Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
This week, we look at the shepherds' role in the Christmas story
and the powerful faith lessons they teach us.
From the angels' announcement of good news
to their immediate response in seeking Jesus,
the shepherds exemplify obedience, joy,
and a willingness to share the gospel.
Join us as we explore the hope, peace, and salvation
brought to all people through the birth of Christ
and the shepherds' response to God's extraordinary gift.
Thanks for listening.
Hey, good morning.
It is a joy to be here.
If you have your Bible, and I hope you do,
I want to invite you to join us in Luke chapter 2
is where we will be this morning.
One of the skills you develop as a pastor
is finding the tendencies of people.
One of those tendencies is where people sit.
I don't know if you know this or not, but most of you,
for the most part, you sit somewhat in the same general vicinity.
And then moments like this happen.
Let me kind of explain what I mean.
So typically, Mike C sits right there.
But this morning, Mike C is back there.
Every Sunday that we have our kids sing.
Don will say something like this to me.
Is it okay if we reserve a few rows?
And every Sunday I say,
we'll just have to apologize to Chris McPherson,
who always sits right here in the middle.
The kids cleared out.
The kids went to their classrooms.
Wonderful job, by the way,
for those kids and for Dawn and for Stephanie
and their leadership team.
And man, as soon as they were gone,
Chris got his seat.
And if you know Chris,
Chris really enjoys the spotlight being put on him.
Not at all.
And I told him, I was like,
you know I gotta say something about this, right?
So fair warning if you sit on the front row, right?
This is where we will be.
But it is such a joy.
And I just want to encourage you guys,
maybe you had a little one up here singing,
maybe you didn't.
As you leave today,
and as you see those kids out on the sidewalk
and moving from building two to their car
with their parents,
just tell them wonderful, wonderful job.
It's just so good and refreshing to see
of what the church is called to be and to do
is to make disciples of all nations,
to make disciples of all ages.
And I just really love the vision
behind our children's ministry program
as they are sharing the gospel
from as little as we can share the gospel with, right?
And continually doing that
and pouring in and investing in our kids.
And so well done, Dawn.
Thank you for your leadership.
And thank you for all of you
who serve in our kids' ministry.
Yeah, yeah.
Give them a round of applause.
Yeah.
Thank you all so much for doing that.
With that said,
there are these cards that are around
and we mentioned those,
but I know there was a lot of movement,
a lot of things happening
during the video announcement.
But we do have our December and January schedule.
There's some different things going on each Sunday.
And so you want to make sure
that you pay attention to that.
Next Sunday it's kind of become
a little bit of a tradition around here for us
and we really enjoy it.
We will have at 950 next week
a fellowship with some homemade goodies
that will be brought and will be put out there.
And so you'll want to make sure
that you get here early
and participate in that.
Next Sunday on Tuesday, December the 24th,
we will have our Christmas Eve service.
And that's always a wonderful time
for families to come together.
Everyone will be in here together
all worshiping Jesus.
We will take the Lord's Supper that evening
as the reminder of the very important day
that we have and of what's coming up.
But then also,
this is something we've done
that's been relatively new for us
the last several years.
It's on Sunday, December the 29th.
We will have everyone back in here again.
And at 950,
we'll be doing a full breakfast.
Grits, bacon, eggs, sausage, pancakes
will be brought in.
And it'll be a wonderful time
of just church fellowship together.
And then also,
the important part of what we do,
we will have a time of worship.
But instead of having a message,
we'll have a time together
where we come together as a church
to pray together for the upcoming year,
for all that God desires to do.
We'll pray for our missionaries.
We'll pray for our ministry partners.
We'll pray for our church.
We'll pray for our community.
Many, many different ways that we will pray.
And it's also,
I just want to encourage you,
it's a wonderful family event
and time to do that,
to place the importance
in the hearts of our kids,
the importance of what we're doing with prayer.
So you want to make sure
that you're a part of that.
And if you could help us, please,
we are having to order food ahead of time
so that we can make sure
that we have the right amount of food
for you guys.
Please scan this QR code
and that will get you registered
to get everything taken care of
for you for that morning.
And if you've got friends
and family that are in town,
please invite them.
We'd love to have them with us.
A lot of fun,
a lot of exciting things.
