WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:15.280 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:39.340 And tonight's readings are a reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 2-20, and Paul's letter to Titus, chapter 3, verses 3-6. 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:42.980 A reading from the Gospel according to Luke. 00:00:42.979 --> 00:00:55.039 In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 00:00:55.959 --> 00:01:00.799 This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:04.979 And everyone went to their own towns to register. 00:01:04.980 --> 00:01:17.060 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:23.900 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him, and was expecting a child. 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:32.280 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:39.180 She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:45.799 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:55.060 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:59.460 But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:03.920 I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:08.520 Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. 00:02:09.180 --> 00:02:11.520 He is the Messiah, the Lord. 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:14.480 This will be a sign to you. 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:18.640 You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:26.139 Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 00:02:26.799 --> 00:02:28.199 Glory to God in the highest. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:34.939 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:41.199 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:47.019 Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:53.219 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:59.240 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 00:02:59.540 --> 00:03:03.120 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:08.080 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:14.400 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:16.520 which were just as they had been told. 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:18.980 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:03:19.719 --> 00:03:21.340 Praise to you, Lord Christ. 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:26.180 And the New Testament lesson, a reading from Paul's letter to Titus. 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:35.060 At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. 00:03:35.740 --> 00:03:40.100 We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:45.719 But when the kindness and love of God, our Savior appeared, he saved us, 00:03:46.139 --> 00:03:50.180 not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:55.539 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 00:03:55.799 --> 00:04:00.180 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ, our Savior, 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.539 so that, having been justified by his grace, 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:07.599 we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life. 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:09.539 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:11.259 Thanks be to God. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:16.680 Isn't it great to have a string quartet here tonight? 00:04:23.459 --> 00:04:26.959 I'm going to relieve them of feeling like they need to preach with me, though, 00:04:27.019 --> 00:04:29.539 so thank you for that. 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:36.420 Well, Merry Christmas to you all, and a warm welcome to our Christchurch family, 00:04:37.140 --> 00:04:43.860 and especially a warm welcome to those of you who come with your family and friends, 00:04:44.100 --> 00:04:47.820 maybe here from out of town or visiting Christchurch for the first time. 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.300 We are so, so glad that you're here tonight. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:56.300 And, you know, Christmas Eve is always a bit of a mixed crowd, spiritually speaking. 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:59.600 Typically, about half of our church is out of town, 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:03.879 traveling to other places to celebrate with their people, 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:13.600 and their seats in the pews are filled with folks who are from all different kind of experiences and backgrounds, 00:05:14.540 --> 00:05:16.500 religious, non-religious, 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:22.000 people who know bits and pieces about the historic Christian faith, 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:24.879 and people who know nothing whatsoever. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.100 However, perhaps even some of you here tonight would say, 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:30.480 you know, I don't even know if God exists. 00:05:31.219 --> 00:05:36.240 I'm not even sure if we can have our ultimate questions answered. 00:05:36.779 --> 00:05:39.379 And wherever you're coming from tonight, 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:41.939 we just want you to know we're delighted that you're here. 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:50.019 And I want to begin by just pointing out a very strange detail in that story we just heard read. 00:05:50.019 --> 00:05:53.639 And just to say that if I were writing the Christmas story, 00:05:53.719 --> 00:05:56.620 I'm not sure I would have written it as it stands. 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:00.139 For example, what's up with the shepherds? 00:06:01.599 --> 00:06:07.759 You know, could God not have found better characters to write into a story? 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:15.079 I mean, why didn't God choose other people to receive the news of the birth of His Son? 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:23.219 Think of how much better the story would have been if God had sent news to the Roman Emperor Augustus, 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:27.980 or to Herod the Great, or the high priest in Jerusalem. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:33.480 Why did God not go to the halls of power, to people sitting on thrones, 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:37.280 you know, to celebrities and influencers and elites, 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:40.900 the high and mighty people who were rich and famous? 00:06:41.080 --> 00:06:49.360 Instead, the glorious presence and power of the Lord appears not only in this vulnerable baby in this lowly manger, 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:54.600 but it appears in this field with unlikely and lowly shepherds. 00:06:55.700 --> 00:06:56.379 Think about that. 00:06:56.379 --> 00:07:03.240 The most stupendous news that the world has ever heard is given to these simple, ordinary people, 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:06.560 a bunch of nobodies on the margins of society, 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:12.300 people who are just going about their everyday business with no expectation whatsoever 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:16.379 that anything out of the ordinary was going to happen that night. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.699 They were taken completely by surprise. 