I Feel Good!

I FEEL GOOD!

A COMMUNITY OF CELEBRATION

Luke 2.8-20

S: Community

C: A Celebrative Community

Th: Christmas Eve

Pr: WE HAVE NEWS WORTH CELEBRATING!

?: Who?

KW: Example

TS: We will find in our study of the Christmas story five examples of people who knew how to celebrate the good news about Jesus.

Type: Propositional

The ____ example is…

I. Mary (Luke 1.46-47)

II. Angels (Luke 2.10-14)

III. Shepherds (Luke 2.20)

IV. Simeon (Luke 2.28)

V. Wise Men (Matthew 2.10-11)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Make Christmas Day a day of praise, worship and blessing.

• We are to be a community that celebrates the good news about Jesus.

Version: ESV

RMBC 24 December 06 PM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Christmas

There is so much to feel good about at Christmas, but you know it is going to happen...

Your mother is going to give you two sweaters for Christmas. And the next time you visit, you will be sure to wear one of them. And as you enter into the home, instead of the expected smile, she will say, "What’s the matter? You didn’t like the other one?"

So…

1. What makes you feel good at Christmas?

Certainly the Christmas decorations around the house make you feel festive.

And the ornaments on the tree are full of special memories.

The Christmas lights decorating various houses are very special.

And, of course, having family and friends about, they lead to precious times.

These are all things that make us feel good.

But there is something that is even better than all these things.

We have good news!

2. WE HAVE NEWS WORTH CELEBRATING!

You see, what should truly excite us is the reason we are here today.

What should have us on the edge of our seats with anticipation is the cause of the holiday.

So, this evening…

3. We will find in our study of the Christmas story five examples of people who knew how to celebrate the good news about Jesus.

OUR STUDY:

I. The first example is MARY (Luke 1.46-47).

I wonder what it feels like to find out you are pregnant and a virgin.

I know that I am the wrong gender to be asking that, but I still wonder.

It does not make sense.

It does not follow the rules of biology.

But, that is what happened to Mary.

And no matter what story you tell, especially the truth in this case, no one believes you.

It just does not look like she has been a good girl.

But how does Mary respond to this great news that she is carrying a baby while not yet having relations with a man?

She says…

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

After the angel had given her the news and the dust settled, Mary recognized the blessing.

And it is on her heart to tell of the greatness of the Lord.

He is so great.

She wants to enlarge our understanding of who He is, for He is a God who saves, who is even her Savior!

O, how good it is!

II. The second example is ANGELS (Luke 2.10-14).

I have wondered what it is like to be an angel.

I have wondered what it is like to watch from heaven a creation designed for intimacy with God, rebel, reject and betray their Lord over and over.

I have wondered what they have felt about fallen humanity.

We get a glimpse of what they think when they are sent to shepherds…

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

They have good news for all humanity!

God is on the move.

God is fulfilling His promises that very day.

He is putting the creation back to order.

It is perhaps, even from an angelic view, beyond their wildest expectations.

Glory to God in the highest!

How good it is!

III. The third example is SHEPHERDS (Luke 2.20).

I wonder what it is like to be close to the bottom of the social order.

Shepherds lacked prestige.

They were generally unappreciated for the job they were doing.

They were not respected and publicly unloved.

But…

These were the ones that God chose to announce the good news.