WEBVTT

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 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

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 Our passion is to experience and express grace.

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 Join us.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you all.

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 Y'all like Christmas songs as much as the rest of us?

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 Oh, good.

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 Good.

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 I'm glad.

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 Thank you for humoring me this morning.

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 We are going to be looking this morning at a passage that will be very familiar to many

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 of you.

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 It's just usually a bit colder outside when you're hearing it read, so I'll have to adjust

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 a little bit.

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 It's the classic Christmas story in Luke 2.

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 I'm glad that it's familiar to us.

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 It's a great passage.

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 But one of the dangers of something becoming so familiar, I'm used to hearing it read with

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 like greenery around and candlelight and presents and so it can be caught up.

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 It's just part of kind of this experience for me.

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 I'm such a Christmas guy.

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 I love the Christmas experience.

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 And so this passage can be just a little bit of a warm, fuzzy feeling.

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 That that's a little bit fanciful.

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 And so I can almost hear it and feel like it's a fairy tale that starts out once upon a

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 time and I get this nice warm feeling when in fact it starts quite differently.

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 It starts in those days with some very concrete historical detail.

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 The life of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most widely attested in all of recorded history.

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 And this is the story of his birth.

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 As with all of Luke's stories, carefully researched and very detailed in its description.

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 So I'd encourage you this morning as I read it to think about the impact of God showing

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 up in the midst of very real, normal people.

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 What would the impact have been of God showing up in the flesh?

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 What ought the impact to be for us?

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 Hear God's word at Luke 2 and verse 1.

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 In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire

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 Roman world.

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 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

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 And everyone went to his own town to register.

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 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, to Bethlehem,

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 the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

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 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting

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 a child.

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 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her

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 firstborn, a son.

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 She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them

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 in the inn.

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 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks

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 at night.

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 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and

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 they were terrified.

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 But the angel said to them, do not be afraid.

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 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

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 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you.

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 He is Christ the Lord.

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 Lord, this will be a sign to you.

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 You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

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 And suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God

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 and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

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 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let's

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 go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.

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 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

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 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this

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 child.

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 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

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 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

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 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,

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 which were just as they had been told.

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 This is God's holy word.

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 Let's pray and ask for his help as we look at it together.

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 Father, we thank you for this familiar passage, for the joy of considering the birth of your

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 son and particularly the chance to consider why he was born.

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 Father, would you take something very familiar and by your Holy Spirit, speak it to us in a new and fresh way that we hear the old, old story with hearts that are full of a new joy because of what you have done.

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 Would you speak by your spirit that we might hear and that we might be different forever.

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 We ask it in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 If you've been here for the past few weeks as we've walked through the first chapter of Luke's gospel,

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 you'll know we've seen the excitement build.

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 The anticipation is building.

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 It's like a drum roll or crescendo through the opening stories of angels coming and delivering promises to people

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 and them responding with songs of joy

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 and there's increasing excitement.

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 It all culminates in chapter two.

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 Christmas, the coming of Christ,

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 God actually coming into the world in the flesh.

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 Instead of just one angel,

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 as we've had multiple times in the first chapter,

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 we now have a multitude of angels

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 celebrating and heralding this great event.

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 Heaven is coming to earth.

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 God is becoming man.

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 The creator is entering into his creation.

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 This is an unparalleled event in all of human history.

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 It's into a world much like ours,

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 obsessed with human power and resourcefulness

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 to people who love to help and improve ourselves.

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 That God's going to come.

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 Some people at this time,

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 under the direction of a ruler, Caesar Augustus,

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 who says that he's divine.

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 That he is a son of the gods.

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 In fact, the savior of the common people,

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 he's called.

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 Others, Jews, who felt they were on the true God's side

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 because of their birth.

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 Or the religious ceremonies that they participated in.

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 Who were finding their identity and their security

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 and religion and ritual.

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 In that world.

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 In a world with people who are looking to themselves

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 one way or the other for help.

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 God enters in.

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 He shows up in the flesh,

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 surprisingly, in some weakness and humility.

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 Right?

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 A baby in a manger.

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 Perhaps an equally surprising message

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 for both kinds of people in this world.

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 It's astonishing, really, when you stop to think about it.

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 God showing up, being born as a baby.

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 Now, of course, we make a big deal about that

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 every year at Christmastime.

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 I'm a sucker for anything Christmas,

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 anything that looks at all like a manger scene.

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 I would like to have one of them.

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 I love all of that.

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 But I think for whatever reason,

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 even though we love the season

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 and we love to celebrate and sing,

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 we struggle to realize

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 the impact of this unparalleled event.

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 We're celebrating, perhaps,

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 but if the reality of the incarnation

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 of the Son of God

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 is something we only get excited about in December,

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 I think we're missing the point.

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 We're missing the joy and the excitement

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 of what is really happening.

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 So let's ask Luke this morning,

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 why Christmas?

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 What's the big deal?

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 Why did Christmas happen?

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 The answer will be no more complex

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 than what I told the kids,

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 just without candy.

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 But it's still a really important one

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 for all of us.

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 Why Christmas?

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 Well, first, we all know very well

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 Jesus is the reason for the season, right?

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 We're good Christians.

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 We're aware of that.

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 If Jesus is the reason for the season,

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 our sin is the reason for Jesus.

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 Why Christmas?

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 Our sin.

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 The story of Jesus' birth

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 is going to remind us

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 that on our own,

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 we are more lost

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 and helpless,

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 hopeless,

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 than we even realize.

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 It's going to force us

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 to take an honest look

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 at our own hearts

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 and see if we really understand

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 our need for Christmas.

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 The verses that this whole story

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 centers around

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 are the announcement

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 of the angel to the shepherds.

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 He explains to them

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 the import of what is happening.

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 He's told us the facts

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 up to this point.

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 There's been a baby born

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 in a manger in Bethlehem

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 and then the angel says,

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 here's what's really going on.

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 Verse 10,

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 the angel said,

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 don't be afraid.

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 I bring you good news

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 of great joy

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 that will be for all the people.

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 What is it?

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 What's the news?

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 Today in the town of David,

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 a Savior has been born to you.

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 He is Christ the Lord.

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 There's good news

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 of great joy for all people.

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 This is really at the heart

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 of the gospel of Luke.

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 It's what Luke's about.

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 It's why Luke is so intent

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 on writing about

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 all that has happened.

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 Because there's good news

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 of great joy for all people

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 and he wants them to know it.

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 What is it?

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 What's the content

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 of the message?

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 What's the good news?

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 The gospel message is simple.

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 A Savior.

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 Good news of great joy

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 for all people.

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 A Savior.

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 Today in the city of David,

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 a Savior born to you.

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 A Savior comes.

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 Why?

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 To bring forgiveness of sins.

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 To rescue us

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 from the brokenness

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 in our hearts

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 and in our world

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 as a result of our sin.

