Sermon Notes for 12/16/2012 (Advent 3)

Good News of Great Joy (Luke 2:8-20) Mari Ikeda
A. Good news of great joy (8-14)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 

- The good news

- The king who humbled himself

- The sign

- The angels sang praises




B. Responses to the good news (15-20)

- The shepherds couldn't wait to confirm and share what they had seen and heard

- The people nearby were amazed at what they were told

- Mary took in all that had happened, treasured them up, and pondered them in her heart


When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.



Summary
Christmas marks the day when our one true king and savior was born. Jesus, who was and is God, came to earth in weakness, becoming one of us. He chose to take on human form, to be laid in a manger, and to have shepherds as one of the first people to learn of his birth, in order to come alongside us and to walk with us. While some might dismiss this story as a strange event that is irrelevant to our present lives, we are invited to check for ourselves whether or not this good news is true. At the heart of this story, we find the source of endless joy which we can share with those around us..


For Discussion
1) Why is Christmas "good news of great joy"?
2) How did Mary to the shepherds news?

MP3 Audio

Video(Click to Start)