Message Notes
A Fresh Look at Christmas
Today: Experiencing Christ in a New or Fresh Way, Part 2
December 21, 2003

Luke 2:8-20 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵When 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.”
¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

1. They PAID ATTENTION to God’s revelation (1-14)….

THREE LIFE-CHANGING ANNOUNCEMENTS

·        GOOD NEWS

·        GREAT JOY

·        FOR ALL THE PEOPLE

 WAYS THAT GOD’S ANGELS DESCRIBED JESUS

• He is SAVIOR
• He is LORD
• He is the CHRIST
• He is JESUS

2. They MOVED from where they were (15-16)…

• The shepherds discovered who Jesus is because of a four-word decision: "LET'S GO TO BETHLEHEM"  

• In Bethlehem they found…A CHILD

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

HOW DO WE KNOW HE WAS GOD?

• He fulfilled PROPHECY

• He did MIRACLES

• He WAS RAISED from the dead

• He CLAIMED to be God

 
QUESTION: What decision do you need to make to begin to discover in a deeper way who Jesus really is?

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear God, thank You for bringing me here.  I knew something was missing in my life, I just didn’t know it was you.  Thank You for seeking me even when I’ve ignored You.  Today, I recognize the gift that You sent at Christmas. Today, Jesus, I want to accept You into my life and I ask you to forgive me for all of the things I’ve done wrong.  I want to accept Your gift of help to help me in the present time.  I want to accept Your gift of eternal life for the future.  I ask You, Jesus Christ, to start changing me from the inside out beginning right now. In your name I pray, Amen.

3. They TOLD EVERYONE (17-20)…