✝ Daily Encouragement (12/15/23) "Spreading The Word"
Published: Fri, 12/15/23
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Friday, December 15, 2023
 Manger Scene ("Precious Moments" figurines!) "Spreading The
Word"
Message summary:
Today we will consider the shepherd's message and an example for all of us.
Listen
to our
message on your audio player. (Will have some background noise due to drywall finishers.
"And when they (the shepherds) saw it (the original manger scene), they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:17,18,20). You could have stepped into creation
With fire for all to see Brought every tribe and nation to their knees Arriving with the host of heaven In royal robe and crown The rulers of the earth all bowing down But You chose meekness over majesty Wrapped Your power in humanity 
The Nativity on the Green in Taunton,
MA
Manger scenes are popular Christmas decorations, an attempt to visually recreate the events described in Luke
2 at the birth of Christ. Many of us have them in our homes, our churches and even in public places. We served a church in Taunton, Massachusetts in the nineties. Taunton was famous for the holiday decorations on the town green which still includes a manger scene. Thus far the rabid secularists seeking to eradicate expressions of Christian faith from the public square have been unable to have it removed. When we lived up that way our choir had the opportunity to share selections from a Christmas
musical as part of the large community "Lighting of the Green" festival.
The manger scenes tend to be a composite of what the Bible teaches us about Christ's birth and usually includes the wise men. But in Luke's account the manger scene would only include Mary, Joseph, the infant Jesus and the shepherds. The first evangelists were some pretty smelly, sun parched shepherds. They had witnessed the infant Jesus lying in a manger and heard the Gospel from a heavenly choir. They had gone to witness the scene. Now they spread the word. At the time of Christ's birth the Bible clearly states that after the shepherds had seen Jesus "they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child". That "saying" is the heart of the Christmas Gospel, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord". They made that saying known and thus became the first Christian evangelists leading all who heard to wonder at what the shepherds told them. Spreading the word has been the mission of believers ever since, commanded in the Great Commission and demonstrated in the Book of Acts. Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". He's still building His church and all believers are a part of that building process. The shepherds left the scene "glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them". We have no additional Biblical information concerning these men after that eventful night. Like so many at that time, through the ages of the Church and in our own day, they likely had to overcome some deep hurts and losses as they lived out the rest of their lives on this earth. It's always been that way. But that word surely sustained them, "good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord".
The shepherds were the first evangelists at the birth of Christ and we are all called to follow their example
in spreading the word. All over the world, including your town and mine, this Gospel is bearing fruit and growing today. Our mission is to make known the Gospel, the good news of great joy. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, follow the shepherd's example and look for opportunities to spread the word.
Go tell it on the
mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere, Go tell it on the mountain, Our Jesus Christ is born.
Be encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, all over the world Your Spirit is moving. And You move through people such as the shepherds who told all they knew concerning the Christ Child. Two thousand years later we have so much more knowledge and experiences to share with those around us because we have the Word of God that shows Your divine character and tells us of Your great and miraculous deeds. Your choice to enter this earth in such a lowly and timely manner is a story that not only the shepherds were commissioned to go out
and tell, but it is the commission of all believers to spread this amazing story. It's not just for the people of Jerusalem or simply a segment of our society or a select period of time in history. Instead Christ's coming affects people of all tongues, tribes, and nations, from the north to the south, from the east to west - all who will call upon the Lord Jesus to be saved. Help us to be bold and unwavering in our quest to reach the lost and dying world in which we live.
Amen.Special Year-end Financial
Appeal
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Mount Joy PA 17552
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Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
717-823-0592
Daily Encouragement Net
https://www.dailyencouragement.net
Mail service provider is aweber.com
495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
USA
Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options