Right Time Right Place
Shepherds
December 17, 2006 AM
Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church
The whole naughty or nice thing is exaggerated at Christmas.
God sees Christmas differently - it's not about living up, its about receiving His gift, Jesus and the hope that knowing Jesus offers.
God chooses to make the first announcement of the birth of Jesus to a group of shepherds…
Shepherds - a group of people who didn't live up to the standard of those around them.
Jesus came in the midst of people. To ordinary parents, announced to ordinary people first, Jesus came and expressed His grace even in His birth.
Grace unearned acceptance.
The shepherds were selected as purposefully as Mary and Joseph.
So the question is, “Why?”
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.”
Who are the people God revealed His plan to?
all the people!
In spite of their status or level of performance they all heard from God.
“I will also make
you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the
earth.”
The shepherds were "naughty" in many people's eyes …
…And yet, God reaches
across all the barriers of society & tells them first.
God doesn't pick us because we’re "Nice" and he doesn't reject us because
we're "Naughty"
He chose "all the people" because He loves us and He invites us to come see Jesus!
“Let’s go to
Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about.”
When they had seen him… they were different!