Christmas 2023 - Great Commission Church
GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING
Luke 2:10
Intro:
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Luke 2:10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”
Three general details:
(1) good tidings
(2) great joy
(3) all people
illus: atheist professors & moderate Jews sometimes sing Christmas carols…
Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12 And this will be the sign to you: “You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Three specific details:
(1) personal (“to you”)
(2) immediate (“this day”)
(3) authoritative (“Savior” & “Lord”)
Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
The message declared to the shepherds by the angels is the same gospel we have received and must preach to others.
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
“heavenly host” = spiritual army – paradoxically, an army that announces peace on earth!
Three spiritual details:
(1) glory
(2) peace
(3) goodwill
WHAT DO WITH THE CHRISTMAS STORY
Luke 2:15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
investigate the facts (“let us now go…and see this thing”)
Luke 2:16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
do not delay (“and they came with haste”)
Luke 2:17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
Luke 2:18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
share the news with others (“they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child”)
Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Matthew Henry – “As she had silently left it to God to clear up her virtue, when that was suspected, so she silently leaves it to Him to publish her honor, now when it was veiled; and it is satisfaction enough to find that, if no one else takes notice of the birth of her child, angels do.”
Luke 2:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
praise God for it (“the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God”)
