Luke 2:8-16 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 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 that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,     and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:8-16 15 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.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH Luke 2:8-16

THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH! A DISPLAY OF THE SUPERNATURAL! GOD COMING TO EARTH! ANGELS SPEAKING! A VIRGIN BIRTH! GOD BECOMING A MAN! ANGELS SINGING! A GUIDING STAR!

And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the LORD suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the LORD shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. LUKE 2:8-16

“And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” And it came about when the angels had gone away into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.” Luke 2:8-16 (Cont.)

WHY DO WE NEED CHRISTMAS? “ALWAYS WINTER AND NEVER CHRISTMAS! THINK OF THAT!” “That’s awful!”, said Lucy. C.S. Lewis The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe “The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable.” - Ralph Stockman

THE SERMON! (In Twenty Words or Less) THE WHAT: A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN THE WHEN: TODAY THE WHERE: IN THE CITY OF DAVID THE WHO: CHRIST, THE LORD THE WHY: FOR YOU

THE ‘WHO’ AND THE ‘WHY’! “…I bring YOU good tidings of great joy which shall be for ALL THE PEOPLE.” Luke 2:10 “For unto YOU is born this day in the city of David, a Savior WHO is Christ the Lord…” Luke 2:11 “And this shall be a sign FOR YOU…” Luke 2:12

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD! WHO WERE THESE SHEPHERDS? Lived isolated lives considered unclean by Jewish law Not allowed to testify in a court of law Not accepted socially BUT THEY GOT THE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

WHY THE SHEPHERDS? BECAUSE IF GOD WOULD COME FOR SHEPHERDS – HE WOULD COME FOR EVERYONE ELSE! 2. BECAUSE JESUS HIMSELF WOULD GROW UP TO BE A SHEPHERD! “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) 3. BECAUSE THESE SHEPHERDS (of all people) would LOOK INTO THE MANGER AT THE BABY AND SEE A LAMB! “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

THE WHO AND THE WHY “FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID, A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.” (Luke 2:11) “For unto us a child is born and unto us a Son is given, and his name will be called WONDERFUL COUNSELOR THE MIGHTY GOD THE EVERLASTING FATHER THE PRINCE OF PEACE” (Isaiah 9:6) “And you shall call His name Emmanuel, meaning, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

THE SIGN! “And this shall be a sign for you: YOU WILL FIND a baby wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12)

THE SONG! (of the angels) “And suddenly, there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men, with whom he is pleased.’”

THE SONG (of the shepherds) “And the shepherds went back, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD for all they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.” Luke 2:20

CHRISTMAS IS FOR YOU! THE GOAL OF THE SHEPHERDS WAS TO FIND JESUS! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS TO FIND JESUS! HE CAME FOR YOU!

CHRISTMAS IS FOR YOU! THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE MANGER OF BETHLEHEM IS A PICTURE OF JESUS CHRIST BEING BORN IN A PERSON’S LIFE! “If Jesus were born in Bethlehem 10,000 times but not in me, it is as if He were never born at all.” Corrie ten Boom

CHRISTMAS IS FOR YOU! YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT TO GOD – JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO BE EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN LIFE! (SOMEBODY WONDERFUL; A WISE COUNSELOR; THE MIGHTY GOD; THE EVERLASTING FATHER; THE PRINCE OF PEACE; EMMANUEL – GOD WITH YOU)