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:22.680 It's a strange detail to me. 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:28.680 And so, for the next few moments, I want to just invite you into the experience of these shepherds 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:35.040 to hear what they heard with their ears and see what they saw with their eyes. 00:07:35.400 --> 00:07:37.579 Know what they knew in their minds. 00:07:37.720 --> 00:07:39.500 Feel what they felt in their hearts. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:44.399 And what I want to invite all of us to do tonight is just to listen to the song of the angels 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:53.459 and to go through a process of investigation and to open our hearts to sharing and singing. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:54.759 Okay, three things. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:57.160 Listen to the song of the angels. 00:07:57.839 --> 00:07:59.540 Go through a process of investigation. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:03.340 And open our hearts to sharing and singing. 00:08:04.260 --> 00:08:07.120 So, first of all, let's listen to the song of the angels. 00:08:07.300 --> 00:08:11.600 Verse 9 in our story tells us that an angel of the Lord appeared to them 00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.620 and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:22.740 You know, many people seek spiritual experiences, transcendent experiences, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:26.300 in order to get above themselves and beyond themselves. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:30.860 And they may not be aware of what might happen when they seek that, right? 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:35.779 Because when the Almighty shows up, when the Holy penetrates your life, 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.019 when the eternal light of God comes into your darkness, 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:44.279 the first thing you feel is not a thrill of hope, right? 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:45.180 You feel dread. 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:46.740 You feel terrified. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:49.019 Like, am I going to die? 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:49.100 Why? 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:55.139 And every time in the Bible a messenger from heaven is sent from God to speak, 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:56.579 what do they say to human beings? 00:08:58.480 --> 00:08:59.399 Fear not. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.860 Do not be afraid. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:05.019 And so in our story in verse 10, it says, 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:05.899 the angel said to them, 00:09:05.980 --> 00:09:06.919 Do not be afraid. 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:11.799 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.819 Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.039 He is the Messiah, the Lord. 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:23.639 And the angel sums up the Christmas message in those three little words. 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:26.759 He's Savior, Messiah, and Lord. 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:29.799 The one born to you is the Lord. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.039 That's the name of the God of Israel. 00:09:32.439 --> 00:09:33.600 I am who I am. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:38.019 And that name is Yahweh for short. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:40.319 And the angel says, 00:09:40.419 --> 00:09:43.960 Jesus is the embodiment of Yahweh, the Lord. 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:48.200 Secondly, the one born to you is the Messiah or the Christ. 00:09:48.280 --> 00:09:49.620 And that's not his last name. 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:51.940 It's not Jesus, Mr. Christ. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:55.639 Messiah is his title. 00:09:55.780 --> 00:09:56.560 It's his office. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.980 It means that he's God's chosen and anointed king. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:02.500 And thirdly, this one born to you is the Lord. 00:10:02.620 --> 00:10:05.019 He's the Messiah, and he's the Savior, 00:10:05.160 --> 00:10:07.780 which is good and joyful news. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:12.699 It says that God desires to save the human race from itself. 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:19.439 And, of course, the bad news is that we're the kind of species living in the kind of world that needs saving. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:20.759 Right? 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:23.339 A saving that we cannot do for ourselves. 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.539 A saving that all of our money and technology, 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:27.819 all of our technology, 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:29.319 our education, 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:30.259 our government, 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:32.220 just simply cannot affect. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:37.500 When I think about this need for being saved, 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:40.960 I think about my favorite fictional Christmas character, 00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:42.519 which is the Grinch. 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:44.139 Right? 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:46.200 And I have a Grinch mug at home, 00:10:46.259 --> 00:10:47.700 which has the Grinch quoting. 00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:48.139 He says, 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:48.920 I'm not arguing. 00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:50.940 I'm just explaining why I'm right. 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.519 And I love this guy. 00:10:54.660 --> 00:10:58.200 In fact, you may remember in the original film in the 1960s, 00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:59.440 there was a great song called, 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.899 You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.879 And one of the stanzas in that song says, 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:05.799 You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch. 00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:08.299 You're the king of sinful sots. 00:11:09.079 --> 00:11:13.319 Your heart's a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr. Grinch. 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:17.860 Your soul is an appalling dump heap overflowing 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:22.100 with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:24.819 mangled up and tangled up knots. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.059 Now, I don't know about you, 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:29.740 but Dr. Seuss, to me, is a great theologian. 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:33.340 He's an incredible anthropologist. 