2009-12-20 Ronnie Stevens Luke 2:1-17

THE CHRISTMAS STORY

Luke 2:1-17

I.  The Way of Empires      vv. 1-3

A.  The Career of Augustus                  v. 1

B.  The Empirical Decrees                    v. 1

C.  The Subjection of Peoples               v. 3

II.  The Stewardship of Joseph      vv. 4-5

A.  The Two Kingdoms     v. 4            

1.  Caesar and David

2.  Jerusalem and Rome

3.  Nazareth and Bethlehem

B.  The Two Families     vv. 4-5

III.  The Exaltation of Mary       vv. 5-7

A.  Greatness and Human Reckoning        v. 5

B.  The Greatest Verse in the Bible        v. 7

C.  The Clothes God Wears                     v. 7

1.  The Significance of Genesis 3

2.  The Significance of John 19

IV.  The Vocation of Shepherds            vv. 7-17

A.  Their Simplicity                   v. 8

B.  Their Diligence                    v. 8

C.  Their Blessedness               vv. 10-17

1. The God Who Meant to be Found        v. 12

2.  Humility: Divine and Human   vv. 16-17