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Why shepherds?

Objective:1. To know the nomadic life of shepherds2. To know the relation of shepherds to Jesus3. To learn some reactions of shepherds to the angels message

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THE SHEPHERDS

1. What did it feel like to be a shepherd? Aside from smelling like sheep, they live in

obscurity. Anonymity is their world.2. Considered nobody. Those who work "behind the scenes" are usually

forgotten people. We tend to overlook them. Shepherds are poor,uneducated, probably were not people others could hang around with(stinking, filthy, you name it!). Bettewins/ shepherds why would I needto meet them? They are always on the move feeding their sheep and goats.Chuck swindoll imagine one of the shepherds

3. Illustration: Poverty PerspectiveIn Hollywood there is an exclusive school attended by children of movie stars,producers, and directors. Asked to write a composition on the subject ofpoverty, one little girl started her literary piece: "Once there was a poor littlegirl. Her father was poor, her mother was poor, her governess was poor, herchauffeur was poor, her butler was poor. In fact, everybody in the house wasvery, very poor.

4. In the Talmud (body of Jewish civil and religious law, including commentaries on the

Torah, or Pentateuch)it is written that shepherds were not allowed in the courts

to be witnesses. In fact the Talmud instructs that no help be given toheathens or to shepherds. Shepherds were despised because they were

unable to attend temple services and to keep the rituals and ceremonial laws

as their flocks kept them from practicing their religion.

5.

RELATION OF SHEPHERDS TO JESUS

1. Why did the angels appear to the shepherds and not someone else? Why? Perhaps Hewanted the poor and outcast of society to know that they were important too.It may have been that God wanted the lowliest of humanity to realize that Hislove included them, especially in a world where they were normally excluded

2. Illustrate: Gives his life for the sheepDr. Marion Anderson relates this story:I was riding in a tour bus from Jerusalem to Jericho, sitting in the front seat,since I was leading a group, and about half asleep, having made the sametrip many, many times. Suddenly, the bus lurched to a stop, waking me up.

There in the middle of the street was a Shepherd. Now, with a 48-passengerbus running straight at me, I wouldnt be out there, but there he was. And the

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sheep started to cross the road. Not all at once, but in twos and threes andones. But the shepherd never shooed them, or hurried them, he just stood hisground until the last sheep was safely off the road. Then he followed them,and threaded his way through the flock until he was back up front again,leading the way.

3. The Lord is our shepherd

4. Jesus is the good shepherd5. He is the Lamb of God

a. Jesus Was Born In A Place Reserved For Animals. Perhaps this wasfitting for the One who was the Lamb of God.

LESSONS FROM THE SHEPHERDS1. We need not believe blindly. They went, verified, and confirmed that what they were told

was true (Luke 2: 20)

a. Whats their reaction upon seeing the angels?i. Others formed their religion

ii. scared out of their sandals. Can you picture their mouths open and not

sure whether to run or to fall on their face in worship?b.c. How long do you think it took them to decide?

2. Take appropriate action

Hear the message again. If God did indeed become man to reach out to us . . . Hemust love us more than we can begin to comprehend. If God did all that to reach youand me He can be trusted to guide us faithfully. Do something bold this Christmas.Follow the example of the Shepherds and dare to act on what God tells you to do.

a. He is calling you to turn away from something you know is wrongb. to mend a relationship

c. to do something to help someone who is in needd. to stop living in the paste. to ask for help from someone elsef. to some bold action . . . .to do something, give somethingbegin something.

WHY SHEPHERDS?1. To show that He cares for those who have been overlooked by the world.2. To show that, everyone is important in the presence of God.3. To show that God chooses any one who responds in faith. - The wise men

brought expensive gifts when they visited Jesus. The Shepherds had nothing

but their faith