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The Response of the Shepherds

Luke 2:15-20 Christmas

In this sermon, Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds Luke 2:15-20, focusing on the shepherds' response to the angelic announcement of Christ's birth and Mary's unique response. He highlights the shepherds' unwavering faith and unswerving obedience, leading to their proclamation of the good news. Martin contrasts the general public's mere marveling with Mary's diligent treasuring and pondering of God's word, emphasizing that true faith comes by receiving God's testimony. He concludes by urging listeners to embrace Christ as Savior, warning of eternal judgment for those who only marvel but do not believe.

2 illustrations in this sermon

The Proclamation of the Angel's Good News by the Shepherds
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Lepers in 2 Kings 7

The point: Cut through the myths and unprincipled sentiment surrounding Christmas and draw attention to the core message of a Savior born.

The story of the lepers who found abundance during a famine and declared, 'We do not well to hold our peace,' is used to illustrate the shepherds' compulsion to share the good news without waiting for permission.

And yet, once they had heard and confirmed in their own experience the word of God, they could not but speak the things that they had seen and they had heard. And they waited for no permission, from any ecclesiastical court. They began to open their mouths and to speak. They felt something of the experience of those lepers recorded in 2 Kings chapter 7.

19:14 - 19:41 Read in full sermon
Application: The Way of Faith for All
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Hiding Pennies for Children

The point: Don't expect God to visit you in some unusual way; you must take the word of God to heart and seek after it with all your heart as for hid treasure.

Martin shares a personal anecdote of hiding pennies for his children to find, demonstrating the earnestness with which they would hunt for treasure, to illustrate how diligently one should seek God's truth.

You know what it's like. To hunt for just a quarter that your dad may hide somewhere. I used to have a lot of fun with my kids playing a game once in a while. I'd take 50 or 100 pennies and I'd keep them occupied for an evening hiding them ten at a time in different places.

37:07 - 37:21 Read in full sermon
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