Significance Circumstance Love/humility The End is at hand ~ Luke 2

1. Significance Circumstance Love/humility The End is at hand ~ Luke 2

2. Luke 2 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register. 4So 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. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and 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.

3. Luke 2 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” been told.

4. Luke 2 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

5. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus ~ 45 year rule, he was perhaps the greatest ruler that Rome ever had. A time of peace and prosperity in the Empire. He died in 14ad.

6. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria • His tenure in Syria is open to debate. • An official over Syria from 6-9ad. • Probably taking an enforcer role at this time.

7. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • A peasant level carpenter, probably working for the Romans at the Nazareth outpost. He was in the royal line, but that was long ago. • A man of deep and godly character who was willing to sacrifice to see the will of God done.

8. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • Mary • A peasant level young woman of deep faith and character who was willing to sacrifice to see the will of God done.

9. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • Mary • a child, a son • Jesus, referred to as “Emmanuel.” • His identity was a given, not earned nor bestowed. • He is the Story.

10. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • Mary • a child, a son • shepherds • Not men of great reputation. Known for dishonesty, laziness and theft, they were not allow to testify in court.

11. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • Mary • a child, a son • shepherds • angels • Humble messengers of the most high, they seem to rarely communicate with the exalted of the earth.

12. Luke 2 • Caesar Augustus • Quirinius, governor of Syria. • Joseph • Mary • a child, a son • shepherds • angels • Humble messengers of the most high, they seem to rarely communicate with the exalted of the earth.

13. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. Moses groomed in the land of Midian. David developed in the pasture. Joshua and Caleb ~ just a couple of spies. Any of the judges. Samuel ~ just a little kid Josiah ~ 16 year old royal revival leader Joseph

15. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. Zechariah & Elizabeth

16. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. Mary & Joseph

17. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. Mary & Joseph Shepherds, Simeon & Anna

18. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. The big guns are left out of the loop. Gentiles come from afar, but the guns miss it entirely.

19. Luke 2 In the midst of the hurry-scurry of the plans of the big guns, God quietly worksamong the “insignificant”. Do not seek significance. Seek Jesus. Dale and Becky Scruton, Insignificant people who testified to the world

20. Insignificant lives: Dale and Becky Scruton. Before Becky Scruton boarded Flight 007 in New York, she told her friend Sandy Ulbrich that she planned to share the Lord" with whoever might be sitting next to her. The remark was characteristic of Mrs. Scruton, 28, a devout Baptist, who had met her husband, Dale, in a church in Del Rio, Texas. The Scrutons' deep faith sustained them last year while Dale was dying of cancer. As his pain grew ever more excruciating, Dale and Becky prayed together. Minutes after Dale's death last December, Becky stood in his Meriden, Conn. hospital room and sang It Is Well With My Soul in a fine soprano voice which moved nurses in the room to tears. Becky's faith buoyed her through the anxieties of raising two children—Todd, 6, and Alicia, 2—alone. She prayed for strength and she put all her energy into home-making, sewing curtains and clothes, repainting the inside of her home in Meriden, stenciling Winnie-the-Pooh characters on her son's bedroom walls. But not even prayer and near-constant activity could keep the pain and loneliness at bay.

21. Insignificant lives: Dale and Becky Scruton. Six weeks ago Becky told a church friend, Debbie Somody, that she missed her parents, who were living in Seoul, South Korea, where her father worked as a civilian employee of the U.S. Army. "She really needed her mom to share those heart-to-heart talks," Somody says. So, after arranging for Todd to stay with the Ulbrichs and Alicia to stay with her in-laws, Becky Scruton took an airport limousine to Kennedy for a flight to Korea on Saturday, Aug. 27. There she found that she had neglected to bring her passport, and she booked passage on Tuesday's flight instead. "We laughed about the passport," remembers Sandy Ulbrich. "Becky said, 'I learned I needed a passport, but I know I have my passport to go to heaven.' " On Tuesday, Becky wore new jeans, a plaid blouse and white blazer to the airport. "She was real pretty, with shining strawberry blond hair," Sandy remembers. "We had one minute to spare and she hugged me and said, 'I love you'—and she did.“ People Magazine, September 18, 1983

22. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • He has performed mighty deed with his arm; • he has scattered those who are proud • in their inmost thoughts. • He has brought down rulers from their thrones • but has lifted up the humble. • Mary: Luke 1:51 & 52

23. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • The God of “circumstance” • Augustus’ rise • taxation • pregnancies • filled inns • jealous evil kings • Galatians 3:4-5 • But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

24. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • The God of “circumstance” • He is infinitely sovereign, • (though not a control freak)

25. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • The God of “circumstance” • He is infinitely sovereign, • guiding human history • to offer redemption • at infinite personal cost • to all who would seek it.

26. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • The God of “circumstance” • The God of extreme love and humility • John 1 & 3:16-18; Philippians 2

27. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” • The God of “circumstance” • The God of extreme love and humility • The God who began this and who will conclude it. • Matthew 25:31-46

28. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” ~ Don’t overlook him in the midst of the muddle. • Mary or $1,000,000

29. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” ~ Don’t overlook him in the midst of the muddle. • The God of “circumstance” ~ Perhaps he has led you to exactly where you are this morning for his loving purpose.

30. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” ~ Don’t overlook him in the midst of the muddle. • The God of “circumstance” ~ Perhaps he has led you to exactly where you are this morning for his loving purpose. • The God of extreme love and humility ~ He has literally moved heaven and earth to redeem you, paying the infinite price for our redemption. • What more should be done by God?

31. Luke 2 • The God of “insignificance” ~ Don’t overlook him in the midst of the muddle. • The God of “circumstance” ~ Perhaps he has led you to exactly where you are this morning for his loving purpose. • The God of extreme love and humility ~ He has literally moved heaven and earth to redeem you, paying the infinite price for our redemption. • The God who began this and who will conclude it. • We will not escape this destiny, incarnate in a baby boy, born in Bethlehem of Judea.