And this card,
take it,
put it on your refrigerator
will kind of help keep you
with where we're headed.
If you have any questions at all,
make sure you stop us
and we would love to answer
those questions for you.
Well,
as we get into our passage this morning
in Luke 2,
I'd like to read to you this morning
Luke 2,
verse 14.
It says glory to God
and the highest
and on earth peace
among those
with whom
he is pleased.
Would you pray with me?
God,
we come to you
this morning,
Lord,
thanking you.
Lord,
the example
and the display
of joy
that we saw
in the life
of these kids,
the sincerity
of their worship
and the truth
of the words
that they sang.
Lord,
may we continue
to worship you
in the study
of your word.
Lord,
may you decrease
anything in this
that is me.
Lord,
and may you increase
in all that is you.
All for your name
and for your glory.
And it's in Jesus' name
we pray.
Amen.
We are working
through the different
characters of Christmas.
We've looked at
Zechariah week one
and the promise
of his son
and the angel
who spoke to him.
We've looked at Mary.
We've looked at Joseph.
And this week
we come
and we're going to be
looking at
the shepherds
and their interaction
and their response
with the angels.
And then within this,
though,
we're going to
read through
kind of our
traditional Christmas
story of what
we would think of
when we look
at God's word
in Luke chapter 2.
So if you would
join me,
we'll read
starting in verse 1
and read all the way
through verse 20.
God's word says,
in those days
a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus
that all the world
should be registered.
This was the first
registration
when Quinerius
was governor
of Syria.
and all went
to be registered
each to his own.
And Joseph
also went up
from Galilee
from the town
of Nazareth
to Judea
to the city
of David
which is called
Bethlehem
because he
was of the house
and the lineage
of David
to be registered
with Mary
his betrothed
who was with child
and while
they were there
the time came
for her
to give birth
and she gave birth
to her firstborn son
and wrapped him
in swaddling cloths
and laid him
in a manger
because there
was no place
for them
in the inn.
And in the same region
there were shepherds
out in the field
keeping watch
over their flock
by night.
And an angel
of the Lord
appeared to them
and the glory
of the Lord
shone around them
and they were filled
with great fear.
And the angel
said to them
fear not
for behold
I bring you
good news
of great joy
that will be
for all the people.
For unto you
is born this day
in the city of David
a Savior
who is Christ
the Lord
and this will be
a sign for you.
You will find
a baby
wrapped in swaddling
cloths
and lying
in a manger.
And suddenly
there was a great
and suddenly
there was
with the angel
a multitude
of heavenly hosts
praising God
and saying
glory to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace
among those
with whom
he is pleased.
And the angels
went away
from them
into heaven
and the shepherds
said to one another
let us go over
to Bethlehem
and see this thing
that has happened
which the Lord
has made known
to us.
And they went
with haste
and found Mary
and Joseph
and the baby
lying in a manger.
And when they saw it
they made known
the saying
that had been told
to them
concerning this child
and all who heard it
wondered
at what the shepherds
told them.
but Mary
treasured up
all these things
pondering them
in her heart
and the shepherds
returned
glorifying
and praising God
for all they
had heard
and seen
as it has been
told to them.
The beautiful
message
of the birth
of Christ
the hopeful
message
of the proclamation
of the angels
and the beautiful
response
of the shepherds.