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 So if a Savior

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 is going to be good news

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 of great joy,

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 we must be deeply aware

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 of the depth

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 of our sin.

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 It's the only way

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 a Savior could be good news.

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 Let me explain it this way.

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 If you're scrolling down

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 the headlines

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 in your news feed

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 and trying to decide

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 if you'll click on

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 any of these articles

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 and you come across

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 a headline that says,

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 cure discovered

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 for Irish Dalmatian rhinitis,

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 you probably won't even

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 slow down.

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 That is, by the way,

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 a disease I made up

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 this week

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 where your nose swells

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 and is covered

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 with green spots.

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 Irish Dalmatian rhinitis.

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 I hope no one suffers from it.

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 I made one up

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 to make sure

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 I didn't offend anybody.

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 But if you see that headline,

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 it's not going to cause you

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 to jump off your sofa

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 or to scream with excitement.

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 And the reason is

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 that not only do you not suffer

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 from Irish Dalmatian rhinitis,

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 no one you know

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 suffers from it.

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 It's not a big deal to you

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 that there's a cure for it,

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 is there?

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 Imagine if you keep

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 scrolling down

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 and you see the headline,

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 Peace Treaty Signed

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 Between Azerbaijan

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 and Turkmenistan.

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 Peace treaties

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 like cures for diseases

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 can be a pretty big deal, right?

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 I mean, a peace treaty

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 is certainly an exciting thing,

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 but you probably

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 weren't aware

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 that those two nations

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 were even hostile

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 to each other at all.

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 You certainly didn't

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 have someone involved

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 in the war

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 that you knew.

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 And so,

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 you might yawn

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 and just keep scrolling.

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 Likely, you wouldn't describe

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 either of those headlines

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 as good news of great joy,

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 would you?

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 Why?

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 Because they don't impact

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 your life.

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 You haven't been longing

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 for that news.

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 You don't have a need

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 for it in your life.

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 So here's the deal

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 with Christmas.

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 The angel announces

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 that Christmas

00:12:54.839 --> 00:12:56.919
 is good news of great joy

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.579
 for whom?

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:59.919
 For all people.

00:13:01.100 --> 00:13:02.459
 Today in the town of David,

00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:05.660
 a Savior is born to you,

00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:07.320
 is to be good news

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.580
 of great joy

00:13:08.580 --> 00:13:10.000
 for all people

00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:11.480
 because all

00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.879
 are desperately

00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:14.320
 wracked by sin.

00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:16.000
 This headline

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.180
 does impact

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.580
 you and me.

00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:21.320
 We need

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.440
 a Savior.

00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:24.360
 The fact that there

00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.320
 could be peace

00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.220
 between man and God,

00:13:27.300 --> 00:13:28.139
 verse 14,

00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:29.920
 is remarkable

00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:31.159
 because we are all

00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:31.899
 by nature

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.839
 His enemies,

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.299
 not at peace with Him.

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.740
 We're at war with Him

00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:36.719
 and we have no way

00:13:36.719 --> 00:13:37.779
 to make peace.

00:13:38.979 --> 00:13:40.179
 We must see

00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:42.379
 this devastating reality

00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.379
 that's true

00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:44.759
 for all of us.

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.339
 The Bible is clear

00:13:47.339 --> 00:13:48.620
 from cover to cover

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:50.299
 about this overwhelming

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.519
 sin problem

00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.579
 that we face.

00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:53.919
 Isaiah 53

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.319
 says,

00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:56.700
 all we

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:57.900
 like sheep

00:13:57.900 --> 00:13:58.879
 have gone astray.

00:13:59.280 --> 00:13:59.820
 We've turned

00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.480
 every one of us

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.720
 to His own way

00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.080
 and the Lord

00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.900
 has laid on Him

00:14:04.900 --> 00:14:05.520
 the iniquity

00:14:05.520 --> 00:14:06.340
 of us all.

00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:08.100
 And it's not just

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.600
 that we've made

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.680
 a few bad choices

00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.840
 here and there

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:11.400
 in our lives.

00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.660
 Psalm 51 says,

00:14:12.780 --> 00:14:13.500
 it's been a problem

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.700
 since before we were born.

00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:15.460
 Behold,

00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:16.500
 I was brought forth

00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:17.180
 in iniquity.

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.580
 In sin did my mother

00:14:18.580 --> 00:14:19.440
 conceive me.

00:14:19.780 --> 00:14:21.380
 From our very conception,

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.260
 we've been in rebellion

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:24.960
 against God.

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:25.659
 And so,

00:14:25.799 --> 00:14:26.840
 Romans 3 says,

00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:28.679
 as a result of that reality,

00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.559
 there's no one

00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:30.159
 who's righteous

00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:31.500
 on his own.

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.059
 Not one.

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:34.159
 No one understands.

00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.879
 No one seeks for God.

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.419
 All have turned aside.

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:39.059
 Together become worthless.

00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:40.580
 No one does good.

00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.600
 Not even one.

00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:43.000
 That's the problem

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.360
 where we find ourselves.

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.860
 It's not just

00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:47.299
 that we lack righteousness,

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.759
 that we don't do

00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:50.100
 enough good things.

00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.559
 Colossians 1 says,

00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.080
 we're actively hostile.

00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:54.620
 Against God.

00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.019
 Verse 21.

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:58.100
 It says,

00:14:58.299 --> 00:14:59.899
 we are alienated from God

00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.340
 and hostile in our mind,

00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.519
 doing evil deeds.

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:04.319
 We're at war with Him.

00:15:05.580 --> 00:15:06.700
 Paul says in Ephesians,

00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:09.319
 we're dead in our sins.

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.439
 By nature,

00:15:10.899 --> 00:15:13.220
 objects of God's wrath.

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:15.659
 He's out to get us

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:16.659
 in our sin

00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.919
 because we have

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:21.259
 scorned His holy person

00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:22.220
 and His law.

00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:23.860
 We're without hope

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.700
 and without God

00:15:25.700 --> 00:15:26.840
 in the world.

00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.160
 In other words,

00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:29.680
 because of what we've done,

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.540
 we've put ourselves

00:15:30.540 --> 00:15:32.560
 in a situation with God

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.500
 where we can't

00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:34.759
 rescue ourselves.

00:15:35.460 --> 00:15:36.940
 The story of Scripture

00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.399
 from the very beginning

00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:40.600
 is a story of our rebellion

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.600
 against God

00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:43.279
 who means good towards us.

00:15:43.920 --> 00:15:45.560
 He creates us in His image

00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.360
 to bless us

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.340
 and be in relationship

00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:49.200
 and we push away from that.

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:51.139
 We earn judgment

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.820
 instead of blessing.

00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.080
 We bring ourselves

00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.060
 under a curse

00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:56.980
 from the Creator

00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:58.440
 of the world.

