Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2018

Since 1965, America has heard Linus tell the shepherd’s version of the Christmas story.

Why did God announce the birth to shepherds?

Shepherds were not allowed to testify in court and often were accused of being petty thieves.

Shepherds were usually social and religious outcasts, considered unclean for Temple worship.

Imagine the long hours of rehearsal the angel choir put in, only to be told the concert would be for shepherds.

Maybe God appeared to the shepherds because He knew they would respond.

Isaiah 66:2b NIV

"This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”

Luke 2:15-18 NIV

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

• The world in which Jesus was born was not the peaceful, serene place many of us have imagined.

• Galilee was under the control of the brutal Roman Empire.

• When the Romans captured a region or country, they ruled it with marshal law, and levied heavy taxes that put significant burdens on the people.

• The political, economic and spiritual climates of Galilee were in shambles.

Pax Romana – Caesar Augustus - Son of God, Prince of Peace, whose birth is Good News

• That’s the good news of Christmas! Christ came to the earth and got involved in the mess we had created.

• If your life is a mess right now, I have great news.

• God is not waiting on us to get our act together, before he gets involved with us.

Jesus came to get involved in our messiness.

God didn’t wait until the world was safe to send his son.

He sent his son into a dangerous world. God has sent his son into our dangerous world, too.

John 3:16 NIV

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• He left the perfect sinless environment of heaven and came as a helpless baby.

• He came to bring all of us real peace!

• Do you have the peace of Christmas in your lives right now?

Candle Lighting:

John 8:12

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Brady Prays

Light Candles