00:11:34.139 --> 00:11:34.980 And if we're honest, 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:36.860 all of us have hearts tonight 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:38.919 that are about two sizes too small, 00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:40.059 at least. 00:11:40.939 --> 00:11:42.600 And we have this inner Grinch, 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.299 if we're honest with ourselves, 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:45.360 we have this inner Grinch 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.220 that unleashes all sorts of misery 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.120 on the people around us, 00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:49.939 maybe even upon, 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.959 and especially upon ourselves. 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:53.399 Right? 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:58.620 We know better than God how to run our lives. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:04.259 We would be better off if we were just independent from God. 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:07.600 We're in a war not against Whoville. 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:10.360 We're in a war against God himself. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:11.360 We're in a war against God. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:11.740 We're in a war against God. 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.740 We're in a war against God. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:13.740 We're in a war against God. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.879 And because of that, 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.519 we're in the grip of sin and death. 00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:23.300 We're living under condemnation and judgment and wrath. 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:27.419 And that's like the one doctrine of Christianity 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:30.759 that we could almost prove from this morning's newspaper. 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.860 But the good news of great joy 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:36.039 is that God has sent a Savior. 00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:39.120 That God won't allow us to be stuck 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:41.960 in the misery of our Grinchiness and our Grinchitude. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.559 That God announces to us the best news 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:47.799 that's ever been told to planet Earth, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:52.319 that the one born to you is Savior, Messiah, and Lord. 00:12:52.439 --> 00:12:54.220 And the great irony of this story 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:57.759 is that the way God announces this message 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:03.779 is he sends a heavenly army of angelic warriors 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:07.379 not to destroy humanity, 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:10.139 which God would have been right and completely just to do, 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:14.240 but he sends this heavenly army of angelic warriors 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:17.360 to sing to us the first Christmas carol 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.319 and to offer us God's terms of peace. 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:22.720 And here it is in verse 13. 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:24.759 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host 00:13:24.759 --> 00:13:27.100 appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.480 glory to God in the highest heaven 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:33.519 and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:38.120 Their message is that we as human beings, 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:40.700 our deepest need is not political 00:13:40.700 --> 00:13:43.720 or sociological or economic 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.440 to achieve a kind of outward interpersonal peace 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:50.659 between individuals or groups of people. 00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:53.820 They tell us that our deepest problem 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:57.160 is not biological or mental or psychological 00:13:57.160 --> 00:14:02.960 to achieve a kind of inward intrapersonal peace, 00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:06.100 though of course we're desperate for both forms of peace, 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:10.080 given the deep disharmonies that we find within our own souls 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:13.440 and out in the world between people groups. 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.740 But what they tell us is what we most need 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:20.140 is a saving and reconciling peace with God, 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:23.519 not peace out in the world or peace in our hearts, 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:26.360 but peace up here with God. 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:30.740 Peace between the glorious maker and judge of all 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:34.960 and grinchy sinners like me and like you. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:38.139 And this peace, you notice, 00:14:38.220 --> 00:14:40.419 is offered to all people of every culture, 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:41.879 every race, every nation. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:45.960 All humanity here is invited to join in heaven's song 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:48.820 about this one born Savior Christ and Lord, 00:14:48.920 --> 00:14:52.620 this one who's given authority to accomplish salvation 00:14:52.620 --> 00:14:54.160 and to bring peace with God. 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:56.920 But while this is a universal announcement 00:14:56.920 --> 00:14:59.600 for all peoples at all times and in all places, 00:15:00.160 --> 00:15:02.360 we also notice that it's only effective 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:05.800 for those on whom God's favor rests, 00:15:06.680 --> 00:15:09.500 on whom God's grace has come to rest. 00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:12.100 Will God give peace to everyone? 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:15.540 Well, if you're indifferent to God, 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.440 if you're opposed to God, 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:21.480 why would you get the peace that He brings? 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:25.120 No, it's only as we surrender, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.840 it's only as we accept God's terms of peace 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:33.600 that we come to enjoy the incredible shalom 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:36.620 that He offers us both now in this life 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:39.000 and in the age to come. