ALCFNow -

In today's message, Pastor Scott teaches on 6 things we can learn about the birth of Jesus from the perspective of the shepherds in Bethlehem. Follow along using his outline below. Please help us spread the good news by sharing this message with others!

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn. 8 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, 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 terribly frightened,

~Luke 2:1-9

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1. They were in the right place at the right time

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And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

~Hebrews 10:25

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But the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!

~Luke 2: 10-11

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Savior – the promised one who would bring forgiveness of sins

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Messiah – the anointed High Priest who would bring us back to God

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Lord – the title of God who promised to come in the flesh and redeem mankind

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He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has the power of deciding; master, owner

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And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others--the armies of heaven--praising God: 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

~Luke 2: 12-15

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2. They believed what they heard

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They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

~Luke 2:16

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3. They did something about what they heard

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Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

~Luke 2:17

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4. They told others about what they heard

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All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

~Luke 2:18-20

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5. They gave God glory for what they heard

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6. They gave God praise for what they heard

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Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

~Luke 2:21

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Jehovah is salvation

Sermon Outline

It’s Almost Christmas