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Call to worship: Colossians 3:12-17

Text: Luke 2:1-21

Sermon Outline:

1. The sovereignty of God in the gifted-birth of Jesus, 2:1-7
2. The saving message God attaches to Jesus' birth, 2:8-14
3. The set of faithful responses we should attach to God's Word about Jesus, 2:15-21
   • The shepherds, 2:15-17, 20
   • Mary, 2:18-19
   • Joseph and Mary, 2:21

Prepare

Questions:

1. Read Luke 2:1-21 throughout the rest of this week. As an encouragement to family worship and personal preparation, use the questions that follow:
2. In 2:1-7, Luke details how Jesus comes to be born in Bethlehem. How does this happen? Why does this happen? Read Micah 5:2-5a. Does Caesar rule the world? If not, who does? Where in Bethlehem is Jesus born? Why is this significant? What does it say about His character? How does it color His purpose in coming? What might be the benefit to us that the ruler of the world has no room in it?
3. In 2:8-14, God attaches His message to the birth of Christ. He states its significance. Is it significant? How so? What surrounds the birth announcement? What's the substance of the message? Why do you think God would give the sign He gives? Would we look for this figure in a manger?
4. In 2:15-21, we see the responses of human beings on the other side of this good news. How do the shepherds respond? What is there to imitate? How is Mary's response distinct from the rest of the crowd? Why might that be? Is there a difference between wonderment and treasuring, pondering in the heart? What are we to make of the fact that Joseph and Mary name the child what God, by way of the angel, wanted Him named? Have we named Jesus as Savior today?
5. What's the big idea in this great passage? Go beyond the Christmas season. Do you treasure Jesus the way that Heaven does and godly people, under gracious influences, should?