Sermon Tone Analysis

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Anger
Disgust
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Anger
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The Shepherd’s Joy About Jesus
Most of us are pretty comfortable with the Christmas story.
Maybe we’re so familiar that it’s become part fable and part legend in our minds.
Some have sentimentalized it so much that they skim along on a superficial level, counting down the remaining shopping days, stressing about all the things to do, while neglecting the Nativity.
It reminds me of the little girl who misquoted : “For God so loved the world that He gave His only forgotten Son.”
The music this morning has helped us remember that the baby who was born in Bethlehem is Jesus, the Son of God, who brings great joy today.
Most of us are pretty comfortable with the Christmas story.
Maybe we’re so familiar that it’s become part fable and part legend in our minds.
Some have sentimentalized it so much that they skim along on a superficial level, counting down the remaining shopping days, stressing about all the things to do, while neglecting the reason for the season.
The shepherds received news about the gift that still goes on.
And because of what they did with this gift, we too can sing joy to the world!
I find it very interesting that God chose to send the birth announcement about His Son to shepherds.
doesn’t tell us much about who they were.
No adjectives are used to describe them: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby...”
Luke 2:8-20
Throughout the history of Israel, shepherding was a noble profession.
Abel was the first to have this job, followed by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and of course, David.
God calls Himself a shepherd and we’re compared to sheep, which is anything but a compliment.
By the time we come to the first century however, shepherding has lost its luster.
Shepherds made up the lowest class of people, coming in just ahead of the lepers.
In the Talmud, which is a collection of interpretations and insight from the rabbis, we read these words: “No help is to be given to heathen or shepherds.”
Throughout the history of Israel, shepherding was a noble profession.
Abel was the first to have this job, followed by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and of course, David.
God calls Himself a shepherd and we’re compared to sheep, which is anything but a compliment.
By the time we come to the first century however, shepherding has lost its luster.
Shepherds made up the lowest class of people, coming in just ahead of the lepers.
In the Talmud, which is a collection of interpretations and insight from the rabbis, we read these words: “No help is to be given to heathen or shepherds.”
In order to understand how unusual it was to have the angels appear to these lowly shepherds, let’s learn a bit about them:
Considered ceremonially unclean.
Because of the nature of their work they were unable to attend any religious services.
Isolated and forgotten.
Because their flocks needed to move around to find new grass and fresh water, they never stayed in one place for long.
Treated with contempt and mistrust.
They were suspected of stealing from others.
Their testimony was never allowed in court because they were so unreliable.
Known to be brash and bold.
Living out in the fields away from society made them unappealing to most people.
Most of them had foul mouths and were ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
God entrusted the greatest message ever sent from heaven to a bunch of smelly shepherds.
Actually, this isn’t so unusual, is it?
God has always worked wonders for the forgotten, for the despised, and for the lowly.
God entrusted the greatest message ever sent from heaven to a bunch of smelly shepherds.
Actually, this isn’t so unusual, is it?
God has always worked wonders for the forgotten, for the despised, and for the lowly.
From the very beginning of his time on earth, Jesus came to those who felt horrible and were humble.
: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick...For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus reached out to sinners like Zacchaeus and Levi, prostitutes and the demon possessed, strangers and Samaritans.
He did in His ministry what the Father did in a borrowed stable when the lowly shepherds looked at the Lord as the cattle were lowing.
Mary captured this in her song recorded in : “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.”
Paul said it this way in : “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.
Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth...He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things...so that no one may boast before Him.”
Everyone matters to God.
And the only announcement of Christ’s birth goes out to a bunch of uneducated outcasts.
Indeed, as the song says: What a strange way to the save the world!
As we briefly look at the shepherds’ response, we’ll see some lessons that we can apply to our lives so that we don’t forget the Son this season.
First...
They were Attentive
The first thing we see about the shepherds is that they were attentive to their jobs.
Listen to :
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over the flocks at night.”
They were so committed to their career that they never left their work.
They not only worked the third shift, they pulled the first and second as well.
This was a 24/7 deal for them.
We also see from this verse that they were faithful, since they were “keeping watch.”
It was often the case that the different flocks would come together at night and all come into the same fold.
One of the shepherds would literally lie across the entrance to make sure none of the sheep would get out and no predators in, which gives new meaning to when Jesus said: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.
He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
They were so committed to their career that they never left their work.
They not only worked the third shift, they pulled the first and second as well.
This was a 24/7 deal for them.
We also see from this verse that they were faithful, since they were “keeping watch.”
Notice that God came to those who were attentive at the jobs they were given to do.
They weren’t slackers and He met them right where they were.
Likewise, whatever God has called you to do, be attentive to it and do it with excellence.
: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Second...
They were Awed
2. Awed.
While they were being attentive to the responsibilities they were given, they are suddenly awed by an angelic announcement in : “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
God meets us where we are but then he brings us to our knees.
While they were being attentive to the responsibilities they were given, they are suddenly awed by an angelic announcement in :
God’s Shekinah glory lights up the sky and causes them to quake in their sandals.
Whenever we come face-to-face with God’s holiness, we fall apart because of our sinfulness.
Peter had this response in and said to Jesus: “Get away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”
They could also have been terrified because they didn’t know if this was an angel of judgment or not.
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
God meets us where we are but then he brings us to our knees.
God’s Shekinah glory lights up the sky and causes them to quake in their sandals.
Whenever we come face-to-face with God’s holiness, we fall apart because of our sinfulness.
Peter had this response in and said to Jesus: “Get away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”
They could also have been terrified because they didn’t know if this was an angel of judgment or not.
Perhaps he had been sent as payback for their raunchy jokes, bad language and sticky fingers.
Maybe their sins were catching up with them and now they would be vaporized.
Whatever the case, they were in awe and it would take a lot for these tough guys to be terrified.
I wonder, when’s the last time you were in awe?
Do you marvel at the Messiah?
Has it been awhile since you hit your knees before Him?
They Accepted the Message
The attentive shepherds are filled with awe and now they accept the message of good news of great joy in :
The angel calms them down, telling them that he is bringing good news of acceptance, forgiveness and hope.
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