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ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Friday,
December 15, 2023
Manger Scene
("Precious Moments" figurines!)
"Spreading
The Word"
Message
summary: Today
we will
consider the
shepherd's
message and an
example for
all of us.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player. (Will
have some
background
noise due to
drywall
finishers.
"And when they (the shepherds) saw it (the original manger scene), they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:17,18,20).
"And when they (the shepherds) saw it (the original manger scene), they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:17,18,20).
You
could have
stepped into
creation
With fire for all to see
Brought every tribe and nation to their knees
Arriving with the host of heaven
In royal robe and crown
The rulers of the earth all bowing down
But You chose meekness over majesty
Wrapped Your power in humanity
With fire for all to see
Brought every tribe and nation to their knees
Arriving with the host of heaven
In royal robe and crown
The rulers of the earth all bowing down
But You chose meekness over majesty
Wrapped Your power in humanity
The
Nativity on
the Green in
Taunton, MA
Manger
scenes are
popular
Christmas
decorations,
an attempt to
visually
recreate the
events
described in
Luke 2 at the
birth of
Christ. Many
of us have
them in our
homes, our
churches and
even in public
places. We
served a
church in
Taunton
Massachusetts
in the
nineties.
Taunton was
famous for the
holiday
decorations on
the town green
which still
includes a
manger scene.
Thus far the
rabid
secularists
seeking to
eradicate
expressions of
Christian
faith from the
public square
have been
unable to have
it removed.
When we lived
up that way
our choir had
the
opportunity to
share
selections
from a
Christmas
musical as
part of the
large
community
"Lighting of
the Green"
festival.
The manger scenes tend to be a composite of what the Bible teaches us about Christ's birth and usually includes the wise men. But in Luke's account the manger scene would only include Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus and the shepherds.
The first evangelists were some pretty smelly, sun parched shepherds. They had witnessed the infant Jesus lying in a manger and heard the Gospel from a heavenly choir. They had gone to witness the scene. Now they spread the word.
At the time of Christ's birth the Bible clearly states that after the shepherds had seen Jesus "they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child". That "saying" is the heart of the Christmas Gospel, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord". They made that saying known and thus became the first Christian evangelists leading all who heard to wonder at what the shepherds told them.
Spreading the word has been the mission of believers ever since, commanded in the Great Commission and demonstrated in the Book of Acts. Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". He's still building His church and all believers are a part of that building process.
The shepherds left the scene "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them". We have no additional Biblical information concerning these men after that eventful night.
Like so many at that time, through the ages of the Church and in our own day, they likely had to overcome some deep hurts and losses as they lived out the rest of their lives on this earth. It's always been that way. But that word surely sustained them, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".
The manger scenes tend to be a composite of what the Bible teaches us about Christ's birth and usually includes the wise men. But in Luke's account the manger scene would only include Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus and the shepherds.
The first evangelists were some pretty smelly, sun parched shepherds. They had witnessed the infant Jesus lying in a manger and heard the Gospel from a heavenly choir. They had gone to witness the scene. Now they spread the word.
At the time of Christ's birth the Bible clearly states that after the shepherds had seen Jesus "they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child". That "saying" is the heart of the Christmas Gospel, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord". They made that saying known and thus became the first Christian evangelists leading all who heard to wonder at what the shepherds told them.
Spreading the word has been the mission of believers ever since, commanded in the Great Commission and demonstrated in the Book of Acts. Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". He's still building His church and all believers are a part of that building process.
The shepherds left the scene "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them". We have no additional Biblical information concerning these men after that eventful night.
Like so many at that time, through the ages of the Church and in our own day, they likely had to overcome some deep hurts and losses as they lived out the rest of their lives on this earth. It's always been that way. But that word surely sustained them, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".
The
shepherds were
the first
evangelists at
the birth of
Christ and we
are all called
to follow
their example
in spreading
the word. All
over the
world,
including your
town and mine,
this Gospel is
bearing fruit
and growing
today. Our
mission is to
make known the
Gospel, the
good news of
great joy.
Wherever you
are, whatever
you are doing,
follow the
shepherd's
example and
look for
opportunities
to spread the
word.
Go
tell it on the
mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.
Over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain,
Our Jesus Christ is born.
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, all
over the world
Your Spirit is
moving. And
You move
through people
such as the
shepherds who
told all they
knew
concerning the
Christ Child.
Two thousand
years later we
have so much
more knowledge
and
experiences to
share with
those around
us because we
have the Word
of God that
shows Your
divine
character and
tells us of
Your great and
miraculous
deeds. Your
choice to
enter this
earth in such
a lowly and
timely manner
is a story
that not only
the shepherds
were
commissioned
to go out and
tell, but it
is the
commission of
all believers
to spread this
amazing story.
It's not just
for the people
of Jerusalem
or simply a
segment of our
society or a
select period
of time in
history.
Instead
Christ's
coming affects
people of all
tongues,
tribes, and
nations, from
the north to
the south,
from the east
to west - all
who will call
upon the Lord
Jesus to be
saved. Help us
to be bold and
unwavering in
our quest to
reach the lost
and dying
world in which
we live. Amen.Special
Year-end
Financial
Appeal
We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. Thus we bump up this appeal on each post through the remainder of the year.
We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
You
can send a
check payable
to "Daily
Encouragement
Net" to:
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
495
Kraybill
Church Road
Mount
Joy, PA 17552
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Weber -
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you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
Offerings
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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