Simple Christmas: Good News That's Simple

Key Bible Verses

• Luke 2:8-20

Sermon Quotes

From Pastor Josh Laxton

“A Simple Christmas will Supernaturally Change YOU!”

“God sends an angel to get the shepherd's attention because He’s wanting to do something for them.”

“The good news that brings great joy would be a baby, Jesus Christ, who has come to rescue, deliver and redeem you from your unworthiness, uncleanness, messiness, dirtiness, shame and sin.”

“The only way to get GOD is to give Him GLORY.”

“When Praise ascends, Peace descends.”

“You’ll never see the glory of God unless you leave the ways of the world. Turn your back to the world and turn your face to Christ.”

“The shepherds wanted to leave to see Jesus. Nothing else mattered.”

DIGGING DEEPER

During the Simple Christmas series we have seen God bring the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ to many different people. These people included wise men, priests and religious leaders, King Herod, Mary who was a humble peasant woman, and the shepherds who were out in their fields keeping watch over their flocks.  

Each of the people who heard the good news about Jesus' birth reacted differently.

On the negative side, King Herod heard the news from the wise men and wanted to destroy the baby because he felt threatened by the newborn king. The priests and religious leaders of Israel were indifferent. They felt secure in their religiosity and therefore felt they did not need to seek out a King sent by God for the salvation of the people.

There were many people, however, who made huge positive life adjustments after hearing about the birth of the baby Jesus.  

The wise men set out on a long, arduous journey from the East, following the star to find the newborn king. They learned where the baby was to be born and they continued their journey searching until they found him. Once they found the baby Jesus, they worshiped him and gave him gifts. 

Mary was told by an angel that she would be the mother of the Savior of the world. In her prayer in Luke 1:46-55, Mary shares, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of the Almighty’s servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is God’s name. God’s mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation. God has shown strength with His arm; God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. God has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of God’s mercy, according to the promise God made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”  

Additionally, we see in Luke 2:8-20 that the shepherds also had an angelic visitation. They were watching and guarding their flocks as they did every night. On this one special night, they experienced great fear and were terrified when an angel delivered a message to them. The angel reassured the shepherds that he was bringing “good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Then, “suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”  

The shepherds conferred, once the angels departed, and decided to leave everything and adjust their lives. What did they leave? They left their flocks and went and found Mary and Joseph and the baby in Bethlehem. Once they found the baby, their lives were changed in a supernatural and transforming way. They glorified and praised God and spread the good news about what they had seen, heard and learned.  

Just like the people we have learned about in the Simple Christmas series, we have heard the good news about the birth of the baby Jesus.  How will we react to what we have learned? With God’s grace, may we follow in the steps of the wise men, Mary and the shepherds, as their lives were forever changed and transformed by the baby Jesus who was born in the manger in Bethlehem.

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WHAT NOT TO MISS

Many of our lives become messed up, broken and fragile because we failed at following the simple instructions that begin with making room for the most important gift and guide in life Jesus!

In the Simple Christmas Series:

• We looked at why we should slow down for this season so we don’t miss its reason.
• We looked at how God can simplify a complicated life—even if He’s allowed or added complexity.
• We looked at how Christmas time is a simple sign pointing people to the world of wonder.
• We looked at how to experience a simple Christmas which requires a simple faith.

A Simple Christmas will Supernaturally Change YOU!

The 6 Steps to having a Simple Christmas that will leave you Supernaturally Changed:

Step 1: Pay attention to what God is doing. (Luke 2:9)

• God sends an angel to the shepherds to get their attention because he's wanting to do something for them.
• Our "always on" world vies for our attention and makes it difficult for us to pay attention.
• We need to wake up and pay attention to what God is wanting to do in our lives.

Step 2: Receive personally the Good news message. (Luke 2:10-11)

• The personal news is good news that will bring great joy.
• The personal good news is about a Messianic Savior.
• The personal good news has a sign that points to deeper truths.

Step 3: Follow the sign that embodies the good news message. (Luke 2:12)

What is the sign?

A Baby

• Babies are vulnerable and helpless.
• They need to survive.
• The world is in desperate need of help.
• God sent Jesus to save a helpless and hopeless world.