00:15:59.800 --> 00:16:01.560
 And so it's a sinful bent

00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.460
 toward ourselves

00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.780
 and away from God

00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:05.340
 that breaks our relationship

00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:06.500
 with Him.

00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:08.280
 But not only that relationship,

00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:09.879
 it makes us broken

00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.639
 in the way we relate

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.280
 to ourselves.

00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.639
 It makes us broken

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.339
 in the way we relate

00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:15.220
 to other people.

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.199
 It makes us broken

00:16:16.199 --> 00:16:17.019
 in the way we relate

00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:18.279
 to all of God's

00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.459
 good creation.

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.360
 Our sin

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.819
 has devastated

00:16:21.819 --> 00:16:22.379
 all

00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:23.919
 of our lives.

00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.959
 We desperately

00:16:25.959 --> 00:16:27.339
 need

00:16:27.339 --> 00:16:28.299
 a Savior.

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:31.159
 Every single one of us.

00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.500
 A Savior

00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:33.500
 to rescue us

00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.720
 from the wrath of God

00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.980
 we have called down

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.839
 on ourselves.

00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.180
 from the brokenness

00:16:39.180 --> 00:16:39.980
 that's playing out

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:41.000
 in all of our lives

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:42.540
 because of that sin.

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.120
 And Christmas

00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.200
 is not good news

00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.139
 of great joy.

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:48.420
 It won't make you

00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.759
 sit up and take notice.

00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.019
 It won't radically

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.680
 transform your life

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:55.060
 unless you really need

00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:56.120
 a Savior.

00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.060
 Because that's

00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:59.060
 who comes.

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:00.680
 A Savior

00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.600
 born to you.

00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.139
 Christ

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.379
 the Lord.

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.460
 Now listen,

00:17:05.600 --> 00:17:06.740
 most of you knew that.

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:08.399
 You've heard

00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:09.899
 messages about Christmas

00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:10.379
 before.

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.139
 You know about

00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:12.139
 the reality

00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:13.139
 of your sin.

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.179
 The Bible talks about it

00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:16.039
 over and over.

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:18.139
 But have you embraced it

00:17:18.139 --> 00:17:19.240
 for yourself?

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.159
 Has it come home

00:17:21.159 --> 00:17:22.939
 to what that really means

00:17:22.939 --> 00:17:23.919
 for you?

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.759
 I grew up in the church

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:26.899
 in a church

00:17:26.899 --> 00:17:28.379
 that faithfully taught

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.259
 the truths

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.139
 of God's Word

00:17:30.139 --> 00:17:31.519
 and taught about our sin

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.159
 and our need

00:17:32.159 --> 00:17:32.939
 for a Savior.

00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.679
 And I lived

00:17:34.679 --> 00:17:35.379
 in that church

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:37.340
 for many years

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.560
 talking about

00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:39.360
 the reality

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.360
 of salvation

00:17:40.360 --> 00:17:41.480
 through Jesus.

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.580
 But I spent

00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:44.380
 many years

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.000
 in that church

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.180
 thinking how wonderful

00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:47.140
 God must be

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:48.600
 to save such

00:17:48.600 --> 00:17:49.180
 terrible,

00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.320
 awful people

00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.440
 like that

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.560
 out there

00:17:52.560 --> 00:17:53.500
 somewhere.

00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:54.820
 They were really

00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:55.580
 bad people.

00:17:56.260 --> 00:17:56.660
 Now listen,

00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:57.360
 theoretically,

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.060
 of course,

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.200
 Jesus was my Savior.

00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:00.380
 We all knew the answers.

00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.880
 This was a good church.

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:04.820
 But practically speaking,

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.320
 I couldn't have told you

00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.880
 much about what I needed

00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:09.160
 to be saved from.

00:18:10.040 --> 00:18:11.000
 There were months

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.460
 and months

00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:12.100
 that went by

00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:12.860
 where I didn't

00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:14.300
 specifically repent

00:18:14.300 --> 00:18:15.660
 of anything

00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:17.060
 in particular.

00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:18.900
 It could go long

00:18:18.900 --> 00:18:19.820
 seasons of time.

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:21.100
 When I did think

00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:21.660
 of something

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.780
 that maybe I was

00:18:22.780 --> 00:18:23.660
 forced to say,

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.680
 how am I a sinner?

00:18:24.780 --> 00:18:25.400
 It might have been

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.040
 something like

00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:27.860
 taking the last cookie

00:18:27.860 --> 00:18:28.740
 before my brother

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.800
 could get to it.

00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:31.980
 And that was unkind.

00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:32.519
 And so,

00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:33.579
 just a series

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.139
 of a few

00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.319
 unfortunate decisions

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.159
 here and there.

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.899
 Not really anything

00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:38.720
 too bad.

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.399
 That's oftentimes

00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:42.839
 how I felt.

00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:44.079
 See,

00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:44.500
 I thought,

00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.079
 honestly,

00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:45.980
 that I was a pretty

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.859
 good kid.

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.480
 That's who I was.

00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.539
 I was a pretty

00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.579
 decent person,

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:52.039
 a pretty good kid.

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.680
 Theoretically,

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.779
 Jesus was my Savior.

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.759
 But practically speaking,

00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.240
 he functioned

00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:01.200
 more in my life

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.140
 as perhaps

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.819
 what you would call

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.460
 a mascot.

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.519
 Someone just so

00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:06.440
 you could identify

00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:08.700
 which team I was on,

00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:10.539
 who I was with.

00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:11.799
 I was on this team,

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.440
 not another.

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.460
 This really good kid,

00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.019
 you wanted to know

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.940
 whose team he was on.

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.240
 He was on Jesus' team.

00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.480
 Or at best,

00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.700
 he was my trainer,

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.500
 perhaps.

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.039
 Keeping me up to speed

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.180
 on what it looked like

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.759
 to be a really good friend

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.500
 or pastor's kid

00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:28.480
 or student.

00:19:28.920 --> 00:19:29.859
 He was keeping me

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.440
 in shape,

00:19:30.500 --> 00:19:30.839
 you know?

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.500
 Because after all,

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.900
 if you're a pretty good kid,

00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.900
 that's what you need

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:35.640
 Jesus for,

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.359
 is to just help you

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.920
 keep being pretty good

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:40.740
 so that you can be better

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.299
 than everybody else.

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:44.319
 As long as I was really good

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.599
 at being good,

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.940
 that's all Jesus needed

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.940
 to be for me.

00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.460
 Someone who helped me

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:51.279
 stay in shape.

00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.500
 Someone who kept me

00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:53.119
 looking good,

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:54.019
 associated me

00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.639
 with the right people.

00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:58.539
 Be honest with yourself

00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:59.159
 this morning.