When we
look at this story
largely focusing in
on verses 8
and moving forward
we hear
this message
presented by angels
the story
of Jesus Christ
the story
of his birth
is not one written
by human hands
but one set
in the course
of history
by our creator
the one
penned
and known
and determined
by God
what we read
in these verses
is not the thought
that would come
to man
but the sovereign
will of God
being told
God the father
sending his son
the king
sending the prince
the prince
of peace
you see
in times
today
in times
past
when royalty
specifically
a king
decides to announce
that a son
has been born
in his mind
there is no
greater announcement
than that announcement
when a king
announces
that his son
has been born
there's the promise
of the lineage
there's the promise
of the kingdom
there's the promise
of all of these
have been fulfilled
in the birth
of this child
and this announcement
would go out
to everyone
but specifically
to ensure
that this announcement
was received
it would be sent
to nobles
to dignitaries
to politicians
to neighboring royalty
so that they all
could come
and pay their respects
to the king
but what we find
in Luke chapter 2
is that this would
be different
and while
this announcement
would be for all
that this announcement
on that night
would not come
to all
but instead
would come
to a different
audience
I want us to look
at this
and understand
the audience
of the shepherds
look back with me
verses 8-9
in the same region
there were shepherds
out in the field
keeping watch
over their flock
by night
and an angel
of the Lord
appeared to them
and the glory
of the Lord
shone around them
and they were filled
with great fear
so in the sovereign
plan
and the sovereign
purposes
of a sovereign God
the message
of the birth
of Christ
would not come
into a palace
but would come
into a pasture
would not come
before kings
and dignitaries
but would come
instead
to shepherds
would come
not to the elite
but to the opposite
of the elite
you and I
we see
and we know
and we live
in the value
of the perspective
of the shepherds
it's filled
in the stories
it was focused
on the Charlie Brown
Christmas special
it's the key figure
in the nativity scene
one of the key figures
in the nativity scene
we think of shepherd
and we understand
in the biblical perspective
the value
of the shepherd
King David
was a shepherd
Christ is
our shepherd
we hear this word
and we associate
with it
the positivity
but this would not
have been the case
in the time of Christ
in the time of Jesus
these were the rough
these were the dirty
these were the oftentimes
socially unacceptable
people of society
and this is who
the angels come to
why?
why shepherds?
why not
scribes
and Pharisees
those who were
experts in the
Old Testament
experts in the law
experts in the prophets
they were the religious
leaders
and Christ
has come
why not
why not kings
and rulers
people of power
people of influence
people of wealth
why the rough
why the dirty
why the unacceptable
outcasts
and this is what I think
when we begin to see
and understand
and so important for us
in this time of season
the point of the message
the point of the gospel
the point of scripture
the point of why
Jesus came
is without Christ
whether you're a shepherd
or a scrub
or a Pharisee
or a king
or a ruler
or just simply you
and me
that scripture tells us
that in our trespasses
and sins
apart from Christ
that we're rough
we're dirty
and we're unacceptable
before God
and so the message
of the shepherd
is the message
for you
and the message
for me
that there's this news
about this savior
and he's come
to save
us all
and we all
need to be saved
we're all a little dirty
we're all a little rough
we're all a little
unacceptable
before a holy God
so Jesus
comes
and this
gift that we
see
this gift
is the gift
of good news
have you ever
gotten a gift
that you were
really excited about
and you're probably
the only person
that you know
that would be
really excited
about this
particular gift
a few years ago
my mother-in-law
I love my mother-in-law
she'll be here with us
on Christmas Eve
I love my mother-in-law
my mother-in-law
loves to give gifts
my mother-in-law
loves to give
extremely practical
gifts
right
that's her
that's how she
communicates
and I love that
so if you were here
a few weeks ago
my mother-in-law
would never have
given me an
R2D2 toaster
right
my son likes to
give completely
impractical gifts