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.980 And so tonight I want us to listen very closely 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:46.440 to the song that the angels are singing to us 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:48.080 and see if we really understand 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:49.740 what it is they're saying. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:52.299 But I want us to not only listen 00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:53.340 to the song of the angels, 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:55.460 I'd also like for us to go through a process 00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:57.580 of investigation, 00:15:58.419 --> 00:16:01.399 to go through a process of investigation. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:05.080 These unlikely and lowly shepherds, 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:08.100 they hear this first and oldest Christmas carol, 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:10.540 the original Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:12.740 And then what do they do? 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.779 How do they respond? 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:16.980 Because the angels are gone as quickly 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.139 and unexpectedly as they came 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.200 and when the song was over, 00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:23.600 the shepherds found themselves in the silence 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:25.440 and then in the darkness again. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:28.120 And so what now? 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:28.960 What should we do now? 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:30.720 They must surely have wondered 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:32.879 what they just experienced. 00:16:33.160 --> 00:16:35.240 And then we pick up in verse 15, 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.580 it says, 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.120 when the angels had left them 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.820 and gone into heaven, 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.759 the shepherds said to one another, 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.460 let's go to Bethlehem 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:46.139 and see this thing that has happened 00:16:46.139 --> 00:16:48.879 which the Lord has told us about. 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:50.360 They say, 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:53.299 let's go through a process of investigation. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.480 Let's go and see for ourselves 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:58.460 whether or not this thing is true. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:17:01.600 They neither laughed off the experience 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.220 as a hallucination or a dream 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:06.579 nor did they accept it without investigation. 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:09.059 They were not content with mere hearsay 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.200 but they said, 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:13.120 let's go find out the truth for ourselves. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:15.299 And this is important tonight 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.640 because I think some of you might be skeptical 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:19.259 of this Christmas story. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:21.660 Perhaps you're here and you're inclined 00:17:21.660 --> 00:17:23.660 not to trust naive, 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.200 empty-headed, 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.140 religious credulity. 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:27.860 And if that's you, 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.819 I am with you. 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.640 And I absolutely respect that. 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:35.380 But the antidote to naive, 00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.559 empty-headed, 00:17:36.740 --> 00:17:37.660 religious credulity 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.500 is not cynical, 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:40.440 unstudied, 00:17:40.660 --> 00:17:41.920 secular incredulity. 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.380 Rather, 00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.660 I want to suggest to you 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:47.140 that the most intellectually 00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:49.059 credible position you could take 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:51.920 is to engage in an open-minded, 00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:53.860 unprejudiced inquiry, 00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:56.339 to go and gather 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:58.959 the adequate primary source evidence 00:17:58.959 --> 00:18:00.500 and then base your conclusions 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.439 on that evidence 00:18:02.439 --> 00:18:04.079 without depending on hearsay 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.799 or second-hand opinions 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.079 from other people. 00:18:08.219 --> 00:18:08.879 For example, 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:10.419 you might be socialized 00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:11.979 and culturally conditioned 00:18:11.979 --> 00:18:14.119 to read this supernatural story 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.359 about angels 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.119 and a virgin birth 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:17.979 and this God 00:18:17.979 --> 00:18:19.659 born as a human baby. 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.019 And when that story hits 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:22.699 the plausibility structures 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.360 in your mind, 00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:25.059 when it hits the dominant paradigm 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:26.160 of your brain, 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.480 you say, 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:27.880 ah, 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:30.100 I see what's going on. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.900 We're talking about a legend. 00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:34.440 This is a myth. 00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:35.420 It's a fable. 00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.799 It's a made-up story 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.299 with symbolic spiritual meaning. 