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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 I'm going to finish reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke that we started

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 at the beginning of the service this morning.

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 I am aware that we had a sermon on this passage just a couple of months ago when we celebrated

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 Christmas in September, but I've just loved more and more as I've studied this, what God

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 is doing, particularly with the shepherds in this story.

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 Our text for this morning is verses 8 through 20 of Luke 2.

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 It's really their story, how Christmas and how God brings a Savior to them and it impacts

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 their hearts and their lives.

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 It's a great window into what Christmas means for people like us.

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 So notice the shepherds particularly as I read and notice how in this one day they move from

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 fear to joy.

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 Quickly, but very clearly from fear to joy.

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 Luke 2 at verse 8.

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

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 night.

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

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 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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 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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 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying,

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 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,

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 let's 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 who was lying in the manger.

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 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this 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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 Let's pray together.

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 Father, we thank you again for this familiar story.

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 We've heard it now many times probably just this Christmas season.

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 Would you write its truth on our hearts?

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 Would we know not merely that it really happened,

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 although that's a great, great joy.

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 But would we know what that means for us and for our lives.

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 Father, speak to us this morning, we ask in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 We've been talking through the Christmas season about the impact of Christmas on our hearts.

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 How the incarnation of the Son of God Himself impacts our longing and hope.

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 Our grief and comfort.

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 Our apathy and awe.

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 Last night we talked about turmoil and peace in our hearts.

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 This morning I want to see briefly, almost as briefly as last night, kids.

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 Close to a homily.

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 I want us to see how it transforms our fear.

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 Now, fear is a pretty broad term, right?

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 There are lots of things that you can be afraid of.

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 See if you can think of something that you're afraid of.

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 When I was growing up, and yeah, still today it's snakes.

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 I'm so scared of snakes.

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 Anybody else afraid of snakes?

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 Tell me I'm not the only person.

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 Okay, good.

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 But that's not the kind of fear that I'm talking about this morning.

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 There are a lot of phobias out there.

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 A lot of people had a frightful night last night because they struggle with claustrophobia and heard that he was coming.

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 All right.

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 All right.

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 Yeah, wow is right.

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 It fit into the fear sermon, you know?

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 My family is leaving right now.

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 Terrible.

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 I am definitely not talking about that kind of fear this morning.

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 The kind of fear I want us to see Christmas address in our hearts is this persistent underlying fear,

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 this feeling that we have of discomfort in relating to God,

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 and having a close relationship with Him.

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 I'll say it this way for our purposes this morning,

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 that the fear I'm talking about is living with a deep sense that God is distant, dangerous, or dissatisfied.

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 Remember, I'm talking about a feeling that you have,

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 not necessarily something you believe intellectually.

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 You may not believe any of those things about God,

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 but this is how we relate to Him.

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 What are the things in our hearts that drive us to relate to God in these ways?

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 A lot of fear.

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 Fear is where we find the shepherds in this Christmas story, right?

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 The angel appears to them, verse 9, and they are terrified.

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 Some versions say filled with great fear.

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 Or my favorite one, they were sore afraid, right?

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 They encounter this heavenly messenger, this representative of God,

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 and fear is their immediate reaction.

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 Now, of course, there are very good reasons for that.

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 I mean, put yourself in their shoes, right?

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 Here they are, not expecting anything,

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 and all of a sudden, someone shows up like nothing they have ever seen before.

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 They didn't know what to expect from or how to relate to an angel.

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 But I think there's another reason behind their fear,

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 that shepherds also knew well to be afraid of a divine representative

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 because shepherds well understood in their culture they were religious outsiders.

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 They were unclean, unreliable, unavailable for religious matters.

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 Because of their crazy work schedules and the fact that they were often ceremonially unclean

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 from touching dead things or from the animals they were around,

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 they were usually absent from all things churchy, from religious stuff.

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 They were despised in the community, thought of as thieves and so mistrusted by others

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 they didn't even qualify as legal witnesses.

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 Of course they were afraid about what God thought about them, right?

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 What He might do to them when they encounter Him.

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 How do you relate to God?

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 Let's be clear as we start to talk about fear.