right
and so that's
where we're at
so a few years ago
I know that
my mother-in-law
likes to give
practical gifts
I know that
around Thanksgiving
time
she's going to
look at me
and for whatever
reason when she
asks me a question
she refers to me
as Mr. Bradbury
right like that's
just kind of her
thing that she does
and she says
so Mr. Bradbury
and I said
yes
I call her
Wheezy
her first name
is Louise
that's what we do
I said yes
Wheezy
and she said
what would you
like for Christmas
I've been thinking
through this
and I said
you know
I'd like some
buckets
she was just
like that
she's like
you want buckets
it's like
yeah yeah yeah
I want some buckets
and she's like
well what else
do you want
I was like
no no no
take whatever
you would spend
on me
and invest
them
in buckets
I want buckets
you see you know
Aaron and I
we have a garden
and we have the
different things
that we're doing
I've been looking
at some different
things that I
wanted to do
that I wanted
to grow
some things
with this
and I realized
that I needed
a bunch
of buckets
I said so
10
15
20
30
however many
you can get
give me
buckets
and we got there
that Christmas
morning
not the Christmas
morning
I'm sorry
we got there
the Saturday
before
is when we
celebrate Christmas
with Aaron's
mom and dad
we got there
and then
she went out
into the garage
and presented
to me
my large
stack
of buckets
and I love
my buckets
and every
year
since then
it is
guaranteed
as a joke
and a reminder
of the relationship
between me
and my mother-in-law
I will get a bucket
right
I say all that
because
I would be
willing to bet
in here today
there is no one
else in this room
that would get
excited
if you got a
bucket for Christmas
but I do
it's what I like
it's the
it's the gift
that fits me
and whatever
weirdness
that says
about
my personality
and you'll get
a gift
this year
that fits you
that meets
what you need
that might not
meet what I need
it's a gift
that you want
it might not
be what I want
but it's the gift
in your uniqueness
that fits you
here's why
I tell this story
the gift
of the good news
of Jesus Christ
it is a gift
that fits
in the uniqueness
for all of us
it is the gift
whether you know it
or not
that you desperately
need
and it is a gift
that when you know it
and you receive it
beyond every other
emotion
is the emotion
of gratitude
in Luke 2
10 through 11
the angel
and the announcement
to them
imagine you're
you're the shepherd
you're out in the field
it is
just another
night
praying for
a boring night
no attacks
no wandering
sheep
no problems
to be had
let me get
through this
night
and may it
be a boring
night
and then
the angel
appears to them
and says
fear not
for behold
I bring you
good news
of great joy
that will be
for all people
for unto you
is born
this day
in the city
of David
a savior
who is Christ
the Lord
this morning
I got here early
and was going back
through my notes
and finishing up
a few things
and I noticed
something this morning
that I don't know
that I've ever
noticed before
I noticed
as I looked
through these
these two verses
and studied them
over and over again
and then I tried
to put myself
in the shoes
in the sandals
of the shepherds
in that moment
and what they would
have heard
in this moment
the personal
nature
of the announcement
the angel says
hey Johnny
I bring to you
right
hey Robin
I bring to you
there
there's the moment
in the announcement
where this gift
of good news
of great joy
that is for all people
is for you
because
born on this day
again
if you missed it
the first time
shepherds
as you're listening
out in the field
in your rough
in your dirty
in your unacceptable
nature
for you
is born this day
the city
in the city
of David
a savior
who is Christ
the Lord
I love
the beauty
of the intimacy
of our God
that in
this moment
this gift
that is given
is good news
for the world
is good news
for everyone
but the beauty
the hope
where this hits
where this lands
it's for the world
but it's for
you
it's for you
and I believe
that you
might be in here
today
and you
are thinking
this is not
for me
but I want to tell you
that the gift
of Jesus Christ
the news
of great joy
that it is unique
and there's nothing
like it
that this gift
of Jesus Christ
is news
for all people
for everyone
everywhere
that this news
of Jesus Christ
is God's promises
from the beginning
in the garden
of what he's been telling
and what he's been promising
