Message by Mike Mayfield
Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The Bethlehem Bunch – The Shepherds’ Story
8 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
A. Nomadic Workmen
B. Needful Watchmen
II. The Shepherds & Their Holy Revelation (9-12)
9 “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
A. Appearance of This Angel (9)
9 “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”
B. Assurance of This Angel (10)
10 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
C. Acquaintance of This Angel (11)
11 “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
D. Assistance of This Angel (12)
12 “And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
Luke 1:32( KJV)
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David;”
A. Words of Praise & Glory (13-14a)
B. Words of Peace & Goodness (14b)
14b “And on earth peace, good will toward men.”
A. Desire that Impassioned Them (15)
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
B. Destination that Impacted Them
16 “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”
V. The Shepherds & Their Heartfelt Proclamation
A. What they saw (17a)
17a “And when they had seen [it],”
B. What they shared (17b)
17b “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
C. What they studied (18)
18 “And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
VI. The Shepherds & Their Hearty Glorification
20 “And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
The Bethlehem Bunch – The Shepherds’ Story