Celebrating the Savior's Birth

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Celebrating the Savior's Birth

• December 23

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Think About It

• When you think about uncomfortable travel, what
  personal experiences do you recall?
• Today we look at a young couple who
• - traveled a long way
• - she was very pregnant ended up delivering at
  their destination
• - had no reservations when they arrived

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Listen for atypical conditions for the birth of
a baby.

• Luke 24-7 (NIV) 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.

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Listen for atypical conditions for the birth of
a baby.

• 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.

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Appreciate the Challenging Circumstances

• Several elements of the story are extraordinary
  for birthing a baby. What unusual things do
  you see?
• How can the way Mary managed her challenges help
  us to handle our difficulties?

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Appreciate the Challenging Circumstances

• What specific actions of or interventions by God
  do you see in this story?
• Why would it have been hard to see God at work
  while they were in the midst of these events?

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Appreciate the Challenging Circumstances

• For each of the situations below, how might God
  be at work?
• Loss of a job
• Delayed by a flat tire
• Meet an old high school classmate
• Busy church worker moves away
• New family moves into the neighborhood

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Listen for specific directions given to the
shepherds.

• Luke 28-12 (NIV) 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,

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Listen for specific directions given to the
shepherds.

• "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."

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Tell the Good News

• Why do you think God would bring the news of the
  Messiahs birth first to shepherds?
• What specific information were the shepherds
  given?

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Tell the Good News

• The shepherds received a personal announcement
  about Jesus. How can we make Christmas personal
  to those around us?
• What can we do to keep from losing the great joy
  of this good news in all our holiday rush?
• What kind of wonderful news causes you to rush to
  tell someone else?

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Listen for the specific response of the shepherds
to the events of that night.

• Luke 216-20 (NIV) 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

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Listen for the specific response of the shepherds
to the events of that night.

• 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.

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Praise God for Sending the Savior

• How did the shepherds respond to what they had
  seen and heard?
• What specific things do you think they said as
  they glorified and praised God?
• How did Mary respond to all these events the
  trip, the smelly stable, the birthing of her
  first child?

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Praise God for Sending the Savior

• What specific things do you think went through
  her mind as she pondered?
• We see here both outward enthusiasm and inward
  reflection what is the value of each?

Outward Enthusiasm Inward Reflection

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Application

• Think of some creative ways in which you can
  honor Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this
  year
• We saw the example of both outward enthusiasm and
  inward reflection. Try to do some of both this
  year .
• Remember how Mary and Joseph responded to their
  challenging circumstances

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Celebrating the Savior's Birth

• December 23