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 There's an appropriate fear of God, isn't there?

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 The Bible talks about living with the fear of God,

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 having a reverence and an awe before Him,

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 before His holiness and His glory bowing before Him and living that way.

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 It's like Isaiah, when we get a glimpse of God,

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 we should be reminded of our unworthiness

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 and that His purity should rightly make us just disintegrate into ashes before Him.

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 He's that holy and we're that unworthy.

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 But we also have an inappropriate fear of God in our hearts

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 that causes us to have unhealthy ways of relating to God.

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 For some of us, we have like the shepherds,

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 what I'll call the fear of the unknown.

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 We keep our distance from God as though He's some distant relative

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 that we never know what to expect from and we don't really trust.

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 Having a relationship with God is,

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 we don't even know what that would be like or feel like.

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 We've heard some things about Him, but we don't really know Him.

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 It's why we keep our distance from reading the Bible or praying much.

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 It seems too close to God.

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 Exposing my heart to Him just doesn't feel normal or right.

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 Maybe you can relate to that in your relationship with God.

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 For others of us, we live with this underlying feeling

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 that God is a cosmic hall monitor.

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 That He's always on the lookout for us to slip up.

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 To fail Him in some small way that He can get us back for

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 and balance the scales all the time

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 because that's what He's always doing.

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 I was volunteering in my daughter's first grade class a few weeks ago

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 and the teacher left the room for a few minutes

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 and she left one student in charge of the classroom.

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 He was in charge of watching all the other students

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 to make sure no one talked or got out of line

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 and he stood at the front with a dry erase marker

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 to write the name of any kid who spoke on the board.

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 I gotta tell you, I hadn't had that feeling since I was in school.

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 I was genuinely afraid He was gonna write my name on the board

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 and she was gonna come back in and think,

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 well, what did Mr. Spink do while I was gone?

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 That fear that there's someone watching,

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 that God sees everything and He's gonna catch you

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 when you mess up.

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 That He's gonna get you back.

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 Sometimes we live as though God is dangerous.

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 That He's out to get us.

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 He's really gonna make us feel it if we mess up.

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 And so we're just tightly wound all the time.

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 We're playing it safe.

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 In sports terms, you would call it playing not to lose.

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 I mean, you've got the lead, right?

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 You're supposed to be going to heaven.

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 Just play it safe and don't blow it.

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 As long as you don't mess it up enough,

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 you'll make it through and you'll get into heaven in the end.

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 Play it safe or else.

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 The final way this shows up in my life

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 is when serving God begins to feel like a drag.

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 One more sermon to write this week.

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 Another conference to attend, really?

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 Saturday?

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 I bet they're gonna want me to come back for church

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 on Christmas Day.

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 Golly.

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 Small group?

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 I did that years ago.

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 Jobs for life?

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 Nice idea, but who really has time for that kind of stuff?

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 I'm exhausted.

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 I'm worn out.

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 This unhealthy way of relating to God

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 is very prevalent among the most committed church members.

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 And it's hard to see in our lives

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 because we're doing so many godly things

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 that it seems like we've got a wonderful relationship with God,

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 but inside is this gnawing fear

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 that perhaps we're not doing quite enough.

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 We haven't done enough to wow God,

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 to impress Him.

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 It's like He's an Olympic judge

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 and He hasn't seen quite enough fantastic stuff

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 to give us that ten we want.

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 I mean, we're pretty good,

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 but we haven't impressed Him yet.

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 And the result of that is that serving God becomes drudgery

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 and leads to exhaustion.

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 I've always got to do more.

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 Could you see the shepherds feeling some of that kind of fear?

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 Based on their likely lack of religious awards

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 and recognition they had received?

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 An unhealthy fear of God

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 that leaves me cold and distant from Him.

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 Often tired.

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 Rarely joyful.

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 Does that describe you sometimes?

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 We all can slip into those feelings.

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 Even if it's not what we say we believe about God,

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 that He's distant or dangerous or dissatisfied.

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 We felt the drudgery,

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 the lack of joy,

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 the distance from God lately.

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 Often that comes from fear.

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 An aspect of fear in our hearts.

