Dec. 24, 2000

Luke 2:1-20

Candlelight Communion Service Message

1. Scripture Passage

1. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Luke 2:1-20 and read it together - In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to his own town to register. ⁴ 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. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
2. There are just a couple of things we’re going to focus on tonight in this story.

1. Exposition

1. First, have you ever noticed how much the emotion of fear shows up in the story of the conception and birth of Jesus? Mary was afraid when the angel appeared to her. Joseph was afraid to take Mary as his wife. The shepherds were afraid when the angel appeared to them. As a matter of fact, the Greek literally says, "and they were afraid fear great." Mary was told not to fear. Joseph was told not to fear. The shepherds were told not to fear. Why? Why not fear? Because God was in control. God was bringing the Savior to earth in the form of a baby. The word for "bring good news" is the word we translate "evangelism." The good news God tries to bring into our lives will overcome our fear if we allow Him to. The Savior is greater than our fears.
2. The second thing we are focusing on is Mary’s response to everything that happened to her. The angel appeared to Mary. I’m sure that Joseph told Mary about his angelic visitation. The shepherds told her about their angelic visitation. Mary knew that the baby in her came from God – she knew she was still a virgin when Jesus was born. Mary was a living miracle, and she had experienced many. So how did she respond to everything? Verse nineteen tells us that she kept in mind, or treasured, all the these signs, reflecting on them in her heart. She experienced God’s power and love firsthand, and instead of taking Him for granted, she reflected on all He had done.

1. Conclusion

1. As we worship here tonight, those are the two things we need to keep in mind. First, God is bigger than our fears, and we can choose to let Him overcome our fears so that we can hear His voice and do His calling. Second, we need to follow the example of Mary and keep the great things He has done for us and in us in mind and reflect on them. Following God in leading us past our fears will allow us to experience His power and love and give us something awesome to reflect on.
2. As we prepare to celebrate communion tonight, we can all stop for a moment and think of times in our lives when we’ve been afraid but have followed God anyway, and He has been able to show His power and love in our lives as a result of our obedience. Let’s reflect on what God has done for us for a moment.
3. Now let’s take a few minutes and share with someone else what God has done for you and your gratitude for it. Then come and take the bread and the juice and give them to another person. We’ll partake of them together.