Fear Not: Shepherds
Fear Not • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 133 viewsJesus enters your life to make a joyful difference.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Week 1 — Zecharaiah — Fear wants to rob you of the potential God wants to do through you.
Week 2 — Mary’s fear: hopelessness — The birth of Jesus brings hope and WILL BRING hope.
Week 3 — Joseph: fear of the cost of walking with Jesus — When we walk with Jesus by faith, we become a part of (God’s) the mission of Christmas.
This week: Shepherds turn to be told not to fear.
(ESV)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Stop here. Most of us know what happens next, but understanding what is happening here will make the next part that much more amazing.
Focus of the story is on the Shepherds
Bible talks alot about shepherds and typically what comes to our mind is a handsome young lad with a fluffy white lamb on his shoulders.
Shepherds were generally considered by the religious to be dishonest and unclean according to the standards of the Law.
More than just spiritually, the shepherds were unclean — they likely smelled like sheep and . . sheep stuff.
Besides being outcasts socially, they were cast out physically — we find them in a field this night — doing the ordinary, the usual thing that shepherds do.
Interestingly, it is likely that these shepherds may have been pasturing flocks destined to become temple sacrifices. According to a rabbinic rule, any animal found between Jerusalem and a certain spot near Bethlehem should be presumed to be for available for a sacrifice.
(Mishnah, Shekalim 7:4).
(Mishnah, Shekalim 7:4). v
I would suggest (and we’ll see why in a just a bit) that:
The shepherds big fear was FOMO — Fear Of Missing Out.
They were already seen as insignificant and feared they would always be — outside, in the dark, dirty, forgotten.
They were the unseen part of daily life
The opposite of gloom is JOY
Big Idea: Jesus enters your life to make a joyful difference
9 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.
10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
*How many of you — if you’re honest — would say you have real joy in your life?*
Not pockets of happiness
Threads of joy
Happiness = temporary feeling of light-heartedness as a result of your circumstances.
Joy = real, biblical joy = lasting sense of inward peace and contentment DESPITE any external circumstances.
Happy when:
Your team wins the game (or at least when THAT other team loses)
The lunch or dinner menu is exactly what you were craving.
The other checkout line opens and your the first one.
You get what you want for Christmas
Joy:
not dependent on your circumstances.
quiet confidence even if you don’t know how things will work out.
changes you even when you can’t change anything around you
(ESV)
10 . . . for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.”
— C. S. Lewis
Big Idea: Jesus enters your life to make a joyful difference
Here’s what I’ve found — The most joy-less parts of our lives is generally the most ordinary parts of our lives.
In the ‘big’ things of life (change, loss, diagnosis, trial) we will run to God and find the joy of the Lord for our strength.
I find it is in the ‘little’ things of life (the 9-5, the home life, family relationships, daily routine) that that it is the hardest to find joy.
9 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. v
The opposite of gloom is JOY.
(Biblical understanding of joy)
They were the unseen part of daily life
Big Idea: Jesus enters your life to make a joyful difference.
Jesus enters your gloom to make it glorious. (8-9)
Jesus enters your gloom to make it glorious. (8-9)
Before Jesus enters the world, there is no real hope or joy, only gloom. Israel was waiting for the Messiah — whom they believed would free them from the Roman occupation — not realizing that Jesus was coming to do something FAR greater. He wasn’t coming to change their circumstances, he was coming to change them in their circumstances and give them JOY.
Think about the change in the night sky when the angel showed up. What did the sheep do?! It wasn’t uncommon in that day for a parent with means to hire a herald to announce the birth of a child. God did this — only he didn’t send the angel to the ‘religious’ (those many would think most qualified to receive the news). Instead, God chose the humble.
Same is true for us — Before Jesus enters the world, there is no real hope or joy, only gloom. We can chase happiness in life around us, but we will never find lasting joy.
In the midst of the gloom, however,
JESUS broke in. No matter how hard the shepherds may have tried, they wouldn’t be able to break out of their gloom — Jesus needed to break IN.
Think about the change in the night sky when the angel showed up. What did the sheep do?! It wasn’t uncommon in that day for a parent with means to hire a herald to announce the birth of a child. God did this — only he didn’t send the angel to the ‘religious’ (those many would think most qualified to receive the news). Instead, God chose the humble.