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 Well, the angel speaks into that terrified bunch of shepherds

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 the first Christmas

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 and he says to these very fearful shepherds,

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 fear not.

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 Verse 10, right?

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 The angel said to them,

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 Do not be afraid.

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 I bring you good news of great joy

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 that will be for all the people.

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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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 Fearful people,

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 fear not.

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 Something is happening

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 that must transform your fear.

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 That makes something different.

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 Jesus comes to change the way we relate to God.

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 That these unhealthy, fear-driven approaches

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 would be replaced with joyful relationship.

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 Good news of great joy.

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 See, joy is, as we said with the kids,

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 not something you can open in a present, right?

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 Even an empty one, apparently.

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 It's not happiness.

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 It's not merely warm feelings

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 and positive vibes from life's circumstances.

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 No, joy, biblically, is a deep sense

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 that God is near,

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 safe,

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 and satisfied.

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 See, joy is relational.

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 Just like fear.

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 Having a deep sense of joy

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 comes from relating differently

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 to your Creator.

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 It's a relationship thing.

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 The message of Christmas,

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 the announcement of the angels

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 to the shepherds,

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 is that there's a change

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 in their relationship with God.

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 The angel says it this way.

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 Look at verse 11 again.

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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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 Christ the Lord.

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 God has come to be born

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 to be your Savior.

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 Notice what that means

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 for our relationship with God.

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 What God has done

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 to change our relationship with Him.

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 He's not distant.

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 He has come near.

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 This is Emmanuel,

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 God with us,

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 who insists on nothing

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 keeping Him from us.

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 He wants you to know Him,

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 to draw close to Him,

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 to share your heart with Him.

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 A Savior has been born to you.

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 God has become man.

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 He's come near.

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 Secondly, He's not dangerous,

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 out to harm you.

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 He's safe.

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 He comes to rescue you

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 and do you good.

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 I know some of my fellow C.S. Lewis fans

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 will be bothered

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 by God being called safe.

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 He's not safe.

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 He's good.

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 He's not a tame lion.

00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:49.320
 Listen,

00:15:49.820 --> 00:15:51.340
 what I mean by safe

00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:54.120
 is that He's safe to trust.

00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:56.759
 That He loves you

00:15:56.759 --> 00:16:00.159
 and has your best interest at heart.

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.040
 John writes in John 3, 17

00:16:03.040 --> 00:16:05.139
 that God sent His only begotten Son

00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.800
 into the world

00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:07.940
 not to condemn the world,

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:11.200
 not to catch you doing something wrong

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.200
 so He can get you,

00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:14.180
 so that He can get back at you

00:16:14.180 --> 00:16:15.259
 and even things out.

00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:16.080
 But why?

00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.860
 He sent His Son in the world

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:20.860
 to save the world,

00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:23.700
 to rescue you

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.360
 in your mess.

00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:28.240
 He wasn't trying to catch you making it.

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.920
 He wanted to rescue you

00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:31.060
 in the midst of it.

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.320
 That's grace.

00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:36.500
 That's God's heart toward you.

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:39.840
 Finally,

00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.980
 in Jesus,

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.080
 God

00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:43.779
 is satisfied.

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.600
 The need to perform

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.299
 your way

00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:48.720
 into His good graces

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.120
 is over.

00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:51.980
 Jesus has done it

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.120
 and He now

00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.259
 dignifies you

00:16:54.259 --> 00:16:55.799
 with the abundant life

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:57.240
 full and free,

00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.759
 finally living the way

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.720
 God designed you

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.200
 to live in the first place

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.460
 without the fear

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.539
 of His disappointment.

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.859
 free,

00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:06.960
 full of joy

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.240
 knowing your Father

00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.559
 is smiling on you

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:11.299
 regardless of your performance

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.779
 because of Jesus.

00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:15.460
 Do you hear why

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.440
 the writers of Scripture

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.859
 say our salvation

00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.519
 produces

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:20.240
 an inexpressible

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:22.339
 and glorious joy?

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.220
 That's the result

00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.240
 of what God does

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.180
 in fixing our relationship

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:27.680
 with Him.