00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.159
 Are you daily,

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.759
 are you regularly seeing

00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:05.139
 the ugliness of your sin

00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.979
 and your desperate need

00:20:06.979 --> 00:20:07.639
 of Jesus

00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:09.479
 to be your Savior?

00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.479
 Is he perhaps functionally

00:20:12.479 --> 00:20:13.379
 in your life

00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.819
 just your mascot

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:17.159
 so people socially know

00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:18.299
 which team you're on

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:19.519
 and which ones you're not?

00:20:20.979 --> 00:20:22.059
 Or your teacher

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.619
 who helps you know

00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:25.119
 how to succeed in life

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:27.059
 or how to raise your kids

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.119
 on the right path

00:20:28.119 --> 00:20:29.279
 because that's just really

00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:29.899
 all you needed

00:20:29.899 --> 00:20:31.399
 was a couple pointers.

00:20:33.019 --> 00:20:34.019
 Or your friend

00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:36.179
 who just always helps you

00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.339
 feel good about yourself

00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.720
 in the hard times of life

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.579
 because life is hard

00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.319
 and you need someone

00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:41.940
 to encourage you.

00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.339
 Now listen,

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.279
 Jesus can be all of those things

00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:47.159
 in our lives

00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:48.559
 and it can be beautiful

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.759
 when he is,

00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.980
 but he is not any of those.

00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:53.659
 without first being

00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.299
 your Savior.

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.799
 If he's not functionally

00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.759
 your Savior,

00:20:59.399 --> 00:21:01.359
 then it's not the true Jesus

00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.779
 who is your friend

00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:04.119
 or your teacher

00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.440
 or your mascot

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.519
 because Jesus came

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.539
 as a Savior

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:10.039
 to save you

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.240
 from your sin

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.440
 and all its devastating effects

00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:14.919
 like separating you

00:21:14.919 --> 00:21:16.079
 from relationship

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.419
 with your Heavenly Father.

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:19.519
 and he came to save you

00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.980
 not just once by the way

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.860
 but day after day

00:21:22.860 --> 00:21:23.500
 as you battle

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.820
 against indwelling

00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:26.080
 and ongoing sin

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:26.640
 in your heart,

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.380
 he's still your Savior.

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.460
 That's who he is.

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.660
 That's his identity

00:21:31.660 --> 00:21:32.920
 as he's introduced here

00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:33.500
 at his birth.

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.960
 He's your Savior.

00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:36.820
 He doesn't leave you

00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:37.740
 just hoping you'll win

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.980
 the battle with sin

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:39.779
 on your own.

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.619
 Have you stopped

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.859
 letting him rescue you

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.519
 from sin

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.539
 even as a Christian?

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.019
 Has he functionally

00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.379
 stopped being a Savior

00:21:47.379 --> 00:21:48.259
 in your life?

00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.960
 I've said before

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.660
 that I appreciate

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.279
 the warning

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.500
 of pastor

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.279
 and author

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.079
 John MacArthur

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.319
 in his book

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.359
 which I haven't read,

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.599
 The Vanishing Conscience,

00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:01.879
 Drawing the Line

00:22:01.879 --> 00:22:02.899
 in a No-Fault,

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.559
 Guilt-Free World.

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.460
 In that book he says

00:22:06.460 --> 00:22:07.500
 even Christians

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.980
 have lost sight of sin

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:11.220
 as the primary human problem.

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:14.119
 We tend to gloss over it

00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:15.480
 and come up with other explanations

00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:16.700
 for what's going on

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.819
 and MacArthur says

00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:18.980
 that's so dangerous

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:20.200
 because you remove

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.559
 the reality of sin

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.299
 and you take away

00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.159
 the possibility

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:24.960
 of repentance.

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.019
 Abolish the doctrine

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.099
 of human depravity

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.819
 and you void

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.879
 the divine plan

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.659
 of salvation.

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.299
 Erase the notion

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.299
 of personal guilt

00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.059
 and you eliminate

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.759
 the need

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.740
 for a Savior.

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.700
 If there's nothing

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:39.220
 at that level

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.279
 wrong with me

00:22:40.279 --> 00:22:41.579
 then I don't need

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.220
 Christmas.

00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.659
 I don't need

00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:44.579
 the Savior.

00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:46.639
 It's so easy

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.700
 for religious people

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:48.539
 like me

00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.879
 growing up

00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.500
 in a church

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:52.259
 like the Jews

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.919
 of Luke's day

00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:55.879
 to think all they need

00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.419
 is to just

00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:58.319
 be in church some.

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:00.319
 Be identified

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.980
 with the good guys.

00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:04.319
 to be safe.

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.319
 Add in a little

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.400
 religion

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.400
 and ritual

00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.620
 and I'll be fine.

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.579
 But friends

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.980
 we must own

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.680
 the reality

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.140
 of our sin

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.299
 so that the coming

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.000
 of a Savior

00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.759
 for us

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.620
 is the good news

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.440
 of great joy

00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.480
 to our hearts

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.440
 that God intends

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.180
 for it to be.

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.640
 When you hear

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.779
 a Savior

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.059
 is born to you

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.720
 something

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.700
 and you ought to say

00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:29.819
 I need that.

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.600
 Yes!

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.920
 That's what I'm longing

00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.480
 for.

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.819
 I need a Savior.

00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:37.019
 Our self-righteous

00:23:37.019 --> 00:23:38.840
 rationalizing hearts

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.539
 so easily

00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:40.140
 minimize

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.799
 our sin.

00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:45.140
 But while that's

00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.880
 a major struggle

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:47.319
 for many of us

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:49.539
 for others of us

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.720
 we're not so much

00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.840
 minimizing our sin

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.580
 we're consumed

00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.299
 by our

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:54.420
 sin

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:54.940
 aren't we?

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.080
 The despair

00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:58.119
 the shame

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.839
 the hopelessness

00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.460
 that we feel.

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.559
 Perhaps you're not

00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.240
 overlooking

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.939
 your sin

00:24:03.939 --> 00:24:04.559
 this morning.

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.039
 Perhaps you're

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:07.439
 overwhelmed by it.

00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.679
 If that's

00:24:09.679 --> 00:24:10.379
 where your heart

00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.059
 is this morning

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.319
 hear the good news.

00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:13.980
 There's a Savior

00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:15.659
 for you.

00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.619
 In Jesus

00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.159
 we are

00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:19.399
 more loved

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.359
 and secure

00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:21.839
 than we could

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.919
 ever imagine.

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.699
 It is indeed

00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:25.519
 true that all

00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:25.919
 people

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.860
 need a Savior.

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.000
 It is also

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:29.100
 true that

00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:30.019
 Jesus is

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.680
 a sufficient

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.240
 Savior

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.779
 for all.

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.060
 Even the

00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:34.519
 worst

00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.660
 sinner.

