Reference

Luke 2:8-20

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Sermon Slides

View Slides From Sermon Here

Sermon Notes

I. The _________________________ of the Messiah (v. 8-14)

     
      A. A glorious __________________________(v. 8-9)


      B. An _________________________(v. 10-12)

 

      C. A heavenly _________________________ service (v. 13-14)

 

II. Believe the _________________________  _________________________(v. 15-16)

 

III. _________________________ on this good news (v. 17-20)

 

       A. _________________________ the good news (v. 17)

 

      B. Be _________________________(v. 18)

 

      C._________________________ on this good news (v. 19)

 

      D. _________________________ God (v. 20)

Going Deeper

  1. How is joy different than happiness? Do you have the joy of the Lord? Why or why not?
  2. What did the angel tell the shepherds in the field in Luke 2:10. What should they not do? What will the news bring to them?
  3. Read Luke 2:11. Who was born? This fulfills all the prophecies of the Messiah. Jesus is born in the city of David (Micah 5:2), a Savior born to them (Isa. 9:6), the Messiah, the Lord.
  4. How will the shepherds find this baby born to them (2:12)? Read Isaiah 7:14. This fulfills the promise of a virgin birth.
  5. What happens in v. 13-14? Peace on earth (shalom) is on all God favors. Norval Geldenhuys says: “Peace on earth will become a reality among those who are blessed by the goodwill and gracious favour of God, those redeemed in Christ…children of God.” Do you have peace?
  6. What did the shepherds do in v. 15-16? What does do their actions prove? How is biblical belief more than intellectual agreement?
  7. Four way to act on the good news of Jesus:
    1. Share the good news (v. 17). With whom do you need to share the gospel this Christmas season? Pray for that person today!
    2. Be amazed (v. 18). Are you amazed at what God has done for you?
    3. Reflect on the good news (v. 19). How will you reflect today?
    4. Worship God (v. 20). Read Romans 12:1-2. How will you worship God with your life this week?
  8. 3 Ways to Increase Our Joy
    1. Know suffering precedes sweetness
      • Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.  -1 Peter 4:12-13
      • When trials come we might wonder if God is absent. We need to know that suffering precedes sweetness. We can rejoice – have joy – because we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. And our joy is based on his glory being revealed when the end comes. The sweetness will be for eternity when His glory is revealed
    2. Follow Jesus whole-heartedly
      • Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. -Mark 12:30
      • When we follow Jesus with our whole heart our joy increases. Our circumstances may not get better, but our joy increases. We have a tendency to be half-hearted followers. We might think, “What’s the bare minimum? What is the least I can do and still go to heaven?” This is
        the attitude of the half-hearted follower. A half-hearted follower might be willing to love God with some of his heart, mind, soul and strength. The command is to love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength. If we love God whole-heartedly, we get increasing joy. If we love God half-heartedly, we get no joy.
    3. Obey God’s Word
      • The path to joy is the path of obedience. John 15:10-11:
      • If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. -John 15:10-11
      • The commands God gives us are not to punish us, but to give us joy! Walking in obedience is not a burden, it’s the path to joy! Our joy is complete when we are walking in obedience. In what areas of my life do you need to grow in obedience? Be specific. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you obey.