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.420
 He gives us

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.839
 an entirely new relationship

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.379
 from the one

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:32.059
 we naturally have.

00:17:32.059 --> 00:17:33.879
 free and full

00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:35.419
 relationship with God

00:17:35.419 --> 00:17:36.619
 of new approach

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.720
 to all of life.

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.000
 There's no more

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.940
 distant relative.

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.339
 No more cosmic

00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:43.319
 hall monitor.

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.500
 No more frowning

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.779
 Olympic judge.

00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.599
 We have a loving

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:50.599
 heavenly Father.

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.619
 This is why grace

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:55.559
 produces joyful obedience

00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:57.639
 rather than drudgery

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:59.839
 in relationship with God.

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:01.059
 No more fear

00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:02.799
 of God's critical eye

00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.159
 having to be appeased

00:18:04.159 --> 00:18:05.859
 by a perfect performance.

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.139
 Instead,

00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.439
 delighting in the

00:18:08.439 --> 00:18:09.959
 light burden

00:18:09.959 --> 00:18:10.839
 that is ours.

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:11.819
 Following a Savior

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:12.879
 who has come

00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:13.480
 and performed

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.379
 perfectly in our place

00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:16.899
 brought us into

00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:17.859
 an entirely new

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.539
 relationship

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.019
 with God.

00:18:20.699 --> 00:18:21.879
 That's what a Savior

00:18:21.879 --> 00:18:22.839
 means.

00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.539
 What it would have meant

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.500
 to the shepherds.

00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.539
 Look at the change

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:25.839
 they experience

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.639
 when they see

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.620
 the Savior.

00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.340
 Verse 17.

00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:31.420
 When they'd seen Him

00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:32.500
 they spread the word

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.540
 concerning what had

00:18:33.540 --> 00:18:34.120
 been told them

00:18:34.120 --> 00:18:34.940
 about this child

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:35.780
 and all who heard it

00:18:35.780 --> 00:18:36.400
 were amazed

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.240
 at what the shepherds

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.820
 said to them.

00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.540
 Verse 20.

00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:40.259
 The shepherds returned

00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.600
 glorifying and

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.440
 praising God

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.400
 for all the things

00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:44.480
 they'd heard and seen

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.740
 which were just

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.240
 as they had been told.

00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:49.000
 How did they go

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:50.620
 from fearful

00:18:50.620 --> 00:18:51.640
 outcasts

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.780
 to those who are

00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:54.740
 praising and

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.100
 rejoicing in God

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.940
 and telling everybody

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.500
 about Him

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.539
 and talking with people

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.440
 about this God.

00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.019
 What changed

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.900
 the shepherds?

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.000
 It was that they heard

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.140
 and saw

00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:06.640
 a Savior.

00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:08.500
 It's that simple.

00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:10.100
 That's all that happens

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:11.039
 in between.

00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:12.559
 They hear there's a Savior

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.240
 they go see the Savior

00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.120
 and they're changed.

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.759
 They let go of their fear.

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:20.180
 They don't cower

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.400
 before God anymore.

00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:22.860
 Now they praise Him

00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:23.759
 and rejoice

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:25.019
 in Him.

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:27.440
 This change

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.799
 is portrayed

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.519
 subtly

00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.680
 but beautifully

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:32.740
 in a TV special

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.700
 you may have seen

00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:34.319
 recently

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.180
 called

00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:36.139
 Charlie Brown's

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:36.500
 Christmas.

00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.240
 If you're not

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.819
 a Peanuts aficionado

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:41.099
 Linus

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.160
 is a character.

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:42.859
 Linus

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.839
 is known

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.559
 for always

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.660
 having his blanket

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:46.759
 with him.

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:47.819
 He's somewhat

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.519
 of a fearful

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.400
 character

00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.680
 in the comic.

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:53.180
 he's not able

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:53.840
 to go anywhere

00:19:53.840 --> 00:19:54.580
 without that

00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:56.380
 security blanket.

00:19:57.320 --> 00:19:58.560
 Recently social media

00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.320
 has noticed

00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:00.160
 something about

00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:00.680
 Linus

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.400
 and his blanket

00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:02.759
 on this special.