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.080 But if you say that, 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.259 that just means that 00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:44.559 your plausibility structures 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:46.340 and the paradigm in your mind 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.140 is causing you 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.700 to misunderstand 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:48.759 what you're reading. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.039 It's causing you 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:51.799 to misunderstand the genre 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.220 because when you examine 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:54.339 the evidence, 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.779 Luke does not begin 00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.960 his story like a fairy tale 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.859 and say, 00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.319 once upon a time. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.180 Right? 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.339 Nor does he begin 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.700 his story saying, 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:06.779 a long time ago 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.460 in a galaxy 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:09.039 far, far away. 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:11.019 Indicating that 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.960 you are now reading 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.819 a mythological 00:19:12.819 --> 00:19:14.579 Jungian hero story 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:16.879 about an unending conflict 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.040 between the dark side 00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:18.940 and the true force. 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.340 Right? 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.700 This isn't once upon a time. 00:19:21.800 --> 00:19:22.940 It's not a long time ago 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:23.480 in a galaxy 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.400 far, far away. 00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:26.380 How does Luke, 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.920 this meticulous doctor, 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:32.020 this scrupulous historian, 00:19:33.020 --> 00:19:33.960 write his story? 00:19:34.080 --> 00:19:35.160 He says in verse 1, 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:37.180 in those days, 00:19:37.300 --> 00:19:38.120 Caesar Augustus 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:38.940 issued a decree 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.620 that a census 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.340 should be taken 00:19:40.340 --> 00:19:42.400 of the entire Roman world. 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:43.580 This was the first census 00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:44.500 that took place 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:45.380 while Quirinius 00:19:45.380 --> 00:19:46.019 was governor 00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:47.359 of Syria. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.619 He says, 00:19:49.740 --> 00:19:50.339 this is history. 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:51.940 This is, 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.099 this happened. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.319 It happened 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.180 under the rule 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.559 of the grand nephew 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.140 of Julius Caesar, 00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.799 Caesar Augustus. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:00.480 And you can go 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:02.180 look at all the evidence 00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:02.619 about it. 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.900 And what I want to invite 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.900 some of you to do tonight 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.119 is just to engage 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:08.539 in the primary source material, 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.079 maybe for the first time 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.720 in your lives. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.900 And if you do that, 00:20:13.579 --> 00:20:15.200 if you read the Gospels, 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.000 you'll find that 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.259 this one who's born, 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.460 he makes, 00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.740 he grows up, right? 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.180 And he makes 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.940 some astonishing claims. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:26.440 He says stuff like, 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:30.200 only I know God the Father. 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.720 He says things like, 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.660 I alone have the authority 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.860 to forgive sins 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:38.079 and to do what only God can do. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:40.000 He says, 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.939 I'm going to come back 00:20:41.939 --> 00:20:42.980 at the end of history 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:44.539 and I'm going to sit 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:45.659 on my throne in glory 00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:46.439 and I'm going to gather 00:20:46.439 --> 00:20:48.199 all the nations before me 00:20:48.199 --> 00:20:48.939 and I'm going to judge 00:20:48.939 --> 00:20:49.779 all the earth 00:20:49.779 --> 00:20:50.759 because I hold 00:20:50.759 --> 00:20:52.119 your eternal destiny 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.399 in my hands. 00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.199 What? 00:20:56.699 --> 00:20:58.079 Who says that? 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.119 Who in history 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:01.720 has ever said these things? 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.099 And where does he get, 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.359 where does he get off? 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.939 Not to mention 00:21:06.939 --> 00:21:08.119 all the other things 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.619 you'll find 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:10.219 about eyewitness testimonies 00:21:10.219 --> 00:21:11.119 that after his 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:12.799 ghastly crucifixion 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.000 to bear the sins 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.619 of the world 00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.899 that he was seen 00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:17.099 raised from the dead 00:21:17.099 --> 00:21:17.939 and alive again. 