Wrapped in clothes

• Wrapped (swaddled) for warmth,comfort, and security.
• Allows the baby to rest peacefully without startling themselves.
• Jesus came not only to give us hope and help but to swaddle us in the love of God.
• To bring peace to our restless heart; to secure us in the midst of danger;to clothe us in His righteousness where we are no longer exposed.

Lying in a manger

• The baby would be found in a feeding trough—a manger.
• A manger is one of the dirtiest places to lay a baby.
• The good news that brought great joy would be a baby who has come to rescue, deliver, redeem us from our unworthiness, uncleanness, messiness, dirtiness, shame and sin.

Step 4: Consider the choir of voices who respond to the message. (Luke 2:13-15)

• Army of angels responded to the good news with praise.
• Started off vertically with Glory to God.
• Moved horizontally to earth, peace with whom His favor, His presence, His blessing, His work rests.
• We need God's favor, His touch, His blessings, His presence.
• The only way to get God is to give Him Glory.
• When Praise ascends, Peace descends!
• While we don’t have an army of angels that show up to us as individuals, we do have 2000 plus years of church history where men, women and young people have sung with their lives, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace with whom He is pleased."

Step 5: Leave to see what the Lord has said and done. (Luke 2:15)

• We will never see the glory of God unless we leave the ways of the world.
• We need to turn our back to the world and turn our faces to Christ.
• The Bible teaches us to "leave" in order to see what the Lord has said and done.
• Examples of those who have left are Abraham, Moses, David, and the wise men.
• To leave means that Christ becomes preeminent in your life; nothing else matters other than Christ.
• The shepherds wanted to see Jesus. Nothing else mattered.

Step 6: Reach the peak of the One who came to reach you. (Luke 2:16-20)

• Reach the peak.
• The peak came down to you.
• The shepherds returned to their fields after experiencing supernatural change, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.

When we follow the six steps to a simple Christmas we experience supernatural change:

• We share our experience with others.
• We return to life changed and transformed.
• We glorify and praise God like the army of angels did as they responded to the good news.

Life Application

The shepherds left their flocks and went to see the baby Jesus that they had been told about by the angels. Just like the shepherds, we need to think about what we need to do, decide where we need to go, and make needed changes in our lives in response to the good news that we have heard. We need to give glory and praise to God and share what we have heard with others, so that they can be amazed and give glory to God too!  

This week, reflect back on the past year. More importantly, look for ways to simply start the exciting new year. As you follow the steps to have a Simple Christmas, consider what changes is God bringing to your attention that you need to take action on, so that you can experience a supernatural change in your life in the days ahead.

Small Group Discussion Questions

• What is something that you have given birth to or created? How does what you have created reflect who you are?
• Since Jesus was born into the world to move us towards God, what are some ways  that you can move toward God this week?
• Why is it important,  as you reflect Jesus to the world, that you be a part of the body of believers at Northland?
• What are some ways that you reflect that demonstrate that Jesus is your Lord (i.e. boss, master, ruler, king)?
• How can you be a light to the world, showing them that you have been born again as you are on mission reflecting Jesus who is the Light of the World?

Daily Devotional Bible Passages

• Monday - The Good News Brings Great Joy- John 15:10-12; 1 Chronicles 16:32-34; Psalm 16:11
• Tuesday -The Good News is about Our Savior- Isaiah 19:20; John 4:42; 2 Timothy 1:10
• Wednesday - The Good News Points us to Deeper Truths-John 14:6; 2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 6:14
• Thursday - The Good News Gives God Glory-Psalm 21:13; 1 Peter 4:11; Psalm 19:1
• Friday - The Good News Transforms Us- 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 35:26; Romans 12:2; Philippians 1:6

Prayer

Lord, let us take to heart and put into practice the simple steps to have a Simple Christmas. We ask that you help us make room for the most important gift of all who is Jesus, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. Help us to experience the peace that passes all understanding and have a joy that is unspeakable, as we leave where we are and take steps to allow you to bring change and transformation in our lives. 

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Additional Resources

—Importance of the Shepherds.

—What do we know about the Shepherds?