00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:03.480
 I want to show you

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.460
 a short clip.

00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.560
 Watch the blue blanket

00:20:06.560 --> 00:20:07.279
 carefully.

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:11.320
 Isn't there anyone

00:20:11.320 --> 00:20:12.180
 who knows

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.700
 what Christmas

00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.660
 is all about?

00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.680
 Sure Charlie Brown

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.460
 I can tell you

00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:16.940
 what Christmas

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.740
 is all about.

00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:25.519
 Lights please.

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.660
 And there were

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.700
 in the same country

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.420
 shepherds

00:20:31.420 --> 00:20:32.599
 abiding in the field

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:33.460
 keeping watch

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.200
 over their flock

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:34.740
 by night

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.519
 and lo

00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.180
 the angel

00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.720
 of the Lord

00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:37.539
 came upon them

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.759
 and the glory

00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.319
 of the Lord

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.460
 shone round about them

00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.539
 and they were

00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.299
 sore afraid

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.120
 and the angel

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.960
 said unto them

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.620
 fear not

00:20:44.620 --> 00:20:46.160
 for behold

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.819
 I bring you

00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.059
 tidings of great joy

00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.919
 which shall be

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.639
 to all people

00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.939
 for unto you

00:20:50.939 --> 00:20:52.079
 is born this day

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.099
 in the city of David

00:20:53.099 --> 00:20:54.359
 a savior

00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:55.859
 which is Christ the Lord

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.339
 and this shall be

00:20:57.339 --> 00:20:58.379
 a sign unto you

00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.779
 you shall find

00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.460
 the babe wrapped

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.659
 in swaddling clothes

00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.819
 lying in a manger

00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:04.259
 and suddenly

00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.379
 there was with the angel

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.299
 a multitude

00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.480
 of the heavenly host

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.299
 praising God

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.519
 and saying

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.740
 glory to God

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:11.439
 in the highest

00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:12.639
 and on earth

00:21:12.639 --> 00:21:13.059
 peace

00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:14.700
 good will toward men

00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:26.160
 that's what Christmas

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.920
 is all about

00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.519
 Charlie Brown

00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:31.759
 that's what Christmas

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.519
 is all about

00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.980
 I know you know

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:34.559
 what Christmas

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.700
 is all about

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.120
 did you notice

00:21:37.120 --> 00:21:37.559
 the blanket

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:39.319
 did you notice

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.799
 when he says

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:40.700
 do not fear

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.519
 what he's able

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.200
 to let go of

00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.779
 what the angels

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.700
 have announced

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:48.299
 what the shepherds

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:48.860
 witnessed

00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:49.380
 is something

00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.240
 that allows us

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:51.920
 to let go

00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.819
 of our fears

00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:54.799
 you may know that

00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.980
 but have you actually

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.620
 dropped

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:58.100
 your blanket

00:21:58.100 --> 00:22:00.340
 have you let go

00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:01.799
 of other things

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:03.019
 that you'd find

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:04.480
 security in

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.440
 in order to cling

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.660
 to Jesus

00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:09.279
 has the truth

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.299
 the angels announced

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.360
 enabled you

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.019
 to let go

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.639
 of fearful

00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:13.479
 ways of

00:22:13.479 --> 00:22:14.899
 relating to God

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.979
 and experience

00:22:15.979 --> 00:22:17.619
 the deep joy

00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.359
 of being

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:20.079
 his beloved

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.659
 child

00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:24.279
 what does it mean

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.159
 to you

00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:27.199
 to have a savior

00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:29.240
 that's the question

00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.919
 I want you to

00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.799
 consider

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.719
 as we close

00:22:31.719 --> 00:22:32.319
 this morning

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.379
 what does a savior

00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.099
 change

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.799
 in your

00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.179
 heart

00:22:37.179 --> 00:22:38.699
 and life

00:22:38.699 --> 00:22:39.819
 we're celebrating

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.500
 him today

00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:41.119
 right

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:42.500
 what difference

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.980
 does it make

00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.240
 for you

00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.839
 I really want you

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.559
 to write something

00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:46.680
 or something's

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.460
 down

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:49.140
 on your bulletin

00:22:49.140 --> 00:22:50.740
 what does a savior

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.339
 mean

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.779
 to you

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:54.619
 what's the difference