all through the prophets
and all the way through
that this news
of salvation
of freedom
of hope
of life
of purpose
of meaning
of eternity
this news
of Jesus
no matter how dirty
no matter how rough
no matter how unacceptable
you are
it is for you
and that's what makes
this not just news
but this is what makes
this good news
this is the power
and the hope
of the gospel
and so in John 3
16 through 18
it says
for God so loved
the world
that he gave
his only son
that whoever believes
in him should not perish
but have eternal life
most of us know that verse
I love to keep reading
verse 17
for God
did not send
his son
into the world
to condemn
the world
but in order
that the world
might be saved
through him
the hope
they didn't come
to condemn
but he came
to save
he came
to save
shepherds
he came
to save you
and he came
to save me
and so verse 18
whoever believes
in him
is not condemned
but whoever
does not
believe
is condemned
already
because he
has not
believed
in the name
of the only
son
of God
Jesus
Christ
so what do you
do with this gift
what does it
mean to receive
what does it
mean to have
it
what does it
mean to take
believe
now you and I
we often times
like I told a story
just a minute ago
about Christmas
with my mother-in-law
and I hope
that you believe me
the only person
in this room
who was there
when it happened
were Aaron and I
but hopefully
you hear
that story
and it was
true
and you believe
that on that
Christmas
I got a bunch
of bright
blue
Lowe's
buckets
we think
that belief
is simply
the acceptance
of information
and often times
we come to the
Bible with the same
thing
well I believe
in Jesus
I believe
in the story
I believe
that it's
true
I believe
that he lived
I believe
that he died
I believe
that he resurrected
from the grave
I believe
all of these
things
I believe
all of this
information
I accept
that what you
say
I accept
that what the
Bible says
is true
but belief
when we begin
to understand
the fullness
of the biblical
concept of belief
that belief
is more
than just
acceptance
of information
that belief
in biblical
terms
yes
is to believe
accurately
who the Bible
tells us
that who Jesus
is
and what Jesus
has done
you have to
understand
the biblical
narrative
of the life
of Christ
and who he is
but the belief
doesn't end there
it's a belief
that changes you
it's a belief
that brings you
to repentance
it's a belief
that brings you
to submission
it's a belief
that works
in you
so that in
this belief
in the power
of the Holy Spirit
that we receive
that what happens
in us
is change
within us
so that drives
our obedience
to him
it's like we all
believe
that if we were
to see a bear
in nature
that that bear
could kill you
hopefully
if you're ever
in that environment
where you see
a bear
in nature
not at a zoo
but like 15 feet
from you
as you eat
cotton candy
right
that that belief
does something
that belief
creates
something
that that belief
activates
something in you
to cause
a change
and a response
in you
I think the
difficult thing
for us
with the gospel
I think the
difficult thing
for us
in Jesus Christ
is that we
want to align
yes and amen
with the factual
information
of Jesus
without
the response
that is demanded
today
would your response
to Jesus
be more
than intellectual
belief
would your response
to Jesus
be the biblical
belief
through the power
of the Holy Spirit
in repentance
and submission
before him
draws you
into a loving
relationship
with him
the next we see
in this encounter
that the shepherds
have with the angels
is this song
of praise
you see in verse 14
glory to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace
among those
with whom
he is pleased
this simple
one line
song of praise
sung over
and over
again
by a multitude
of angels
who have lit up
the night sky
glory to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace
among those
with whom
he is pleased
as the sovereign
God
sets his
sovereign plan
and his
sovereign purposes
into motion
we see the
declaration
of the angels
of the song
that he has
set into them
and we begin
to understand
that on this
first
Christmas
the song
to be declared
was the song
of God
it's a glory
to God
in the highest
you see
the message
was what
was for
you
the message
is what
was for
me
the message
is what
was for
the world
but the praise
isn't
will owe
good us
the praise
is owed
to the goodness
of God
that in this
what we
what we see
is the hope
