The Promise of a Saviour Kept

[0:00] Please turn your Bibles to Luke chapter 2.! This morning we'll be reading and considering verses 1-20.

[0:12] ! We're actually continuing our series.! It's a three-part series. This is part two of it. For the Christmas, we will conclude it next week.

[0:26] Luke chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. Through verse 20, and I'm reading from the English Standard Version. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

[0:44] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

[1:22] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

[1:37] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

[1:57] The angel said to them, And this will be a sign for you.

[2:19] 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.

[2:46] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.

[2:58] Which the Lord has made known to us. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

[3:18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

[3:40] Let's pray. Father, we thank you this morning that we're able to gather in this place as your people. We thank you for your word.

[3:54] And we ask, oh Lord, that you would open our eyes and our hearts to the truth of your word. Would you give us fresh eyes and airs for a familiar passage of scripture.

[4:12] And Lord, we pray that our hearts will be edified and encouraged as we recount once again the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

[4:28] Help us all to hear as we ought and to respond as we should. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. I think most of us are old enough to remember the saying, my word is my bond.

[4:46] And what it means is that our word is as good as money. But when we give someone our word, it is something that's worthy of acceptance.

[5:00] It is something that can be relied on. If we say we will do it, we will do it. I think we would all acknowledge that