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.640
 in your life

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.880
 I'll prime the pump

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.240
 for you

00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.700
 while you're

00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.740
 thinking

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:02.779
 it's good news

00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:03.480
 of great joy

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.339
 for all people

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.240
 so that includes

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.079
 you and me

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.420
 right

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.799
 changes something

00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.680
 for us

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.759
 so the fact

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.320
 that you have

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:10.799
 a savior

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.840
 means all

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.380
 these things

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:13.320
 it means you

00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:13.779
 will never

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:14.700
 be completely

00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:15.360
 alone

00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:17.220
 because God

00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.180
 is with us

00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.980
 you will never

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:21.039
 face the fires

00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.560
 of hell

00:23:21.560 --> 00:23:22.539
 for your sin

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.360
 never

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:26.660
 it means no

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.539
 failure in your

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.240
 life will

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.460
 cost you

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.060
 God's

00:23:30.060 --> 00:23:30.660
 smile

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:32.460
 no sin

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:33.060
 you commit

00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:33.560
 can make

00:23:33.560 --> 00:23:34.480
 God stop

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.680
 loving you

00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.340
 it means

00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:38.860
 there's nothing

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.500
 you lack

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.960
 for being

00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.440
 welcomed

00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:41.460
 into God's

00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.019
 family

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:43.940
 it means

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.519
 you're assured

00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.299
 of life

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.720
 full and free

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.320
 the way God

00:23:47.320 --> 00:23:48.120
 created and

00:23:48.120 --> 00:23:49.060
 designed you

00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:50.380
 to live

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:52.120
 can you believe

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.860
 that all of

00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:53.380
 those things

00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:54.279
 and many

00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.940
 many more

00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:55.940
 are true

00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.320
 all of that

00:23:57.320 --> 00:23:57.799
 because of

00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.259
 Christmas

00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.740
 because a savior

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.080
 has been born

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:02.779
 born to you

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:06.399
 write something

00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:06.879
 in your own

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:07.240
 words

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.480
 what difference

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.240
 does it make

00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.259
 in your life

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.179
 that you

00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:13.339
 have a savior

00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:15.980
 I don't know

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.500
 how you feel

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.960
 this morning

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.559
 but I can

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.059
 assure you

00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:18.439
 you're not

00:24:18.439 --> 00:24:19.099
 worse off

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.059
 or more

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:20.500
 fearful

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.039
 than those

00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.519
 shepherds

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.279
 on the hillside

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.779
 that night

00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.579
 who started

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.099
 fearful

00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.119
 and ended

00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.879
 joyful

00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:27.699
 all because

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:28.939
 of seeing

00:24:28.939 --> 00:24:29.480
 Jesus

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.879
 Jesus

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:31.020
 can do that

00:24:31.020 --> 00:24:31.860
 for you

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.580
 too

00:24:32.580 --> 00:24:33.620
 and you can

00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.320
 know the joy

00:24:34.320 --> 00:24:35.260
 of life

00:24:35.260 --> 00:24:36.000
 lived with

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.940
 nothing

00:24:36.940 --> 00:24:38.260
 to lose

00:24:38.260 --> 00:24:39.160
 nothing to

00:24:39.160 --> 00:24:39.700
 protect

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.680
 nothing to

00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:41.160
 hide

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:42.240
 nothing to

00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:42.780
 fear

00:24:42.780 --> 00:24:44.580
 because you're

00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:45.040
 a beloved

00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:46.040
 child of the

00:24:46.040 --> 00:24:46.880
 king of the

00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:47.320
 universe

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:48.140
 dancing

00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:49.160
 and preaching

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:50.020
 and playing

00:24:50.020 --> 00:24:51.120
 and sacrificing

00:24:51.120 --> 00:24:52.140
 and serving

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:54.360
 all freely

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:56.100
 and knowing

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.760
 that he's

00:24:56.760 --> 00:24:57.340
 smiling

00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.860
 having the

00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.460
 comfort of

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.079
 your father's

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.579
 smile

00:25:00.579 --> 00:25:01.079
 and his

00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:01.860
 perfect care

00:25:01.860 --> 00:25:02.400
 for you

00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.340
 if that were

00:25:03.340 --> 00:25:04.100
 really true