00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:37.640
 God shows us

00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.440
 this so beautifully

00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.660
 in this passage

00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:40.340
 in this Christmas

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:40.880
 story

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.240
 through the shepherds.

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:43.600
 Listen

00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.519
 in Luke's

00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:44.860
 culture

00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.880
 of all the people

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.400
 who knew

00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.100
 that they weren't

00:24:47.100 --> 00:24:48.220
 okay with God

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:50.220
 it was shepherds.

00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:52.060
 The religious

00:24:52.060 --> 00:24:53.060
 churchy people

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:53.960
 reminded them

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.680
 of this regularly

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.279
 made sure

00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.000
 that they felt

00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.359
 it

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.440
 because they

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.859
 weren't even

00:24:57.859 --> 00:24:58.639
 in worship

00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.700
 very often.

00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.200
 They weren't

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.160
 around very much

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.879
 where the

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.720
 churchy people

00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.279
 gathered.

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.879
 The shepherds

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.740
 because of their

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.599
 strange work

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.059
 schedules

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.259
 because they

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.920
 were often

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:11.039
 having to touch

00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.039
 unclean animals

00:25:12.039 --> 00:25:13.119
 and dead things

00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:14.119
 were often

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.940
 ceremonially

00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:15.759
 unclean

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.680
 very uncommon

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.599
 for them to be

00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.359
 able to come

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:20.460
 to worship.

00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.220
 They were usually

00:25:22.220 --> 00:25:22.640
 absent.

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:23.960
 They were

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.819
 despised

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.839
 as a class

00:25:25.839 --> 00:25:26.539
 in the

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.200
 community.

00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:27.900
 They were

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.279
 thought of

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.039
 as thieves.

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.920
 So mistrusted

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.539
 in fact

00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:33.160
 by others

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.000
 that they

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.380
 didn't even

00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.059
 qualify

00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.960
 as legal

00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.460
 witnesses

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.799
 in courts

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.259
 of law.

00:25:38.839 --> 00:25:39.339
 You couldn't

00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:39.900
 ask for a

00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:40.559
 shepherd's opinion

00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:41.400
 it was worthless.

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.519
 You couldn't

00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.059
 trust him.

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.120
 And of all

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:45.440
 the people

00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.000
 in the world

00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.360
 the ones

00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:48.279
 God chose

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.279
 to privilege

00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:49.779
 as the

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.279
 recipients

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.779
 of the

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.259
 announcement

00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.819
 of a

00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.220
 savior

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.500
 he chose

00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:55.259
 the shepherds

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.500
 perhaps

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.420
 because he

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:57.799
 wanted them

00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:58.180
 to know

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:58.920
 without a doubt

00:25:58.920 --> 00:25:59.319
 that the

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.000
 savior was

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.599
 for them

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.759
 too.

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:03.480
 Notice the

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.339
 change that

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.879
 takes place

00:26:04.879 --> 00:26:05.160
 in the

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:05.579
 shepherds

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.059
 through this

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.500
 story.

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.440
 The angel

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.099
 appears and

00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.440
 when they

00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:08.839
 see the

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:09.579
 glory of

00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:10.059
 the Lord

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.660
 verse 9

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.220
 says they're

00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:11.539
 what?

00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.460
 Terrified.

00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.279
 Understandably

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.619
 right?

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.119
 I mean

00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.279
 they're not

00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:18.659
 the first

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.199
 ones to

00:26:19.199 --> 00:26:19.879
 be shocked

00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.279
 when the

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.659
 angel

00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.799
 appears to

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.119
 them.

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.419
 A bit

00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:23.879
 fearful.

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:24.339
 Even

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.059
 appropriately

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.639
 I would

00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.139
 say to

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:27.159
 be fearful

00:26:27.159 --> 00:26:27.799
 before the

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.539
 glory of

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.500
 a holy

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.459
 God.

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.119
 It's

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.479
 utterly

00:26:31.479 --> 00:26:32.079
 appropriate

00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:33.179
 for sinners

00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:33.799
 like the

00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.259
 shepherds

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.859
 and like

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.339
 us.

00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.199
 And maybe

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:37.679
 you feel

00:26:37.679 --> 00:26:38.299
 that this

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.699
 morning.

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.559
 Keep me

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:41.019
 away.

00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:42.039
 God

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.599
 doesn't want

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.559
 anything to

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:44.039
 do with

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.319
 me.

00:26:44.739 --> 00:26:45.199
 If you

00:26:45.199 --> 00:26:45.939
 only knew

00:26:45.939 --> 00:26:46.459
 pastor

00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:48.140
 what's

00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:48.500
 in my

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.900
 life,

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.180
 what's

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:49.500
 in my

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:49.840
 past,

00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.120
 what's

00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:50.480
 in my

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:50.840
 heart

00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.460
 today,

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.240
 you would

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.880
 know

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.519
 that I

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.079
 should be

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.079
 full of

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.680
 fear

00:26:55.680 --> 00:26:57.200
 before God.

00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.480
 And what

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.700
 does the

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.380
 angel tell

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:00.720
 them?

00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:01.860
 Those

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.480
 shepherds

00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:02.740
 who are

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.140
 perhaps

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.860
 rightfully

00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:04.559
 afraid

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.180
 at the

00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:06.720
 glory of

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.039
 God,

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.480
 he says

00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.059
 do not

00:27:08.059 --> 00:27:08.920
 be

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.079
 afraid.

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:11.680
 How can

00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.000
 he say

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.299
 that?

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:13.980
 Do not

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.440
 be afraid.

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:14.740
 Why?

00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:15.660
 Do not

00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.140
 be afraid.

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.640
 I bring

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.140
 you good

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.620
 news of

00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:18.320
 great joy

00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:18.920
 that will

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.279
 be for

00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.720
 all the

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.019
 people,

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.500
 including

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.060
 you.

00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:22.660
 Today in

00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:23.000
 the town

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.460
 of David,

00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.100
 a Savior

00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:25.080
 has been

00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:25.600
 born to

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:25.840
 you.

00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:26.400
 He is

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:27.019
 Christ

00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.320
 the Lord.

00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:29.220
 There's

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.920
 reason for

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.640
 great joy

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.620
 for you.

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.340
 And the

00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:32.860
 shepherds

00:27:32.860 --> 00:27:34.060
 experience that.

00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:34.900
 They go,

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.320
 don't they,

00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.840
 from being

00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.779
 terrified

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.279
 to then

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.860
 running to

00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:39.620
 Bethlehem and

00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:40.560
 seeing Jesus.

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:41.759
 And then

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.440
 what happens?

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.759
 Are they

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.180
 terrified?

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.700
 No,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.220
 they're

00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.039
 rejoicing

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.160
 and sharing

00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:46.759
 the good

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.500
 news with

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.320
 everyone.