that is found
the reminder
of the sovereign
holy
powerful God
that this story
the story
of Christmas
is told
not because
of our goodness
but because
of his grace
that the story
that unfolds
this night
the story
promised from
prophets of old
the story
that we've clung
to and hold
to for years
that not once
has happened
or taken place
because you
and I deserve
this event
that would happen
on this night
but it's because
a holy
good God
of grace
puts his plan
into motion
and in this
and in the
joy
of the season
and in the
joy
of every
season
there's glory
to God
glory
to God
glory
to God
in the
highest
Bible
continues on
the angels
continue to sing
and they say
and on earth
peace
that doesn't
fit great
on a lot
of our
Christmas cards
the phrase
that we're
most familiar
with right
is peace
on earth
the declaration
in the song
that they sing
glory to God
in the highest
and on earth
peace
peace on earth
the irony
the historical
irony
of that statement
this region
of the world
where peace
on earth
is promised
where peace
on earth
is fulfilled
that since
2,000 years
before
and 2,000
years after
have been a
region
not filled
with peace
so when we
look at this
we look for the
different peace
we look for the
peace of God
we look for the
greatest peace
that could ever
come
the greatest peace
found in Christ
that in Christ
in this announcement
in this baby
born in a manger
that what we
see is peace
between God
and man
through the
blood of the
lamb
a treaty
has been made
that will never
be broken
that in the
heart
of rebels
and in the
heart
of enemies
love
has bridged
and peace
exists
we're not
at battle
with God
we're not
at war
with Him
that in
this child
literally
what laid
in the
manger
embodied
by a baby
is the
very essence
of peace
spiritual
peace
for today
peace
that cannot
be taken
from us
peace
for the
future
and one
day
one day
Christ
will return
and one
day
there'll be
one more
battle
and in
that moment
all the
evil of
the world
will be
defeated
and peace
will reign
forever
the last
thing the
angels say
here in
this moment
is that on
earth peace
with those
whom He
is pleased
other
translations
will say
and goodwill
towards men
that in
this
that the
pleasure
of God
is found
in His
heart
that we
are saved
and moved
the goodwill
that we get
the goodwill
that we know
the goodwill
that we
experience
is found
when He moves
us
you see
the Bible
tells us
that before
Christ
before this
baby
before this
Savior
before this
Messiah
who would
die on a
cross
and raise
for eternal
life
that in
this
of what we
find
of what we
see
is that
before that
we were
guilty
and what
do guilty
get
guilty
get
punished
you see
we serve
a just
God
we serve
a righteous
God
who cannot
ignore sin
and you and I
every single
one of us
are found dead
in our trespasses
because we are
guilty of our
sin
and the guilt
of our sin
the punishment
of our sin
is what we
deserve
but Jesus
Christ
took the
punishment
for your
sin
and for
my sin
and now
we're not
just guilty
that someone
else paid
the price
but He
moves us
from guilty
to now
innocent
and it's
not just
that He
paid the
price
but it's
that we
get freedom
we move
from guilty
to now
we're
innocent
that we're
found in
Christ
we're washed
we're made
new
we're made
clean
but the
beauty
of this
is it
continues
to go
and the
good will
towards men
that it
doesn't just
happen
that God
when He
saves us
then doesn't
just release
us
and say
alright
now
figure it
out on
your own
now
see what
you can
do
now
here
you
go
I
did
this
is
one
time
don't
look
for me
I'm
not
doing
it
again
no
the
beauty
and the
hope
of the
gospel
of what
we see
of what
is falling
and taking
place
in this
moment
is that we
move
from guilty
to innocent
and when we
become innocent
we become
family
and that in
family
in family
there's
the joy
and the
promise
and the
hope
of what's
there
and it's
an inheritance
it's an
inheritance
it's
an eternal
joining
together
of us
with God
and this
is what the
angels
declare
and then
lastly
we see
we've been
talking about
the faith
of
have been
these messages
the faith
of Zachariah
the faith
of Mary
the faith
of Joseph
and now
we see
the faith
of these
shepherds
uneducated
not schooled
in the law
maybe even
unfamiliar
with many
of the
teachings
but we
see
their faith
to their
obedience
their response
of
obedience
and put
yourself
on that
hill
of all
that you've
seen
of all
that you've
heard
and God's
