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Celebrating Advent - December 22

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Sing: The First Noel

Reading: Luke 2:8-12
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Summary (for your preparation): Once again, this isn't the way I would have done it. If I were sovereign I would have provided a better place for Jesus to be born. If I were God I would not have told the shepherds in the fields first about the birth of Jesus...good thing I am not God.

God does tell the shepherds first. Normally they would be last. They were the lowliest, the most insignificant and least influential part of society. They didn't carry any clout and they wouldn't have had any wealth or power. Yet, they have the distinct honor of being the first ones to hear the birth announcement of Jesus.

If you can get past the surface, however, going to the shepherds of Israel actually does make sense. After all, Jesus was born in poverty, he too was lowly. Jesus was going to be a shepherd, who better to hear about the birth of the shepherd of Israel than the shepherds of Israel? The very fact that the Savior for all people was being announced to the ones who would normally be left out makes a ton of sense. If Jesus is accessible to the shepherds then he is accessible to all. This is good news...for all people!

Teaching Tip: Get your children to try and imagine that they are a shepherd on a normal night. They are keeping watch, trying protect the sheep from thieves and dangerous animals. Then, all of a sudden, the sky lights up and you are blasted with glory of God and an angel, something you have NEVER seen or were ever expecting to see is standing there before you. How incredible would that be? 

Questions/Responses:

Who are the first people that hear about the birth of Jesus? The shepherds of Israel

 Why is this special? Jesus was going to be a shepherd...shepherds normally would not have been told about big events because people thought they were unimportant. 

 How did the shepherds first respond? Fear

 Do you think you would have been scared? It seems like most people who encounter an angel get very scared...

What did the angel say? Don't fear...I bring you good news that will be for all people

 Good news for all people! Even the shepherds? Yes, we know God means all people because the shepherds are not left out

 What is this good news? A savior is born: Jesus Christ. He is going to save his people from their sins

 *Note: Tomorrow we will discuss with a little more detail what many people were really hoping for, namely, a savior not to deal with their sin but a savior to deliver them from Roman rule. 

Prayer and Ending

Prayer: Father in heaven, we praise you for you wisdom and knowledge. Who has known the mind of the Lord and who has been his counselor? Oh the depths of the riches of the knowledge of God! We stand in awe at the way you work in history and the way you work in our lives today. We trust you, that you are always meaning to do good to your children because you sent your son into this world to bring good news for all people. We thank you for Jesus and we thank you that the invitation to come to him extends to all people everywhere. May we have faith to see him and believe in him with all of our hearts. AMEN

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