Sharing… Boldly! (Your Gift to Jesus #3)

(Training message for House Church and individual use: preached 12/6 – 12/12/2020)

Bible reading from Luke 2:8-20:

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

(Luke 2:8-20)

I. Should you boldly share the Gospel?

“And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” (Luke 2:17)

II. Should you boldly awaken your listener?

“And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:18)

III. Should you allow yourself to be used to boldly change lives?

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

Mary was always happy, because

1. She was obviously always sharing her faith even before the Angel appeared.
2. She shared her faith with the angel! (How blessed that angel was that day!)
3. She shared her faith with her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist!
4. She shared her faith at the wedding!
5. She shared her faith at the cross!
6. She shared her faith in the upper room!
7. From beginning to the end, always, in every situation, without timidity and fear and compromise and therefore without denying your Lord…
  1. Share your faith!
  2. Share it with your mother, when you talk to her on the phone!
  3. Share it with your friends, when you talk to them on the phone or in the chat room!
  4. Share it every chance you get!
    1. Look for chances to share it with your family!
    2. Look for chances to share it at work!
    3. Look for chances to share it at school!
    4. Look for chances!
      1. Be an agent from Heaven here on Earth!
      2. Be a witness of the wonders you have seen!
      3. Be an ambassador!
      4. Be an ambassador!!
      5. Be an ambassador… for Christ!

O’ Luke 2:20, let’s read it again… and then lets be that, let’s do that!

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”

Return, o’ shepherds, o’ Christian, and “feed my sheep!”
- Return, o’ shepherd, return!
Glorify God, o’ believer “for all” that you have “heard and seen!”
- Let your light so shine to all the world!
Praise God, o’ humble; like the angels first sang praises unto you!
Tell it unto them, tell it unto your family, “as it was told unto” you!
Tell it unto them, tell it unto your friends, “as it was told unto” you!
Tell it unto them, tell it unto your loved ones!
Tell it unto everyone!

Tell it! Tell it!! Tell it unto them “as it was told unto” you!

Oh, let us conclude this message as it was begun. Let us allow these shepherds to tell us what they told Mary, and what she and they doubtlessly later told the physician Luke, when, moved by the Spirit of God, recorded what they told, recorded their continued testimony of what they had “heard and seen” that day. Let us finish as we began by hearing that Good News again.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” (Luke 2:8)