Introduction – You just might not be responding to Christians properly . . .
If you turn on the lawn sprinklers on Christmas Eve to keep carolers away
If you get your Christmas tree at a rest stop at night
If you give bathroom fixtures as Christmas gifts
If your favorite Christmas movie is Jurassic Park
If your best Christmas tradition involves a fire and reindeer meat
If your favorite pastime is putting defective bulbs in your neighbors’ string of Christmas lights
If your only holiday decoration is a rotting pumpkin
If you buy all of your Christmas gifts at a store that also sells gas
Read Text, Luke 2:8-20
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 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." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
The shepherds had the right response! Informed by an angel, a new savior was born they had but one response. To seek out the Christ child and that was the right response.
• How do we respond to day to the news that God has become flesh and dwelled among us?
• How do we respond to the fact we are free from the bondage of sin?
• How do we respond to the baby born in a manger, sent to die for our sins and desires to be a part of our lives?
We are in a series of messages titled – “I’m dreaming of a RIGHT Christmas”
We have discovered to have a right Christmas we must have a right focus – Jesus
We learned to have a right Christmas we must have a right pace – marked by peace
Today I want you to know if you are going to have a right Christmas you must have a right response to Christmas.
You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to certain situations.
One of my favorite stories is about a man who went to the doctor and ran into a mean spirited nurse at the desk. He said ma’am, I have this place on my chin and I would like to see a doctor. She barked, down the hall first door on your right, take off all of your clothes. He said I don’t think that will be necessary it just a spot on my chin, she snapped back, down the hall first door on your right, take off all of your clothes. He said ma’am it is just, she said down the hall first door on your right, take off all of your clothes. The man finally gave up, went down the hall first door on his right, he went into the room. There sat a man in his boxer shorts just shivering, it was kind of an awkward moment, so the other man tried to break the ice, stating, boy that sure is a mean spirited nurse, tell me about it, I am the UPS driver.
We have all met people we have not responded to favorably. People who rub us the wrong way or simply do not see things our way, but how do you respond to the news a savoir has been born?
How do you respond to Christmas?
Our society has responded to Christmas in several ways this year…
• We have played with the meaning of words
Is it Christmas or Happy Holidays?
• There has been a firestorm of controversy has some of the mega churches have canceled services on Christmas day.
• Others have tried to downplay Christmas by trying to be so inclusive in our traditions, that they have lost the uniqueness of Christmas
How do you respond to the news…
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
I want us to see the proper response to Christmas is seenin the lives of the shepherds.
1. The Right response comes through Contentment.
The occupation of shepherd was common in the time of Jesus. It was a job filled with mixed emotions. To people outside of Israel a shepherd was disgusting, it carried the idea of a job you would have if you had no other skill. In Israel, a shepherd had a low position in society and yet the shepherds watched over the animals that one day would be sacrificed to the Lord. Though not held in high esteem a shepherd still was considered an honorable profession among Israel.
People understood the idea of contentment came from the life of a shepherd. In fact the greatest shepherd of all (DAVID) had penned the words we know as the 23rd Psalm – The LORD is MY Shepherd, I shall not want. Shepherds understood contentment…
• Shepherds did not jockey for position – they carried for sheep
• Shepherds were not into rewards – their focus was their flock
• Shepherds saw their life as one of the common person, they understood the words Solomon wrote in Proverbs 30:8-9, Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
• Maybe this is why God chose to make the announcement of the newborn king to shepherds first.
• Question – How is your “CQ” – your Contentment Quotient, this year? Are you content with the coming king or do material items and purchases that truly do not bring more happiness, drive you? Take time this week to take a CQ a contentment quotient 1 being materialistic and 10 complete contentment
• WE CAN HAVE THE RIGHT RESPONSE AT CHRISTMAS BY BEING CONTENT – AND WHEN ARE CONTENT IN JESUS WE WILL HAVE A RIGHT CHRISTMAS
2. The Right Response comes when we have the right heart at Christmas
A couple had been married for several years and if the truth were known, the spark was out of their marriage.
Their minister suggested they go on a marriage retreat to get back the spark, the romance. The man reluctantly agreed to the suggestion. All was going well at the retreat; until the retreat facilitator said to the couple, “Your wife is interested in the smaller things of life, if you take care of the small things the big things will work themselves out, like do you know your wife’s favorite flower?” The man perked up and leaned over to his wife and said, “PILLSBURY SELF RISING”
Obviously, that was wrong response.
Did you catch the shepherd’s response after the angelic announcement concerning the birth of Jesus?
