Our Gift Notes for Sunday

1. Our Gift
Luke 2:1-20

2. 2 Corinthians 9:15
Please stand and let’s read

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

3. Our Gift
What was the best Christmas gift ever for you?

4. A moment in time
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

5. A good marker
Quirinius-a trouble shooter for Augustus
Census taker-12 BC to 16 AD
Served twice as Governor of Syria

Jesus’ DOB probably 6 BC

6. Familiar passage
Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

7. Why Bethlehem?
This was a small Judean village of probably 300 inhabitants was about six miles southwest of Jerusalem and, therefore, about seventy miles south of Nazareth. It was known in the OT as Bethlehem Ephrathah. This was a way to distinguish it from a Bethlehem in the north of Israel.
This city is known as the city where Boaz and Ruth, who were ancestors of King David, lived. David’s father, Jesse, lived here also . Because it was the ancestral home of David, it was the prophesied site of Jesus’ birth



8. 700 years before
But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.

9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Let’s sing

10. The most pivotable moment in history
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

11. A little language trick
No room in the inn (census)
No room in the spare bedroom (family)

12. Time passes
First born
Wrapped like all babies
Laid in a feeding trough

13. Away in the Manger
Let’s sing

14. First to be told
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
15. Shepherds
* Their connection to King David
* Not the most accepted
* Aware of the prophecy
Jesus Lamb of God



16. Angelic message
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will 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. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

17. An Expanded Translation by Wuest
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the army of heaven, praising God and saying, Glory in the highest places to God, and upon earth peace among men of good will.

18. Angels
Army
Praising God
Punctuation the proclamation

19. Angels We Have Heard On High
Let’s sing

20. Imagine the emotional swing
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

21. Why these shepherds?
Men of action
Saw God’s hand
They told others
Men of goodwill

22. O Come All Ye Faithful
Let’s sing

23. Faithfulness rewarded
16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
24. First evangelists!
 Good News
 Great Joy
 The Messiah has come
 Peace is now possible

25. A good news reaction
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

26. The Good News is the Gospel
* Hide in your heart
* Glorify God
* Tell others

27. Our Gift
Let us pray



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