Bold About Good News! Series

Boldness A-Z

Bold about the "Good News"

Luke 2: 8-20

Last week we were on the letter "M"m in our BHoldness study and it by God’s grace was a message about Christmas. We talked about how we should be bold concerning The Miracle of Christmas. The Virgin Birth of Jesus. The Virgin birth is important because it was a miracle prophesied. It was a Miracle Pregnancy, not one of immorality like we see rampant today and in Mary & Joseph’s day. One punishable by death back then. It was not an Immaculate conception. The doctrine of the Immaculate conception has to do with Mary being sinless. She was born of a human father and mother therfore conceived in sin. It was an Impossability made Possible by God. It has never been done before or since that Holy night that Jesus was born. It was a Miracle of God’s Presence. Immanuel is God with us.

This morning we will continue our study. This week we will consider the letter "N". Once again I considered many ideas for the letter "N" two of the obvious ones to me were the Names of Christ. Isaiah 9 gives a listing of five names given to Jesus in addition to the two we have already read. But, it was not too long ago on the letter "J" when we considered who Jesus is. So instead of seeming to repeat a lesson. I chose option B or "N"2 We should be Bold about the Good news received in the Christmas Story.

Our scripture is found in Luke 2 verses 8-20.

"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. "

The word tidings in verse 10 is the greek word Euaggelizo which means good news. So we could read that verse as .." I bring you good, good news of great Joy..." So this morning we are going to look at this good, good news from a reporters stand point and determine the who, what, where, when, and why of this angelelic messengers proclamation.

Lets consider two things about...

1.The Who

A.. Who is telling the news?

Who is it delivering the news? Let’s consider the source of the news...

" 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them"

"13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, "

B. Who is this news for?

1.. First let’s see who it is delivered to...

"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid."

It was not taken to the priest and the holy men of the day it was delivered to the common man.

2. But who was it for ? Let’s look...

The first thing I want you to notice is the recipient of the good news. Look at the "you(s)" in the verses. I noticed four you(s) in these verses. Listen for a moment to three of them. "I bring you good good news of great joy." " For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour" "And this shall be a sign unto you" So we know that the news was intended for the shepherds but I don’t think thats where it ends. Verse ten again "behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. "