Christmas: Hearing The Message And Being A Messenger

(The aim of this all age sermon is to encourage a congregation of all ages to hear the message of Jesus and to be messengers of Jesus).

“When [the shepherds] had seen [Jesus], they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child”.

Is anyone good at languages? I know there are a few people here able to speak multiple languages! Can anyone tell me what the Hebrew word ’Malak’ means? What about the Swahili word ’Malaika’? Okay, if you’re struggling, let’s make it a little easier! How about the Greek word ’angelos’? They all mean ’Angel’; but what is an angel and what does an angel do? I mean real angels!

An angel is a messenger from God. Angels deliver messages.

We use postmen to deliver messages. We use pod casts to deliver messages, and we use e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging and Facebook too. God used his messenger Gabriel to visit Mary with a message (Luke 1:26-38).

Who would like to remind me what the message was?

“Do not be afraid of Mary. You have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (1:30-32).

God sent an angelic messenger (2:9) to the shepherds with a message. We don’t know the angel’s name, but we know the message. It was about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. After hearing the message, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, found Mary, Joseph and the baby and then spread the word concerning what they had been told (2:15-17).

From verse 17 of our Bible reading we heard this: “When [the shepherds] had seen [Jesus], they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child”.

The shepherds heard the message and then became messengers themselves. It became a good news chain message passing from one to another, but this was no spam e-mail! It was an eyewitness account.

I need one angel (not fluffy, cute and cuddly) and 5 shepherds. The angel will give a message to a shepherd, the Shepherd will give the message to you, and I want you to stand up and speak the message to each other. First of all, let’s have a practice. The angel told Mary that ’[Jesus’] Kingdom will never end’ (1:33).

(I signal for the congregation to stand, I call out: ’[Jesus’] Kingdom will never end’, and after a count of three the congregation speak it back to each other).

(My volunteer angel then gives an envelope to 3 of the shepherds, one at a time. The Shepherd opens the envelope, speaks the message, I signal for the congregation to stand, and after a count of three they speak the message to each other. The first three messages are as follows):

1: “Do not be afraid” (2:10).

(What are you fearful of? Do not be afraid!)

2: “Good news of great joy for all people” (2:10).

(Jesus is for all; every language, nation and people)

3: “A Saviour’s been born. He is Christ the Lord” (2:11). (We all need to know Christ as Saviour!)

(The next two are as a response to seeing Jesus)

4: “Spread the word concerning this child” (2:17).

5: “Glorify and praise God” (2:20).

The shepherds heard the message and they became messengers of the word. God wants you to hear the message and to be his messengers in the world.