exciting the world was changed! Do we hurry off to see Jesus? Do we approach Him with awe? Do we marvel at what the Lord has done? This Advent season, let s experience the same sense of joy that the shepherds had that night. Transition: When that kind of joy is experienced, you cannot stay the same. This kind of news brings a desire to share it with all. Point 3: SHARING JOY v. 17-20 Explanation (WHAT is happening in the Scripture?): The shepherds approached the manger to see the Christ child. Hours before it had been just another night. Now their lives were different, the whole world was different! The promised Messiah had come. The angels told them and they saw it with their own eyes. Naturally, that led to a desire to share the news with everyone. The Scripture tells us that they spread the word that had been told to them about this child. It goes on to say that all who heard were amazed. Argument: (WHY is it important?): I think it would be really hard to deny what God was saying to you if He used a host of angels to tell you. Even more so if you went and saw that everything they said was true with your own eyes. They could not deny what they had heard or seen, so their response was to share the news. For many years the Jewish people had been waiting for this moment. The shepherds had a great responsibility to share the news. They weren t instructed to share, but they did so because it was the best news in the world. They experienced the joy and wanted to share that with others.
4 Application (HOW does it apply to their lives?): When we have encounters with Christ, we shouldn t keep them to ourselves. Some of the best times are those times of testimony. Times that people share what the Lord has done in their lives and how they have been blessed as a result. When you experience the joy that comes with knowing Jesus, do you just hold on to it? Of course not! This good news is meant to be shared with all. It is good news of great joy for all the people. Share this joy with someone soon! Transition: This unexpected joy is not something we should take for granted, but should be experienced daily and shared. Recap/Summary/Closing: Verse 20 says, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. This good news isn t mean to be kept a secret. The shepherds had an exciting and unexpected evening when they were introduced to the Christ child. They experienced the joy that He brings and shared it with others that they may believe as well. Altar Call/Time of Commitment: Some of the Jews were waiting for a savior to deliver them from Roman rule; others hoped the Christ (Messiah) would deliver them from physical ailments. But Jesus, while healing their illnesses and establishing a spiritual kingdom, delivered them from sin. His work is more far-reaching than anyone could imagine. Christ paid the price for sin and opened the way to peace with God. He offers us more than temporary political or physical changes he offers us new hearts that will last for eternity. (Life Application Study Bible). The good news of great joy was not only the birth of the Messiah, but what He would do for the people. This baby that the shepherds rushed to see was the Deliverer, the Savior for sins. Then and now. Come and Worship with joy in your hearts and share that joy with others.
5 Benediction: Romans 15:5-13 (NIV) 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name. [c] 10 Again, it says, Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people. [d] 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him. [e] 12 And again, Isaiah says, The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope. [f] 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.