00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:50.640
 Perhaps

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.039
 no one

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.640
 would believe

00:27:51.640 --> 00:27:52.000
 them,

00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:53.560
 shepherds

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:54.120
 as they

00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:54.920
 were.

00:27:56.620 --> 00:27:57.240
 Interesting

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.820
 to notice

00:27:57.820 --> 00:27:58.259
 that God

00:27:58.259 --> 00:27:58.860
 didn't pick

00:27:58.860 --> 00:27:59.480
 the most

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.759
 well-spoken,

00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.200
 the most

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.259
 well-connected,

00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.640
 the most

00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.560
 well-respected,

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:05.060
 the ones

00:28:05.060 --> 00:28:05.779
 everyone would

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.660
 believe,

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.340
 to be the

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:08.799
 first to

00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.279
 share the

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.860
 good news.

00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:11.500
 But rather

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.279
 he chose

00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:12.879
 the most

00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:14.539
 well-aware

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.259
 of their

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.439
 need for

00:28:16.439 --> 00:28:16.719
 it.

00:28:17.179 --> 00:28:17.859
 Those who

00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.619
 when they

00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:19.119
 heard it

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.719
 and saw

00:28:19.719 --> 00:28:20.019
 it were

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.240
 going to

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:21.119
 be exploding

00:28:21.119 --> 00:28:22.279
 with joy.

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:23.799
 That's the

00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.199
 message,

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.379
 that's the

00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.359
 response that

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:26.779
 people were

00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.339
 supposed to

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:28.479
 have to

00:28:28.479 --> 00:28:29.079
 a Savior.

00:28:31.479 --> 00:28:32.000
 Whether

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.579
 people believed

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.019
 him or not,

00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:33.679
 their joy was

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.240
 going to spill

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.599
 over.

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.759
 They couldn't

00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:37.219
 help but

00:28:37.219 --> 00:28:37.639
 share it.

00:28:37.719 --> 00:28:38.119
 Why?

00:28:38.339 --> 00:28:39.079
 Why were the

00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:40.199
 shepherds so

00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.799
 joyful?

00:28:41.579 --> 00:28:42.199
 Because they

00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.639
 knew they

00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.539
 were outcast

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.240
 from God

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.839
 and they

00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.319
 had just

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.899
 been told

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:46.279
 they were

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.299
 welcomed home.

00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.639
 That's what

00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.359
 verse 14

00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.759
 means.

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:50.599
 The heavenly

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.019
 host,

00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:51.740
 this is the

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.039
 word for

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.720
 the armies

00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:53.519
 of heaven,

00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.000
 declares

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.079
 not war

00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:57.879
 but peace.

00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.359
 Verse 14,

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.379
 glory to God

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.000
 in the highest

00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.699
 and on earth

00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:03.720
 peace to

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.539
 men on whom

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.099
 his favor

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.759
 rests.

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:06.779
 The shepherds

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.799
 hear peace

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.019
 from a

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.419
 God that

00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:09.779
 they were

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.399
 terrified

00:29:10.399 --> 00:29:11.559
 of.

00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.119
 It's an

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.519
 announcement

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.019
 not that

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.759
 God has

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.399
 found some

00:29:15.399 --> 00:29:15.799
 men out

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.099
 here on

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.720
 the hillside

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.019
 who are

00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.680
 of good

00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.059
 will

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:19.139
 here on

00:29:19.139 --> 00:29:19.319
 earth,

00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:20.200
 who deserve

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:20.819
 for God

00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.180
 to make

00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:21.759
 peace with

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:21.919
 them.

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:22.399
 That's not

00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:22.960
 the announcement.

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.339
 These are

00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:23.919
 shepherds.

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.659
 But rather

00:29:25.659 --> 00:29:26.119
 that God

00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:26.839
 has declared

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.919
 peace toward

00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:28.759
 men currently

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:30.279
 hostile and

00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.319
 warring against

00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.740
 him.

00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.319
 My enemies

00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.079
 will be my

00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:34.779
 friends,

00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.899
 God says.

00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:36.880
 Those far

00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.440
 from me

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.880
 will be

00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:38.840
 brought near.

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.519
 Those

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.880
 outcast sons

00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.380
 will be

00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:41.960
 welcomed

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:42.740
 home.

00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.120
 And the

00:29:44.120 --> 00:29:44.540
 shepherds

00:29:44.540 --> 00:29:44.980
 hear that

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.220
 and they

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.400
 say,

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.080
 yes please,

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:47.420
 that's me.

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.780
 That's what

00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:49.100
 I've been

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:50.019
 longing for.

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.160
 I need

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.660
 that.

00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:53.340
 Do you

00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:53.780
 know this

00:29:53.780 --> 00:29:54.240
 morning that

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.580
 that is

00:29:54.580 --> 00:29:54.960
 you?

00:29:57.100 --> 00:29:57.340
 Do you

00:29:57.340 --> 00:29:57.900
 rejoice in

00:29:57.900 --> 00:29:58.480
 the gospel,

00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:58.980
 the good

00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.519
 news of

00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.300
 great joy

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.740
 as the

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.220
 shepherds

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.560
 did?

00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:02.740
 Does it

00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.120
 overflow

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.880
 from you

00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.740
 to many

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.299
 others?

00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.420
 Because the

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.200
 joy just

00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:09.200
 fills up

00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.400
 and you

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.019
 can't help

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.720
 but rejoice

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.359
 and share

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:11.740
 the good

00:30:11.740 --> 00:30:12.180
 news.

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.779
 I'm no

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.160
 angel,

00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.819
 but hear it

00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.559
 announced to

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:17.779
 you,

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.400
 discouraged

00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.120
 sinner,

00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.819
 good news

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.920
 of great

00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.380
 joy.

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.420
 A savior

00:30:23.420 --> 00:30:24.380
 has been

00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:24.900
 born to

00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.160
 you.

00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:25.900
 Christ

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.920
 the Lord.

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.160
 A true

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.700
 ruler,

00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:30.259
 the rightful

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.819
 king on

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.319
 David's

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.660
 throne,

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.640
 the one

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:32.980
 who is

00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.180
 truly God,

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:34.660
 not an

00:30:34.660 --> 00:30:35.440
 imposter

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:35.900
 king

00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.420
 claiming

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.299
 divinity.

00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.019
 The true

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.500
 savior,

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.060
 not just

00:30:40.060 --> 00:30:40.360
 of the

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:40.720
 common

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.200
 people,

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.880
 but of

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.519
 all

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.400
 people

00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.460
 has come

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.380
 to you.

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.200
 Why

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.640
 Christmas?

00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:49.680
 Because

00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.120
 God is

00:30:50.120 --> 00:30:50.740
 not willing

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.340
 to leave

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.740
 you in

00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.340
 your sin,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.799
 but is

00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.180
 zealous

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.580
 for you

00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:54.980
 to know

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.720
 his love

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.299
 and the

00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:56.779
 security

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.200
 of being

00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:57.720
 welcomed

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.220
 at his

00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:58.680
 table

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.279
 forever,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.140
 so he

00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:00.779
 sends

00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.740
 a savior.