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.059 You see, 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:20.919 if you engage 00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:22.619 with this story 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.459 as it's written, 00:21:24.479 --> 00:21:25.359 not as legend 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:26.459 but as history, 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:28.639 you will have to 00:21:28.639 --> 00:21:29.500 confront the facts 00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:30.039 that either 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.959 this one who was born 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:34.779 became a dangerous madman 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:37.440 or he became 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.960 a pitiful lunatic 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:42.600 or he's the Lord 00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:44.319 and he's telling us 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.519 the truest truths 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.600 of the universe. 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.920 And what I want you to do 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:50.279 is go on that process 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.160 of investigation 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.480 for yourself 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:54.100 to say what the shepherds 00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:54.799 said to themselves. 00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.579 Let's go 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:57.759 and let's see this thing 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.200 and whether or not 00:21:59.200 --> 00:21:59.960 it really happened. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.160 And I'd encourage you 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.640 to just read the gospel. 00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.740 Read the gospel of Luke. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.640 You can read a chapter 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.620 a day over the next 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.460 24 days 00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.120 and be done 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:10.539 in mid-January. 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:12.519 And I'd encourage you also, 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.579 I have two books 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.960 to recommend 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:16.259 for your 12 days 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.100 of Christmas reading. 00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:17.940 One is from 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.920 a professor 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:20.279 at the University of Cambridge, 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.079 Richard Baucom. 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.380 This is a very short book 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:25.279 and it's incredibly cheap. 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.660 You could probably order it 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.559 and have it at your house 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.579 tonight, I bet. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.380 It's called 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:29.820 Jesus, 00:22:30.020 --> 00:22:31.740 A Very Short Introduction. 00:22:31.800 --> 00:22:32.360 It's phenomenal. 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.980 And this is by 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.680 Tom Wright, 00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:35.360 N.T. Wright, 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.360 the original Jesus, 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.740 the life and vision 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.460 of a revolutionary. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.840 He teaches at the 00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:41.020 University of Oxford 00:22:41.020 --> 00:22:42.440 and I commend 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:44.680 these trustworthy historians 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.480 to your reading. 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:49.340 But as we close, 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.460 I want us to not only 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.340 listen to the song 00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.900 of the angels 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:54.380 and go through 00:22:54.380 --> 00:22:56.900 a process of investigation, 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:59.100 but I'd also like 00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.900 to encourage us 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.320 to open our hearts 00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.540 to sharing 00:23:02.540 --> 00:23:03.300 and singing. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.560 To open our hearts 00:23:05.560 --> 00:23:06.140 to sharing 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:06.759 and singing. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.600 Because what did 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.519 the shepherds find? 00:23:09.780 --> 00:23:10.140 Did they, 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.340 did they see 00:23:11.340 --> 00:23:12.140 what their eyes 00:23:12.140 --> 00:23:14.620 thought they would see? 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.080 Did they, 00:23:15.280 --> 00:23:16.140 did they see 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.980 what they heard 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.360 with their ears? 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:21.099 We read in verse 16, 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:23.079 so the shepherds 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.699 hurried off 00:23:23.699 --> 00:23:24.219 and they found 00:23:24.219 --> 00:23:25.179 Mary and Joseph 00:23:25.179 --> 00:23:25.879 and the baby 00:23:25.879 --> 00:23:27.559 who was lying 00:23:27.559 --> 00:23:28.799 in the manger. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.119 They showed up 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.740 and they found 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:33.139 the King of Heaven 00:23:33.139 --> 00:23:34.859 as a powerless 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:36.019 baby 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.500 in this lowly manger. 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.819 They showed up 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.279 and they found 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.179 the light of the world 00:23:41.179 --> 00:23:42.019 descended down 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:43.439 into the darkness. 