Sermon Calling Messengers (Luke 2:8-20) by Hengki Wijaya

Christmas was coming, the real story was retold about the birth of Jesus the Savior of the world. Let’s see the other side of the birth of Jesus that teaches about God’s mission as the birth of Jesus and subjects of interest for believers today? Let's learn from Luke 2: 8-20 briefly about the mission of the message that I am giving the title, “Calling the messengers.” In the Gospel of Luke, the author tells about the angel of the Lord bringing good news to the shepherds. It is interesting to remember that the Messenger of God in heaven came to bring God’s message to the shepherds.

In this story God sent an angel from heaven to bring the message, the good news, to the shepherds who were watching their sheep in the fields. The Glory of the Lord shone around the angel as he delivered the message: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (verse 10-12)

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After the angel of the Lord said this, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (verse 14).

The good news from the angel of Lord was responded to by the shepherds. Heaven rejoiced with the shepherds.   

What are they doing? They found the Savior as proclaimed to them.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them (verse 17-18).

Secondly, What is the mission message that can be learned and done for believers today?

The shepherds had become messengers on earth with the good news they had received from the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord called shepherds to be messengers to bring the good news. The message stays the same until today that Jesus the Savior and Jesus is Christ the Lord. It is very important to answer why God had become man because the ultimate goal is to be the Savior of the world and be the Lord of our lives as believers.

  

Third, how is the attitude of the believer in telling the good news?

The bible said: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Bringing good news to unbelievers, that is our responsibility. Believers should have an attitude of joy, and peace, praise and glorify God for bringing this good news. Not with murmuring, force or just the routine of being called Christian.

Jesus said “Peace be with you, as Father sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21).

And why should God send an angel of the Lord to proclaim the good news to the shepherds and not to others?

Jesus is our shepherd and we are His lambs. We are shepherds that bring good news to the world (John 10:14-15). And believers are shepherds for His lambs. Shepherds have become messengers to bring the good news message. As believers, it is our responsibility who have been saved to become messengers for a sinful world and calling other messengers to bring good news.

Now, I ask everyone in this room who have been called to be messengers – we have heard and seen the good news that was proclaimed by the shepherds in this story. We have experienced it ourselves. We also are like the shepherds who have been given a message.

Are you and I, who have heard the good news, are we willing to be sent and call other messenger to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in  a saving God?

Lets pray.

Our Lord, we have heard your Word and the good news that we believe in You, but it is not enough for us because we have to be responsible to be messengers to proclaim good news to call the other messengers to proclaim the good news. Help us take our part in Thee. Amen.