THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS (Kent Smith Notes 12/17/23)
THE ‘WONDER’ OF CHRISTMAS
LUKE 2:8 - 18
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Whether it is the famous poem “the Night before Christmas,” or the story of How The Grinch who Stole Christmas, there continues to be a sense of “wonder” around Christmas.
Frosty the Snowman, The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer,
Elf, White Christmas, The Santa Clause, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, or Miracle on 34th Street.
Today we are going to hear the very first account of Christmas as testified by the shepherds who witnessed it first hand!
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THE SHEPHERD’S TESTIMONY
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED….
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We were minding our own business and watching over the sheep.
An angel appeared before us, and we were engulfed in splendor.
The angel told us about a newborn baby who was to be a deliverer for Israel, the promised messiah from God, born in Bethlehem.
He told us that the baby would be found lying in a manger!
Suddenly a huge crowd of angelic beings appeared and began to praise God and proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
So, we went to Bethlehem and found the baby in a manger just as had been told to us.
(Since then, we have been telling everyone about our experience!)
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THE RESPONSE OF HEARERS
ALL WHO HEARD IT WONDERED AT THE THINGS THAT WERE TOLD THEM BY THE SHEPHERDS
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All who heard it wondered at the things that had been told them.
They wondered – is not with a sense of doubting – but a shocked admiration – marveling at what they have heard.
Let’s unpack this word “wondered” (Greek: thaumazō )
The account of the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8 who told Jesus that he did not need to come to his home to heal his servant, but that if Jesus just said the words, he knew that his servant would be healed. Matt 8: 10 reads, Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.’
Again in Matthew 8:27 When Jesus calmed the storm his own disciples “marveled,” saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!”
In Like 11:14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed.
The response was a joyful amazement, marveling at the unusual and glorious things that were done.
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BE AMAZED
GOD SENT HIS SON; HE IS GOD WITH US!
Be Surprisingly and Powerfully Impacted
Be Unexpectedly Overwhelmed
Be Shockingly Astonished
Be Marveling in Awe
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Matthew 12:122-23
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
THE APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God,the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell;on the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and life everlasting.
Amen.
Philippians 2:5-11
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [h]on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Be amazed
Marvel
Worship King Jesus!
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