00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:44.179 They found 00:23:44.179 --> 00:23:45.979 the giver of life 00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.839 born to die, 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.660 born to come 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:50.039 into the depths 00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.700 of all of our 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.339 grinchiness 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:53.259 and God forsakenness. 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.200 What they found 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.279 when they arrived 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.039 was the Savior, 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:57.680 the Messiah, 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.200 the Lord 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.400 in the person of Jesus. 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.740 And what did they do? 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.920 What did they do 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.620 when they saw 00:24:04.620 --> 00:24:06.160 God in the flesh? 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:06.680 When they saw 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.559 the embodiment 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:09.099 of beauty 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.140 and truth 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:11.019 and goodness? 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.360 It says in verse 17 00:24:13.360 --> 00:24:14.740 that when they had seen Him, 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:16.480 they spread the word 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.500 concerning what 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.200 had been told them 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:19.079 about this child 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:21.059 and all who heard it 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.799 were amazed 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.319 at what the shepherd 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.539 said to them. 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.359 You know, 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.220 perhaps you've met 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.180 Christians 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:30.779 who are irrepressibly 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.819 and perhaps even 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.299 at times 00:24:33.299 --> 00:24:34.440 annoyingly joyful. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.079 You ever met 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.579 these people? 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:39.240 And they can't 00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.859 help themselves, 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.120 right? 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.839 They can't help 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.759 but to share 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.920 their joy 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.599 with others. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.319 Maybe you're even 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:44.959 here tonight 00:24:44.959 --> 00:24:46.359 because a family member 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.879 or a friend 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.699 just wouldn't stop 00:24:47.699 --> 00:24:48.539 pestering you 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:49.459 and bothering you 00:24:49.459 --> 00:24:50.799 to join them 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.459 for Christmas Eve 00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:52.219 and your present 00:24:52.219 --> 00:24:52.859 to them 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:54.519 is just to come 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.699 and also your hope 00:24:55.699 --> 00:24:56.399 is that they'll 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:57.399 stop asking you 00:24:57.399 --> 00:24:59.459 and stop bothering you. 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:02.139 But I want to encourage you, 00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:02.819 please don't be 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.759 too hard on them 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.459 because they're just 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:06.000 doing what the shepherds 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.259 did. 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.719 Right? 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.279 The shepherds, 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:09.179 they just can't keep 00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:09.839 the good news 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.419 to themselves. 00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.359 They want other people 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.799 to know, 00:25:11.919 --> 00:25:13.659 they want their family, 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.299 their friends, 00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:14.839 their neighbors, 00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:15.699 their co-workers, 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.939 they want the whole world 00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.759 to know 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:20.439 that what they heard 00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:22.299 and what they saw 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.299 is such good 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:24.719 and such joyful news. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.459 They just can't help 00:25:26.459 --> 00:25:27.199 but share it. 00:25:28.219 --> 00:25:29.059 And not only do they 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.859 want to share it, 00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:30.799 but they also want 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.319 to sing about it. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.319 It says in verse 20 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.579 that the shepherds 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.779 returned glorifying 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:38.079 and praising God 00:25:38.079 --> 00:25:39.000 for all the things 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.500 they had heard 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.000 and seen 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.819 which were just 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:42.379 as they had been told. 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.059 You see, 00:25:44.139 --> 00:25:44.720 they shared 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:46.200 and they sang. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.220 They witnessed 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.839 and they worshipped. 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.559 They proclaimed 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:53.200 and they praised. 