PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Sermon Outline for December 15, 2019 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 15, 2019)

PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: A Shepherd's Staff - December 15, 2019

Prayers

INTRODUCTION

“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 that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, 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 heaven, and on earth peace to those 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.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:8-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.  ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS

A.  Shepherds doing shepherd things
B.  A terrifying angel
1.  Don't be afraid
2.  Good news
a.  Savior
b.  Messiah
c.  Lord
3.  A sign
a.  Baby wrapped in cloths
b.  Baby lying in a manger
C.  An army of angels
1.  Praising God
2.  Saying
a.  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
b.  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
D.  The angels
1.  Leave
2.  Go into heaven

II.  SHEPHERDS AS EVANGELISTS

A.  The council of shepherds
1.  Let's go to Bethlehem
2.  Let's see this thing that has happened
3.  Let's see this string that the Lord has told us about
B.  They hurried off
1.  What about the sheep?
2.  How do you hurry when you have a flock of sheep?
C.  They found
1.  Mary and Joseph
2.  The baby who was lying in the manger
D.  They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child
1.  When they had seen him
2.  All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them
E.  "But" Mary
1.  Treasured these things
2.  And pondered them in her heart

III.  SHEPHERDS WENT BACK TO WORK

A.  Returned to their flocks
B.  Returned to their flocks changed
1.  Glorifying God
2.  Praising God for all the things
a.  They had heard
b.  They had seen
C.  Returned to their flocks with eye witness knowledge
1.  Things were just as they had been told

CHALLENGE

Willingness is again at the heart of this story.  Just as Mary and Joesoph.  Just like Christ, Himself.  The shepherds are willing to take on their role in this, the greatest story ever told.

Are you willing to take on your role?  We are observers like the shepherds.  When you are told something by God, and you find that to be true, how can you not go and tell everyone about what you have discovered?

The shepherds were never told to go tell others "that Jesus Christ was born."  They naturally just did it.  We have been told so we have even more reason to go and tell them "that Jesus Christ is born."