word tells us
in Luke 2
15 and 16
when the
angels went
away
from them
into heaven
the shepherds
said to one
another
let us
go over
to Bethlehem
and see
I love this
because I don't
think their
minds could
wrap around
what they
just heard
and let
us see
this thing
that has
happened
which the
Lord
has made
known
to us
and they
went
with haste
and found
Mary
and Joseph
and the
baby
lying
in a
manger
I don't
think they
understood
let's
go see
this thing
that's
happened
they didn't
sit down
and go
alright
let's
let's pull
this together
Frank
what did
you hear
Ted
what's
going on
over there
right
like
what is
this
they
just
went
they
just
went
where
did
they
go
they
went
to
Jesus
like
the
simplicity
of
that
they
went
to
Jesus
how
did
they
go
they
went
quickly
they
went
quickly
like
this
is
what's
happened
we
don't
need
to
unpack
it
we
don't
need
to
discuss
it
we
just
this
is
what
we've
heard
this
is
what
we
know
this
is
where
we're
going
to
go
so
let's
go
let's
go
quickly
we
don't
know
how
far
away
they
were
it
said
that
they
were
in
a
region
they're
like
let's
get
a
trot
let's
get
them
moving
but I
think
here's
something
too
that
we
forget
in
order
for
them
to
go
in
order
for
them
to
go
with
haste
they
had
to
leave
everything
behind
and
Jesus
says
in
order
to
be
my
disciple
you
gotta
count
the
cost
Jesus
says
like
if
you
wanna
obey
me
there's
some
things
you
gotta
leave
he's
gonna
come
up
to
Matthew
and
he's
gonna
say
hey
get
up
from
behind
that
tax
collector
booth
and
come
follow
me
he's
gonna
come
to
a
group
of
brothers
and
say
hey
if
you
wanna
be
my
disciples
I'll
make
you
fishers
of
men
but
in
order
to
do
so
you
gotta
come
and
you
gotta
follow
me
and
they
did
it
and
they
did
it
and
they
did
it
and
in
that
they
found
their
purpose
their
hope
their
meaning
and
their
savior
but
then
there
was
this
rich
young
ruler
and
he
wanted
to
know
what
it
meant
to
have
eternal
life
and
Jesus
said
listen
there's
some
things
that
you
need
to
sell
that
you
need
to
do
so
that
you
can
come
and
follow
me
and
the
Bible
says
that
this
guy
that
he
didn't
that
he
didn't
because
his
possessions
were
great
and
that
he
went
away
sad
right
maybe
this
morning
what
we
need
to
do
is
just
go
to
Jesus
we
don't
need
to
think
about
it
we
don't
need
to
pray
about
it
we
don't
need
to
discuss
it
with
our
spouse
we
don't
need
to
figure
out
what
it's
going
to
cost
what
we've
got
to
leave
behind
that
right
now
in
this
moment
what
you
need
more
than
anything
else
in
this
world
that
your
mind
could
ever
possibly
sinfully
try to
convince
you
that
you
need
more
than
any
of
those
things
what
you
need
is
Jesus
and
what
you
need
to
do
is
what
these
shepherds
did
is
get
off
the
comfort
of
your
hill
to
forget
the
situation
that
you
find
yourself
in
and
I'm
going
to
use
the
words
of
scripture
and
go
see
this
thing
that
has
happened
you
may
not
even
can
fully
explain
it
or
understand
it
I
don't
know
that
I
can
fully
understand
it
either
but
just
go
to
him
but
these
shepherds
they did
something
else
they
told
they
told
look
back
to me
verses
17
through
20
and
when
they
saw
it
all
of
it
all
everything
that
had
been
told
they
made
known
the
saying
that
had
been
told
to
them
concerning
this
child
and
all
who
heard
it
wondered
at
what
the
shepherds
told
them
let's
kind of
pause
there
real
briefly
this
is
not
a
quiet
group
of
guys
this
is
during
the
middle
of
the
night
and
yet
what
they
find
where
they
are
going
is
the
proclamation
at
what
they've
heard
and
what
they've
seen
as
they
wondered
at
what
the
shepherds
told
them
and
then
verse
19
but
Mary
treasured
up
all
these
things
pondering
them
in her
heart
like
they
come
in
and
they're
like
I
know
you've
had
a
baby
but
this
seems
crazy
I
don't
know
little
girl
if
you've
ever
heard
from
an
angel
but
we
just
have
and
Mary
would
have
been
like
oh
no
I
know
what
this
is
like
in
the
vulnerability
of
the
moment
and
in
the
beauty
of
the
moment
and
then
Joseph
quiet
Joseph
he's
like
I've
been
getting
some
dreams
I
know
what
this
is
like
and
in
the
proclamation
of
the
people
who
didn't
know
and
the
people
who
did
that
Mary
took
all
of
this
and
she
treasured
it
in
her
heart
the
beauty
of
the
hope
of
the
gospel
the
Messiah
that
would
have
been
in
her
womb
the
Messiah
that
would
have
been
on
her
chest
verse
20
and
the
shepherds
returned
glorifying
and
praising
God
for
all
they
had
heard
and
seen
as
it
had
been
told
them
as
they
walked
through