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.139 They just could not 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:56.279 contain themselves. 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.099 Their souls were 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:58.460 bursting with joy 00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.899 that had to be shared 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:01.859 and had to be sung. 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:03.559 Now, 00:26:03.680 --> 00:26:04.460 I want you to know 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.279 that those shepherds 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.259 the very next day 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:07.139 had to go back 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.059 to work. 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.079 They had to go back 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.799 to their ordinary 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.899 everyday lives. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.379 They returned 00:26:12.379 --> 00:26:13.160 to their fields 00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.960 and their homes. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:14.420 They returned 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.299 to their vocations 00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.879 and their relationships. 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.220 But they were different 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:21.500 and they were changed. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.579 They went back 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.220 to their old job 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:27.079 but with a new spirit. 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.200 They went back 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.279 to their old family, 00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:33.980 perhaps dysfunctional families 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.639 like ours, 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.639 but they went back 00:26:36.639 --> 00:26:37.420 with a new heart. 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.859 Meeting the Savior, 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.539 the Messiah, 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.299 the Lord, 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:43.099 in the person of Jesus 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:45.099 changed them profoundly. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:45.519 And so, 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.599 for the rest of their lives, 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.720 they wanted simply 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:49.379 to worship God 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:51.480 along with that army 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.460 of angelic warriors 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:56.639 making as their own anthem 00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:57.899 glory to God 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.500 in the highest heaven. 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:02.160 And so, dear friends, 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:04.579 let's follow the shepherds 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.400 this Christmas. 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.680 As we enter into this 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:09.400 12-day feast of Christmas, 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.880 let's also listen 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:13.079 to the song of the angels. 00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.599 Let's also go through 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.759 a process of investigation. 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.740 And upon discovering Jesus, 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:23.759 upon encountering 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.619 this good news 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:26.059 of great joy for ourselves, 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:28.399 let's also open our hearts 00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.940 to sharing and singing, 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:32.639 to witnessing and worshiping, 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:34.539 to proclaiming and praising. 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:37.079 Friends, let's praise 00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:38.559 this Jesus tonight even 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:41.519 from a glad and a full heart. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:44.079 Let's celebrate His birth 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:46.599 over these next few weeks 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:48.079 with everything that we have 00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:48.679 to give Him. 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:51.900 And let's live as people 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:53.880 who have the glory 00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:56.000 of the Lord shining on us. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:58.600 As people who've been saved, 00:27:58.680 --> 00:28:00.460 actually, from our grinchiness. 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:02.620 As people who have been saved 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:04.240 into peace with God. 00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.420 As people who just can't 00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.960 contain their joy. 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:09.360 Because what they realize 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:11.779 is that God's favor 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.900 and God's grace 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:17.799 is resting on us. 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:20.740 So friends, 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.399 Merry Christmas. 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.259 And I want to invite you now 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.299 just to take a moment 00:28:26.299 --> 00:28:29.659 in the quiet of this night 00:28:29.659 --> 00:28:31.680 to bow your heads 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:34.680 and just close your eyes 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:36.899 and ask God 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:38.779 to draw near to you. 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.960 Ask Him to apply 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.819 His word to your heart. 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:43.759 And we'll sing together 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.379 in just a moment. 00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:45.579 Amen. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.259 See you next time. 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:51.919 Thank you. 00:28:54.159 --> 00:28:54.200 Bye.