Its a Shepherd's Thing

Pericope: Luke 2: 8-15 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Sermon Text: Luke 2: 8 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Sermon Title: Virtual Christmas Pt 3 It’s a Shephard Thing You Wouldn’t Understand

Point 1: They were honored to be picked. Vs 9 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

 

Point 2: They hurried. Vs 16 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 

Proverbs 6:9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? 

Proverbs 19:15Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.

Prov. 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

Point 3: The heralded what they experienced. Vs 17 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  

Point 4: They hallowed what they experienced. Vs 20 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

Life Application: 

1. There is a little shepherd in all of us…

2. Be the shepherd God called you to be

3. There is power in rejection

Virtual Christmas - It's Personal

 

Pericope: Isaiah 7: 14 14 Matt 1: 23 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Sermon Text: Matt 1: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[a] (which means “God with us”).

Luke 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Zechariah 2:8 8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says…—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye… Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; …

Psalms 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.;

Psalms 139:8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

Point 1. God takes sin personally. Gen 3: 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Gen. 3:8-9 - 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Gen. 3:15 - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Point 2. God takes your wandering personally. Luke 15: 1-3 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Point 3. God takes separation personally. Matt 1: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Romans 8:38 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28-29 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Life Application:

1.  Accept God’s personal response to your sin.

2.  Accept God’s personal response to your wandering and separation – come back

3.  Accept that Christmas is about Jesus coming to take away the sins of the world not Santa and Christmas decorations.

My Angel

 

Pericope: Luke 1: 26- 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Sermon Text: Hebrews 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Sermon Title: Virtual Christmas Pt 1 My Angel

Point 1. Angels aint new. Angels at the gate of Eden Gen. 3: 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

We first see them guarding the gates of the Garden of Eden preventing Adam and Eve reentry  Gen. 3:24  Angels appeared to Abraham Genesis 18:2  Angel walked the streets of Sodom and Gomorrah  Gen. 19:17  Angels appeared to Jacob ascending and descending on Jacob’s ladder Gen. 28:10 Jacob wrestled with the angel of God all night Gen 32:22 Angels looking over the ark of the covenant.  Ex. 25:20  Death angels Passover Egypt Ex. 12:25  David had to fend off death angels that were going to wipe out Israel 2 Sam 24:16  Angels fed Elijah 1 Kings 19 and Sampson Judges 14  Seraphim angels worship God at all times. Isaiah 6:2-3 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;    the whole earth is full of his glory.”  Warring angels stand ready to do battle Psalms 91:1, 11-12 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a] For he will command his angels concerning you    to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands,  so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  Arch Angels stand in the presence of the Lord. An Angel stood in the way of the Prophet Balaam’s donkey to prevent him from prophesying  Numbers 22:23

Angels protect us.  Luke 4:9-11 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:  “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands,  so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’]”  Inspire us Luke 1:28 and angels are forever present. 

Point 2. Angels carry out pronouncements. Luke 1: 26-30 26… angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Rev. 2: 1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14

“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

 

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Luke 1:38 - 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Point 3. Angels bring clarification. Matt 1: 20-21  20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 1:12, 18-20 - 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 

Life Application:

1)  Employ your Angels

2)  Deploy

Communion