the
streets
sharing
with
others
a
story
that
hours
before
would
have
been
unbelievable
but a
story
through the
power of
God
and the
power of
their testimony
was real
and
whether
they
believed
it
or
not
those
who
heard
it
could
not
take
it
away
from
them
you
see
the
beauty
of
the
faith
that
we
see
of
these
shepherds
they
would
have
not
have
been
experts
of
the
law
they
would
not
have
been
experts
of
the
prophets
they
would
not
have
been
experts
of
the
history
they
would
not
have
memorized
the
scriptures
but
they
had
with
them
the
power
of
their
testimony
in
light
and
the
truth
of
Christ
and
who
he
is
and
so
they
went
and
they
told
this
Christmas
season
Aaron
and I
yesterday
we
went
and
we
went
to
our
hiding
spot
and
we
got
all
of
our
gifts
out
gifts
that
we
got
for
Emma
gifts
that
we
got
for
Grayson
gifts
that
we
got
for
my
parents
for
her
parents
nieces
and
nephews
we
put
them
all
on
the
bed
and
we
like
quick
check
we
good
we're
good
and
we
are
so
excited
to
give
the
gifts
that
we've
gotten
them
to
them
and
you'll
do
something
similar
hopefully
fellas
that's
not
like
10
50
on
Christmas
Eve
all
right
but
don't
miss
this
don't
miss
the
opportunity
that
God
is
giving
you
not
just
this
season
but
in
every
season
in
every
moment
in
every
hour
of
every
day
to
share
the
good
news
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
and
if
you're
like
well
Bo
I'm
not
an
expert
in
what
the
Bible
says
what
if
they
ask
a
question
that
I
can't
give
an
answer
to
what
if
they
say
something
that's
confusing
what
if
they
reject
it
then
can
we
learn
from
the
faith
of
these
shepherds
can
we
just
go
and
can
we
just
tell
the
truth
of
God
through
the
power
of
God
that's
evidenced
in
the
life
of
your
testimony
and
if
you're
asking
yourself
another
question
this
morning
but
I
don't
have
a
testimony
well
if
that's
true
in
just
a
moment
the
worship
team
will
come
up
on
stage
prayer
encouragers
will be
on the
sides
I'll
be
down
front
and
if
you
don't
have
a
testimony
come
talk
to
me
because
I
would
love
to
tell
you
about
Jesus
would
you
pray
with
me
Lord
we
thank
you
for
the
beauty
of
this
story
Lord
we
thank
you
for
the
hope
and
the
reminder
of
the
gospel
God
I
pray
that
in
the
simplicity
and
the
beauty
of
the
songs
that
our
kids
sang
this
morning
Lord
in
the
testimony
we
see
in
the
lives
of
these
shepherds
in
the
message
that
is
relayed
to
them
Lord
from
the
angels
Lord
that
it
would
register
Lord
in
our
heart
glory
to
God
in
the
highest
the
good
news
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
God
found
in
your
grace
and
your
mercy
toward
us
a
sinful
people
not
in
our
goodness
Lord
in
yours
that
what
comes
is
peace
on
earth
a
way
that
is
made
a
treaty
that
has
been
signed
a
peace
that
is
had
a
peace
that
cannot
be
broken
between
God
and
his
children
or
we
thank
you
or
we
thank
you
that
we
did
not
get
what
we
deserve
but
we
got
in
your
kindness
which
you
gave
to
us
and
while
this
gift
is
free
to
us
Lord
it
cost
you
greatly
it
cost
you
the
life
of
your
son
so
Lord
we
thank
you
for
this
free
costly
gift
of
grace
and
God
may
we
live
in
the
good
will
that
you
have
given
us
we
are
not
enemies
we
are
not
combatants
but
in
Jesus
Christ
we
are
sons
and
daughters
of
the
living
God
I pray
if
there's
anyone
here
who
does
not
know
Jesus
Christ
is
their
Lord
and
Savior
where
they
may
know
religion
they
may
know
practices
but
they
do
not
have
a
testimony
that's
filled
with
the
power
of
Jesus
or
that
today
through
the
power
of
your
Holy
Spirit
and
the
drawing
of
their
heart
or
that
you
would
open
them
up
to
receive
the
truth
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
God
I pray
that
they
would
receive
it
that
they
would
believe
it
that
they
would
confess
it
God
I pray
that
through
the
power
of
your
Holy
Spirit
Lord
that
they
would
be
changed
transformed
moved
from
death
to
life
and
that
God
they
would
go
from
this
place
praising
you
worshiping
you
obeying
you
not
so
that
they
can
earn
your
favor
but
Lord
because
they
have
it
may
they
live
as
those
who
just
gained
an
inheritance
greater
than
all
the
diamonds
and
all
the
gold
of
this
world
Jesus
thank
you
it's
in
your
name
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
another
episode
in
the
meantime
you
can
stay
up
to
date
with
everything
happening
at
Willow Ridge
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at
willowridgechurch.org
thanks again
for listening
you