00:25:04.100 --> 00:25:04.840
 what might

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.319
 you do

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:05.779
 if you could

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.480
 really live

00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.180
 like that

00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:07.900
 what might

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.640
 you try

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.140
 if you had

00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:09.759
 that kind

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.579
 of comfort

00:25:10.579 --> 00:25:11.640
 and joy

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:13.220
 there's

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.920
 Christmas dinner

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.600
 conversation

00:25:14.600 --> 00:25:15.220
 for you

00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:16.720
 kids let me

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.200
 say it this

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.880
 way to you

00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.600
 you can write

00:25:19.600 --> 00:25:20.120
 what having

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.559
 a savior

00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.620
 means to you

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.960
 in your own

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.400
 words

00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:25.500
 doesn't have

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.160
 to be long

00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:27.440
 Christmas

00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.160
 Jesus your

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.019
 savior being

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:31.200
 born for

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.620
 you means

00:25:32.620 --> 00:25:33.779
 God loves

00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.259
 you even

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.820
 when you have

00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.500
 a bad day

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.460
 even when

00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:38.920
 you're bad

00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:40.840
 having a

00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.860
 savior means

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:43.980
 you never

00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:46.320
 ever have

00:25:46.320 --> 00:25:47.060
 to be scared

00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:47.920
 of God

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:49.759
 he loves

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.019
 you

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.759
 you can

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.840
 trust him

00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:54.319
 kids having

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.839
 a savior

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.699
 means that

00:25:55.699 --> 00:25:56.539
 that no matter

00:25:56.539 --> 00:25:57.759
 how great a day

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.259
 it is and this

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.779
 might be a

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.720
 great day

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.599
 for many of you

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.779
 that your best

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:03.480
 day is always

00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.299
 ahead of you

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:05.199
 there's always

00:26:05.199 --> 00:26:05.980
 a best day

00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.000
 coming in the

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.659
 future when

00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.699
 when God makes

00:26:08.699 --> 00:26:09.859
 everything right

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.379
 the way it

00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.019
 should be

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.779
 that's something

00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.480
 to be excited

00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:13.839
 about

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.859
 no matter what

00:26:14.859 --> 00:26:15.799
 gifts you get

00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.899
 or don't get

00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:17.939
 today

00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:20.459
 you have an

00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:21.419
 incredible gift

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.680
 a savior

00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.759
 who's been

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.340
 born to you

00:26:24.340 --> 00:26:25.240
 a wonderful

00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.759
 wonderful savior

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.080
 amen

00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:28.400
 let's pray

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:31.880
 father thank you

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:32.539
 for that gift

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:34.140
 thank you for

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.720
 our savior

00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.960
 may our

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.539
 hearts

00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.400
 rejoice

00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:40.060
 that we

00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:40.519
 have a

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:40.920
 father

00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:43.180
 that we

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.120
 live in his

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.920
 presence and

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:45.500
 under his

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.080
 smile

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:47.180
 and that that

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.580
 will never

00:26:47.580 --> 00:26:48.380
 change

00:26:48.380 --> 00:26:50.380
 we know

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:50.800
 that's only

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.599
 possible not

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.079
 because of

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.419
 who we

00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:52.740
 are but

00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.200
 because of

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.680
 who Jesus

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:55.059
 is and

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.559
 how much he

00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.180
 loves us

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:58.059
 give us great

00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.919
 joy in that

00:26:58.919 --> 00:26:59.700
 today and

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.839
 always we

00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.480
 ask in his

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.799
 name

00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.339
 amen

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:08.019
 for more

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.539
 information

00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.339
 visit us

00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:09.839
 online

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.220
 at

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.139
 southwood.org

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:14.100
 what year

00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:22.580
 use

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:22.620
 virginia

00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.160
 always

00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.960
ções

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.520
 they're

00:27:24.520 --> 00:27:25.340
 of