Evangelists of Christ's Birth

In our last message, we looked at the manner and majesty of Christ's birth. In this message, we continue in that study as we look at the evangelists of Christ's birth.

1. the meaning of the birth explained
   The babe was God come in the flesh to be the Savior of sinners

2. the message of the birth announced
   Those working in a field become witnesses in a greater field. In the eyes of the world, shepherds did not have a high social status. God uses humbled souls that have been humbled by grace to be instruments of grace to announce the birth.

3. the making of the evangelist seen
   This making involves
   3a. exposure to the truth
   "For unto you is born this day..." (2:11)
   These people were doing their work. Then God steps in and makes them evangelists. He does it by exposing them to truth (Rev 10::17). He uses existing evangelists, the angels, to pass the truth along. The good news needs to be passed on from generation to generation
   3b. examining the truth
   "Let us now go..." (2:15)
   After hearing the truth, they test the truth
   3c. expressing a response to the truth
   "they returned glorifying and praising God..." (2:20)
   Those who experience the intervention of God make God known publicly with their voices. They glorify God with their voice and praise God with their hearts.

4. the message of the evangelist
   "they made known abroad the saying which was told them..." (2:17)
   They were told of the promised Messiah and they spoke of the promised Messiah

5. The manner of the evangelist
   They were generous. They told those who had not seen. They cared about lost souls. They spoke simple truth

May God help us to learn from these humble shepherds