The Shepherds

  • Dec 18, 2011
  • Speaker: Steven Axe
  • Series: Welcoming God
  • Category: Teaching
  • Passage: Luke 2:8–2:20

The Shepherds: Find Yourself in the Nativity Sunday,  December 18,  2011

Series: Welcoming God – making room in our lives for Christ (3) Text:  Luke 2:8-20    

Introduction

Find yourself in the Nativity: Become a participant in the story of the incarnation.

Find yourself in the Nativity: Discover who you are and how you can be whole.

The First Movement: God Re-Enters the World (v. 8-14)

A. Setting the Scene: The Shepherds (v. 8)

B. The First Angel (v. 9-12)

The Angel’s Titles for Jesus

1. Savior: Jesus is our deliverer. We will be made whole in Christ. 

2. Messiah: Jesus is our king, graciously ruling over the entire cosmos and each individual.

3. Lord: Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh. We worship him as God.

C. The Host of Angels (v. 13-14)

  1. Worship: Find ourselves in the Nativity when you join the angels in worship. 
  2. Blessing: In the Nativity, we are both the recipients and purveyors of peace. 

The Second Movement: We Welcome God (v. 15-19)

A. The Shepherds’ Response (v. 15-17)

  • They went and saw. Find yourself in the Nativity when you believe and respond in obedience.
  • They told everyone. Find yourself in the Nativity when you share your story. 

B. The Response of the Townspeople (v 18-19)

Conclusion (v. 20)

Because of the Nativity we have worship to offer God. 

In the Nativity we have assurance of the message of Christ. 

In the Nativity we have a story to tell our world.