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.580
 That's

00:31:02.580 --> 00:31:02.900
 how much

00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:03.259
 he loves

00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:03.519
 you.

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:06.840
 15 years

00:31:06.840 --> 00:31:07.539
 ago today

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:07.880
 on

00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.759
 September

00:31:08.759 --> 00:31:09.160
 11,

00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.259
 2001,

00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.279
 many

00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.720
 first

00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.420
 responders,

00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.019
 quite a

00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.500
 number of

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:15.900
 them from

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:16.200
 the New

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.840
 York City

00:31:16.840 --> 00:31:18.240
 police and

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.560
 fire

00:31:18.560 --> 00:31:19.259
 departments,

00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.120
 went running

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.779
 toward the

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.580
 burning and

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.299
 crumbling

00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.259
 towers of

00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:24.580
 the World

00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.279
 Trade Center,

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:27.340
 intent on

00:31:27.340 --> 00:31:28.140
 saving as

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:29.220
 many lives

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.920
 as possible.

00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:30.019
 people.

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:30.620
 They

00:31:30.620 --> 00:31:31.380
 rushed

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:32.140
 towards

00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.519
 pain and

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:34.660
 chaos

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.880
 at the

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:36.320
 risk even

00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:36.620
 of their

00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.460
 own lives

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:37.880
 for the

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.360
 sake of

00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:38.940
 saving

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.980
 others.

00:31:42.620 --> 00:31:43.720
 In a

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.460
 similar way,

00:31:45.080 --> 00:31:45.820
 but with an

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.700
 even greater

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.860
 capacity to

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.420
 save,

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.120
 God comes

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:51.060
 running toward

00:31:51.060 --> 00:31:52.259
 us in

00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:52.779
 Jesus,

00:31:53.300 --> 00:31:54.060
 rushing into

00:31:54.060 --> 00:31:54.680
 the chaos

00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.820
 and pain of

00:31:55.820 --> 00:31:56.740
 this world

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.400
 and of our

00:31:57.400 --> 00:31:58.060
 lives,

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.259
 the burning,

00:31:59.639 --> 00:32:00.019
 crumbling

00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.079
 ruins of

00:32:01.079 --> 00:32:02.119
 our hearts,

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.019
 intent on

00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:04.220
 saving even

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.019
 if it costs

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.879
 him his

00:32:05.879 --> 00:32:06.859
 life and

00:32:06.859 --> 00:32:07.419
 he knows

00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:08.119
 it will.

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.359
 I love the

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.879
 comfort in

00:32:11.879 --> 00:32:12.359
 one little

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:12.899
 phrase in

00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.700
 verse 11 that

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.240
 we've skipped

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:14.859
 over thus

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.200
 far.

00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:17.359
 It's a great

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:18.000
 verse but

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.579
 there's a great

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.759
 phrase at the

00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:19.980
 end.

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.679
 Today in the

00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:21.119
 town of

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.519
 David,

00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.960
 a Savior has

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.599
 been born

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:25.519
 to you.

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:28.119
 Why did

00:32:28.119 --> 00:32:28.500
 that need to

00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:28.879
 be there?

00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:30.579
 It was

00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:31.779
 good news

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.119
 already.

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.619
 A Savior

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.039
 has been

00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:33.379
 born.

00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:35.379
 A Savior

00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:35.859
 has been

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.960
 born to

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.220
 you.

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:37.619
 The good

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:38.160
 news is not

00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.879
 merely that a

00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.480
 Savior has

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.079
 been born,

00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.099
 but that a

00:32:41.099 --> 00:32:41.660
 Savior has

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:43.000
 been born to

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:43.660
 you.

00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.720
 To you who

00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:45.639
 were previously

00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.480
 unaware of

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.279
 your need for

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.839
 a Savior,

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.740
 didn't see

00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.440
 your sin

00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.480
 that big.

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:51.819
 To you who

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.180
 thought you

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.700
 were beyond

00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.660
 the help of

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.560
 a Savior.

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.620
 To you a

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.779
 Savior is

00:32:57.779 --> 00:32:58.259
 born.

00:32:58.779 --> 00:32:59.100
 Isn't that

00:32:59.100 --> 00:32:59.560
 amazing?

00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.100
 Isn't Christmas

00:33:01.100 --> 00:33:02.540
 worth celebrating

00:33:02.540 --> 00:33:03.180
 even in

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:05.300
 September that

00:33:05.300 --> 00:33:06.200
 He came to

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.480
 save all those

00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:08.759
 who trust in

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.240
 Him?

00:33:10.080 --> 00:33:10.420
 Oh,

00:33:10.580 --> 00:33:11.960
 tidings of

00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.200
 comfort and

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:13.640
 joy.

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.460
 It's not just a

00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.160
 Christmas carol,

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.880
 it's the gospel,

00:33:16.300 --> 00:33:16.960
 it's the good

00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.480
 news, it's your

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.320
 only hope that a

00:33:19.320 --> 00:33:20.440
 Savior has come

00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:22.040
 to you.

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:24.720
 Isn't God's

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.079
 commitment to

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.799
 us incredible?

00:33:28.119 --> 00:33:28.980
 That He would

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:30.119
 not only come

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:31.879
 to us in a

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.559
 manger as a

00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:34.099
 baby, but that

00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:35.119
 He would announce

00:33:35.119 --> 00:33:36.379
 it to even the

00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:37.379
 lowliest among

00:33:37.379 --> 00:33:38.079
 us because He

00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.720
 didn't want us

00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:39.420
 to miss it.

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.859
 That there's a

00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.639
 Savior who's

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:43.659
 come for you.

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.759
 Why Christmas?

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.500
 Because we

00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.519
 insist on sinning

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:50.460
 and because God

00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.779
 insists on saving.

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.940
 Think about this

00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:54.480
 as you come to

00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:55.139
 the table this

00:33:55.139 --> 00:33:55.399
 morning.

00:33:56.639 --> 00:33:57.460
 If you were the

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:59.299
 only sinner in

00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.299
 the entire world,

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.859
 it would have

00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:03.240
 required the

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.000
 Son of God,

00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.099
 Jesus Himself,

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.359
 to come and

00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.759
 die for your

00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.139
 sin.

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.320
 Your sin's so

00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:11.039
 big, if you were

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:11.860
 the only one,

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:12.880
 Jesus would have

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.840
 had to come and

00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.739
 die for you.

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.679
 And if you were

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.739
 the only sinner in

00:34:17.739 --> 00:34:19.159
 the entire world,

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:21.899
 God's love for

00:34:21.899 --> 00:34:23.399
 you is so great

00:34:23.399 --> 00:34:25.199
 that Jesus would

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.139
 have come willingly

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:28.139
 and died for you.