The last part of verse 15 reads, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." THE LIVING BIBLE – COME ON! LET’S GO! There is an air of excitement.
Having the right heart is essential if there is going to be right response to Christmas. On that night, the shepherd’s hearts were right. Knowing a savior was born compelled them to go and search for the child in Bethlehem. The shepherds could not understand the full meaning of the angel’s message.
They understood the need for a a savior. Every year they would watch the priest come to their flocks and take the precious lamb to the temple for a sacrifice to cover the sins of Israel.
Now they hear the news, a savior is born. What other response could there be, but to go to Bethlehem?
Many people cannot respond correctly to Christmas correctly because their heart is not right. Yet Jesus came to this world not simply to make our heart’s right but to make us right with God.
Paul wrote, For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
The right response to Christmas is to turn one’s heart toward Christ, and receive his righteousness in our lives.
The shepherds sought the savior and discovered the one who would one day make them right in the sight of God. This Christmas why not seek out the one who can change your heart, for if you seek Him you will find Him.
3. The Right response of Christmas is complete when we worship Jesus.
Now here is the good part look at verses
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:16-20
Their worship was evident in two ways
A. First, they worshipped God
They celebrated the fact they had seen the savior – and that was a cause for worshipping God.
B. Second, they told everyone what they had experienced.
They were so full of the glory of God that it spilled out into their conversations and lifestyle
C. This passage of scripture teaches us much about worship.
• Worship is not confined to a place or a set time. The shepherds were far from the temple when they worshipped. Yet scripture tells us they were praising God. Worship is to be a lifestyle not an event on a calendar.
• Worship involves a verbal expression to God
John MacArthur defined worship as: the visible, audible, or otherwise public testimony that brings glory to God. It is exalting Him, affirming His attributes, reflecting His character, praising Him for who He is, and making Him known in His fullness.
While the shepherds may have been considered undesirables of society understood what it meant to truly worship God – to have a right response toward Jesus.
• Worship involves verbal expression about God
The shepherds left the stable full of joy, but also with a message to tell. Everyone they ran into would hear about the great things God had done that night. In the same way, our worship is a testimony to what god has done in us and through us. We are to live a life of worship
Maybe the reason people do not have a right response at Christmas is because they are not worshipping God as the shepherds did – Maybe they are keeping their worship in a closet – when they should be shouting it from the roof tops. An amazing thing happens when we offer praise to God. When we give God worship, our hearts are filled with joy! That is the reason for a right response
Understanding the shepherd’s response, how can we have a right response to Christmas?
1. We have a right response when we confess our sins to God.
The angel’s message to Joseph was a child would be born, who would save his people from their sins. Christmas is not so much about gifts, but about God who free gave his son.
I John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We have a right response when we confess our sins to God, knowing he will forgive us allowing us to have a right relationship with Him.
2. We have a right response when we put our faith in God.
There are only 7 shopping days left, many of us have scoured the Mall, shopped online and sought out the perfect gift. The best gift you can receive this year is not in a store, the best gift you can receive is the gift of Christ. If you have not given your life to Christ, I would encourage you to have right response this year. Christmas is such a spiritual time many of us but for others it is a time which reminds them there is something they are missing. Christmas should not be a time of spiritual emptiness. FRIEND DON’T WAIT TOO LONG TO PLACE YOUR HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST.
3. Respond with a content heart
Our culture has become so discontent that the second most popular day of shopping has become Dec. 26. As Christians we need to realize no gift is greater than God’s gift of his Son. Charlotte Carpenter said Christmas is the gift from heaven Of God’s Son given for free; If Christmas isn’t found in your heart, You won’t find it under the tree.
4. Respond with a clear witness
We respond to God by proclaiming His Word with clarity. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). When His Word is given exposure, when people hear it and are saved, God is glorified. Acts 13:48–49 records the response to Paul’s preaching: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.”
God’s message is found in his word and whenever we give His Word exposure, we are glorifying Him. When we proclaim the Word and by it bring others to Christ, we are glorifying God in the supreme way, for when a person is redeemed, he too begins to worship in spirit and truth and devotes his life to the glory of God. Worship begets worshipers, and the cycle of glorifying God is begun again in the new believer’s life.
This Christmas make sure people see in your lifestyle a clear witness which points them to Jesus.
CONCLUSION, The shepherds thought it was an ordinary night – simply watching sheep, but other God had other plans. He stepped out of heaven with a baby in his arms and placed that baby in a manger between two parents Joseph and mary and waited for the world to respond and friends that was a right Christmas
PRAYER
