Advent | Joy | Pastor Scott
Luke 2: 8-11
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:12-15
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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
among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:16-20
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
“The empire has good news. God has better news.”
Euangelion (Good News)
The announcement of a victory in battle
The proclamation of a new king
The birth or ascension of an emperor
Location: Bethelem, not Rome
Audience: shepherds, not elites
Content: baby, not conquest
What is Luke trying to say? Luke Emphasizes the lowly, the marginalized, and the overlooked
The Kingdom begins where no one is looking.
Barren elderly couple (Zechariah & Elizabeth)
A teenage girl (Mary)
An out-of-the-way town (Nazareth)
Shepherds, the least likely witnesses in society
What is Luke trying to say?
Luke emphasizes the lowly, the marginalized, and the overlooked
Luke highlights Joy as a dominant theme
Joy is the atmosphere of the kingdom.
Elizabeth rejoices
Mary magnifies
Zechariah prophesies
Angels proclaim great joy
Shepherds return praising
What is Luke trying to say?
Luke emphasizes the lowly, the marginalized, and the overlooked
Luke highlights Joy as a dominant theme
Luke shows a God who moves toward humanity
Luke reveals a God who initiates and breaks through to our reality.
Angels come to fields
The Spirit fills Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon
Heaven breaks into ordinary spaces
What is Luke trying to say?
Luke emphasizes the lowly, the marginalized, and the overlooked
Luke highlights Joy as a dominant theme
Luke shows a God who moves toward humanity
Luke writes with Gentiles in mind (A “For Everyone” Gospel)
Lukes Advent/Christmas account is for the whole world.
Global salvation
Israel’s story is widening to include all nations
“A light for revelation to the Gentiles…” (Luke 2:32)
What is Luke trying to say?
Luke emphasizes the lowly, the marginalized, and the overlooked
Luke highlights Joy as a dominant theme
Luke shows a God who moves toward humanity
Luke writes with Gentiles in mind (A “For Everyone” Gospel)
Luke’s account mirrors Old Testament patterns
God is continuing the story, not starting a new one.
Barren woman
Angelic announcement
Miraculous child
Prophetic destiny
THink aBout iT!
1. If joy came to shepherds, it can come to you.
2. God still breaks into ordinary places.
3. God’s kingdom moves toward the world, not away from it.
4. Your story is part of something ancient and global.
5. JOY is the natural overflow of encountering Jesus.
Everyone in Luke’s story responds to Jesus:
by worship, by proclamation, or by transformation
