Shepherd Announcement

           “They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.”     John 10:5  Amp

  No, today’s passage was not made famous by Linus in the “Charlie Brown Christmas” video. This was God’s way of announcing to the world, by way of shepherds, that His precious Lamb was to be born.  Lowly, uneducated, unkempt, unappreciated shepherds.  Imagine. 

Read:  Luke 2:1-20 

I  Why Shepherds? 

*  according to Jewish religious law, these men were unclean

*  they did not participate in the feasts and holy days

*  at night, they actually slept in the sheep pen to guard the sheep

*  they were constantly on the move finding new pasture-  therefore

*  often looked down upon as suspicious and not trustworthy

*  being a shepherd was lonely, probably boring and tedious

*  David, who became King of Israel was a poet and musician first

*  you would expect such an important announcement to be made

      to kings, governors, magistrates, priests, rabbis, even Caesar

*  actually, a few alert kings from the East, did realize something

II.  An Exclusive Invitation 

*  when the shepherds got the news, they believed the angels

*  they not only believed, they did what the angels told them to do

            John 10:4,9  He goes before His sheep and leads them

*  God wanted that His love didn’t discriminate on any basis

*  God does not show favoritism on social standing or wealth

God does not give preferential treatment  based on knowledge

            Psalms 149:4  He delights in humility

            John 10:11,14  He values His sheep dearly

            Isaiah 66:1,2  He esteems the contrite person

*  God chose shepherds to indicate He doesn't give preference

*  *  His love is offered to anyone who will listen, believe, and follow

            1 Corinthians 1:26-31  God uses humble, ordinary people

*  He also wants to entrust His most important message to you first