00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.920
 That's the message

00:34:29.920 --> 00:34:30.460
 of Christmas.

00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.239
 That Jesus has

00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.000
 come and done

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.279
 that, has come as

00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:35.920
 a Savior to you.

00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:38.299
 Rejoice in that

00:34:38.299 --> 00:34:39.460
 good hope even as

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.179
 we come to this

00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:40.460
 table.

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:41.539
 Remember the way

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.559
 Paul described

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:44.339
 Jesus' words to

00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:45.039
 his disciples.

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.599
 He says,

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.279
 I received from

00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:46.940
 the Lord what I

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.960
 also delivered to

00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:49.279
 you, that the

00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:50.239
 Lord Jesus on the

00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:50.639
 night he was

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.699
 betrayed took bread

00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:52.699
 and when he had

00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.440
 given thanks he

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.179
 broke it and

00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:55.099
 said, this is my

00:34:55.099 --> 00:34:56.719
 body which is for

00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.059
 you.

00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:58.619
 Do this in

00:34:58.619 --> 00:34:59.739
 remembrance of me.

00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.619
 In the same way

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.539
 also he took the

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.500
 cup after supper

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.539
 saying, this cup is

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.500
 the new covenant in

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.099
 my blood.

00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:07.619
 Do this as often as

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.340
 you drink it in

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.539
 remembrance of me.

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.779
 For as often as

00:35:10.779 --> 00:35:11.539
 you eat this bread

00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:12.480
 and drink the cup

00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:13.719
 you proclaim the

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.460
 Lord's death.

00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.380
 Until he comes.

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:19.400
 Jesus is coming

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:19.880
 again.

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.340
 He has come to us

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:22.759
 already.

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.380
 That's the good

00:35:24.380 --> 00:35:24.960
 news of the

00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:25.320
 gospel.

00:35:25.659 --> 00:35:26.300
 This table

00:35:26.300 --> 00:35:27.300
 demonstrates it in

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:28.300
 a tangible way.

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.139
 That he doesn't

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.300
 remain far off from

00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:31.920
 you thinking you're

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.860
 okay on your own

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.699
 that you don't need

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:33.880
 him.

00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.659
 That he doesn't

00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:35.719
 remain far off from

00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.380
 you thinking you're

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:37.840
 too bad and he

00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:38.699
 couldn't possibly

00:35:38.699 --> 00:35:39.920
 associate with you.

00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.300
 Instead he fixes

00:35:41.300 --> 00:35:42.139
 that problem.

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:43.920
 He comes, lives

00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.980
 perfectly and

00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:46.179
 dies in your place

00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.159
 so that you can

00:35:47.159 --> 00:35:48.260
 eat with him

00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:48.980
 not just this

00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:50.280
 morning but forever.

00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.340
 And so we do

00:35:51.340 --> 00:35:52.240
 today what we look

00:35:52.240 --> 00:35:53.320
 forward to celebrating

00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.320
 with him forever

00:35:54.320 --> 00:35:55.619
 that the holy God

00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.320
 would sit across

00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:57.019
 from the table

00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:58.179
 with you and me

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.719
 because he came

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:01.000
 and made it

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.460
 possible.

00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:02.840
 If you don't know

00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:04.780
 Jesus, don't come

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.500
 to this table

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:07.039
 which is a picture

00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.320
 of the reality of

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.199
 our fellowship with

00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:09.500
 God.

00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.619
 Come to Jesus.

00:36:11.240 --> 00:36:12.440
 Come and meet him

00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.260
 and know him.

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.139
 We love to tell

00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:14.880
 you about him.

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:16.380
 But if you know

00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:18.579
 him, if you trust

00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:19.800
 Jesus, not even

00:36:19.800 --> 00:36:20.700
 your worst day,

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.940
 not even your sin

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:24.860
 that you're confessing

00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:25.800
 right now in this

00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:27.360
 moment and turning

00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:30.019
 to him from can keep

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:30.860
 you from him.

00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:32.280
 He has come to you.

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:34.320
 Come and rejoice in

00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.139
 what he has done.

00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.139
 Pray with me and we'll

00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.860
 come to the table.

00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:40.579
 Jesus, thank you

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:43.280
 that you're a God

00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.559
 who's drawn near to

00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:44.980
 us.

00:36:45.260 --> 00:36:46.059
 That we have a

00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.480
 savior.

00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.360
 Because you came

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:50.240
 at Christmas not

00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.240
 just to be born but

00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:52.340
 then to live and to

00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:54.099
 die for us.

00:36:55.220 --> 00:36:56.079
 Thank you for the

00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.820
 reminder we will

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.760
 hold in our hands

00:36:57.760 --> 00:36:58.559
 and taste on our

00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.420
 lips this morning.

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.700
 Might you make

00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:02.800
 these elements

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:04.380
 which are common

00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.280
 in themselves,

00:37:06.120 --> 00:37:06.760
 would you make

00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:08.000
 them used for a

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.020
 sacred purpose in

00:37:09.020 --> 00:37:09.620
 our hearts?

00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:10.340
 Would you strengthen

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:10.960
 our faith?

00:37:11.060 --> 00:37:11.760
 Would you remind us

00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:12.400
 of how much we

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.640
 needed someone to

00:37:13.640 --> 00:37:14.600
 die for us?

00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:15.880
 Of how much we

00:37:15.880 --> 00:37:17.180
 still today need a

00:37:17.180 --> 00:37:17.600
 savior?

00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:19.280
 Would you remind us

00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.200
 that we have one?

00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.480
 Jesus, that gives

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:23.220
 us great joy.

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:23.860
 Thank you.

00:37:24.580 --> 00:37:25.460
 Thank you for this

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.480
 celebration together.

00:37:27.540 --> 00:37:27.820
 Amen.

00:37:31.660 --> 00:37:32.900
 For more information,

00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:34.620
 visit us online at

00:37:34.620 --> 00:37:35.500
 southwood.org.

00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:37.400
 Northwood.org.

00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:38.560
 Have a good week.

00:37:38.560 --> 00:37:41.760
 I hope to be

00:37:42.140 --> 00:37:42.400
 CHRIST showcase here.

00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:43.600
 Start off выпуск when

00:37:43.600 --> 00:37:45.540
 you will talk about

00:37:45.540 --> 00:37:47.400
 you at good

00:37:47.580 --> 00:37:48.300
 success for

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:53.780
 your focus-for

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:54.700
 learning season.

00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:57.780
 College of

00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:59.080
탕u so

00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:00.260
 manage the

00:38:00.260 --> 00:38:01.620
 following

00:38:02.100 --> 00:38:03.380
 life what

00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:04.720
 you