The First people to be told of Jesus’ birth were ____________________. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them… Luke 2:8-9 (NIV) “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant.” Who does Jesus call to follow him? • Jesus calls the ____________ and ______________________.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

• Jesus calls _________________.

“For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Luke 5:32 (NIV)

When you realize you need Jesus, • Jesus will __________________________________________.

Any who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEV)

The shepherds saw the ______________________________________.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

Verse 2: True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal, Lo, he shuns not the Virgin’s womb; Son of the Father, begotten, not created; O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

The Nicene Creed “We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

Eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.”

Sources: Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Jeff Strite

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

• The carol has been translated into more than 150 languages. • One of the few religious carols to be in the top ten charts. • Although it is nearly 300 years old, the author was not known until

after World War II. • Written by John Francis Wade in the mid 1700’s in France. • Originally written in Latin – “Adeste Fideles” • 100 years later, translated into English as “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Luke 2: 8-11, 15-18 (NIV) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. When the angels had leP them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

December 15, 2019 Pastor John Speight

CHRISTCHURCHVA.ORG/SERMONS

Answer key The First people to be told of Jesus’ birth were SHEPHERDS.

Who does Jesus call to follow him? • Jesus calls the WEARY and BURDENED.

• Jesus calls SINNERS.

When you realize you need Jesus, • Jesus will CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

The shepherds saw the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.