The breaking in:
Was planned
Was initiated by God
Was to the humble
Was light in the dark
Was for salvation
Was glorious!
*KEY VERSES*
10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.v
The gospel replaces your great fears with great joy. (10-14)
The gospel replaces your great fears with great joy. (10-14)
The shepherds reaction to God breaking in was great fear (rightly so). The angel came to replace the great fear (FOMO) with great joy. Same word — mega
This would happen when the angel gave them the GOOD NEWS (ευαγγελιον). Lit., εὐαγγελίζομαι - the angel is ‘gospelling’ the shepherds to great joy.
Just listed to whom the angel said was born:
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
v11 is the gospel — for you (all) is a KING, SAVIOR, LIBERATOR/RESTORER, GOD.
The result of the gospel applied is JOY.
Why? Because if Jesus is:
KING — There is nothing out of his control
SAVIOR — You are not too far for him to reach
LIBERATOR — there is nothing that can stop your from accomplishing all that God has for you in Christ — no addiction, no past hurts, no future hurdles.
GOD — ‘nuff said — God is here, with you
Joy can’t work if you don’t respond. (15-19)
Joy can’t work if you don’t respond. (15-19)
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Joy can’t work if you don’t respond. (15-19)
Joy can’t work if you don’t respond. (15-19)
(ESV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yocurselves.
ILLUST - children who ‘Hear’ you but do not obey. They hear just fine, but they accomplish nothing.
The shepherds responded by:
going and seeing (15-16)
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
believing and telling (17-18)
they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
This is a natural part of responding — telling someone else
What were they telling?
“God broke in to our gloom and gave us a Savior!”
“It’s very easy to pay attention to angels, right? (It’s New York, so at least three or four of you have seen angels. New York is very diverse, and there’s a little bit of everything in New York.) When an angel comes and speaks to you, there’s no problem paying attention. There’s no problem understanding. There’s no problem listening and hearing. But even though the shepherds got an angel, everybody else just gets a shepherd.
Shepherds, as many of you know from coming to Christmas services, were not scholars. They weren’t magistrates. They weren’t even soldiers. They were just ordinary people. They’re the ones who come and give us the word. What does this remind me of? I’ll tell you what it reminds me of. In the Bible, we see the authors of the Bible.”
The shepherds weren’t required to respond.
— Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive, 2012-2013 (New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
The shepherds weren’t required to respond.
How different would the story be if the shepherds had said, “Cool light show!”, and went back to poking sheep!
Without responding to the good news, the shepherds would never have been able to experience joy.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Your joy is based on the gospel but it is applied by YOU! (20)
Your joy is based on the gospel but it is applied by YOU! (20)
The gospel is the source of our joy, but daily life is where the joy is applied.
Notice what the shepherds did after being with Jesus — they returned. They returned to the field, the usual, daily life — only different, worshipping — with joy.
(This tends to happen to us — we are on a spiritual high at church, camp, prayer time, and then Monday morning comes or we need to start the routine of ordinary life and the feeling of gloom returns.
Notice how the shepherds returned to their Monday work but with a Sunday song — “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen (the gospel)”
They were no longer forgotten, on the outside (they were brought to the very center of what God was doing), in the dark, in gloom
Their work had not changed — but they had joy.
Their social status had not changed — but they had joy.
Their location had not changed — but they had joy.
Even their earthly fate / outlook had not changed — but they had joy.
Would you say this Christmas season has been filled with joy? Would you classify your ordinary / routine of life as gloomy or joy? When you return to your work day tomorrow will your face and voice display gloom or joy?
If your ordinary life is gloomy and not joyful, than you have either never ‘gotten’ the gospel or you have forgotten the gospel. You either need to respond to the gospel or apply the gospel.
*Pray* Ask God to break in afresh. Let the glory of the gospel be fresh. Ask God to apply the truth that Jesus is
the KING over your routine so your ordinary is actually eternally extraordinary
the KING over your routine and
the SAVIOR of your sin, and if he takes car of something that big — everything else is small
the LIBERATOR / HEALER — Jesus didn’t save you to destroy you. You are saved to serve, so he will equip and flourish you.
GOD, and you are not on the outside — you are at the very center of what God is doing. God loves you and rearranged the night sky for YOU. You are not insignificant, you are not missing out!
Conclusion
Conclusion