News Too Good To Keep

News Too Good to Keep

Luke 2:8-14

Introduction

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The minister stood before the congregation and said "I have bad news, I have good news, and I have more bad news.” 

• The congregation got quiet….this is never good 
• • "The bad news is: the church needs a new roof!" the minster said…the congregation groaned.
  • "The good news is: we have enough money for the new roof.”
  • • A sigh of relief was heard rippling through the gathered group.
  • "The bad new is: it’s still in your pockets”

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We love good new…don’t we?

• In fact, when we hear something that is good what do we do?
• • If no one is right there to share it with, we pick up the phone call someone.
  • • Good news has to be told!
• Contrast that with bad news…unless your just a sick person, you don’t want to hear bad news.

This mornings lesson is all about good new!

• News that is too good to keep to ourselves.
• Good new about the gospel of Christ.
• During my lesson this morning, our elders are going to present some “good news to the congregation!

GOAL - Study the importance of the “good news”

• We will define what it is and why is it good for us and others.
• Hopefully, this lesson will also pave the way for what the elders want to share with us today.

Text

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. 

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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. 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!” Luke 2:8-14

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This narrative follows the standard form found in scripture:

• There is an appearance - vs. 9
• The appearance causes fear - vs. 10-11
• It is followed be a “do not be afraid” remark - vs. 12

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The angel is bring an important message…it is called "good news”

• The information that is about what God is doing through Jesus.
• This is an awesome scene that is taking place…
• • The glory of God’s presence and the heavenly host adds to the drama of the scene.

After calming their fears the angels declare what God is doing.

• The text here refers to the announcement as “good news.”
• • This is the verbal form of the word in which we get “gospel.”
  • It literally means, and is used later in the NT, to preach the “good news.”

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Immediately after the giving of this “good news”…too good to be kept….the angels and heavenly host begin to worship God.

• “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is pleased!”
• What can be learn form this?
• • The good news is so joy producing that the only response is WORSHIP and PRIASE!

Lesson

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What is the Good News?

This is an important question for us to consider, because it is about what should be the most important to us.

• After all…it’s good news for all people!

So…what is the good news?

• It was not that God was going send a solider or military leader
• It was not that God was going send a reformer

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• He sent a Savior…why?
• To meet man’s greatest need!

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Within this good news is a message of salvation and peace! 

• This message of peace is for a world that had known war.
• • “Pax Romana” - Roman peace had been around since 27 BC, but it didn’t guarantee peace…why?
• The Jewish word (shalom) peace means more than a truce of life’s battles.
• • It means well-being, soundness, and completeness.
• Life was just as difficult back then:
• • Takes were high, unemployment was high, morals were on the decline, and guess what…the government couldn’t meet the people’s needs!
  • • THAN GOD SENT HIS SON!

Angels praised God: at the creation, and now again at this new beginning.

• The whole propose of the plan of salvation brings glory to God.
• God’s glory is now here is Jesus

**ELDER ANNOUNCEMENT**

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A Primary Task of the Church?

We are to glorify God, and we do so when we proclaim the message of “good news”

• Since the “good news” brings joy it stands to reason that we’d want to share this right?

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• Like it or not (and we should like it) we do have an obligation to introduce people to Jesus.
• • Man still have a great need and Jesus is the answer…the ONLY answer!
  • The power to that man needs is found in the “god news”

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• Romans 1:16 - "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is thepower of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

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We are the light

• We are the “light of the world” we are “the city on the hill that can’t be hidden”
• Unless we choose to hid ourselves…
• • If we fail to shine our light the light of the world will go out.
  • Let’s light the fire again, and be the “light,” be the “city,” be the people and the church God wants us to be.

Conclusion

So we have a job to do, and the elders have challenged us this morning…how will we respond?

• I have 3 suggestions for you:

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1. Preach Jesus - tell people about Him…share the hope and joy that you have!
2. Practice Jesus - love people (all people) the way He did
3. Personify Jesus - we embody, exemplify, represent Him…all the time!

This is the essence of Christians in action.

• Christians sharing their joy!
• Why…because the good news is too good to keep!