Children Bible Overview 105 10/05/09

THE KING JESUS WAS BORN IN A MANGER,

AND SHEPHERDS CAME TO SEE HIM

Teachers to read bible scripture: <Lk 2:1-20>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <Lk 2:14>

Recap
Children, last week, we saw how an angel revealed himself to Mary and told her that she would be
with child who would be named Jesus. Mary hence conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Introduction
At that time, Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. An angel appeared to him and said, “Joseph,
do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because He will save His
people from their sins.” At that time, Caesar issued a decree that a census should be taken of the
entire Roman world. Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem to register with Mary.
Unexpectedly, the time came for the baby to be born. There was no room in the inn at that time. They
hence wrapped the baby in clothes and placed him in a manger. And there were shepherds living out
in the fields nearby in the town of Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the
Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby
wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger and this will be a sign to you.” Suddenly, a great company
of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into
heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the
manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word according to what the angel told them. Mary
also pondered over these things in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

1. The angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people,
because today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ
the Lord.”
1) The birth of Jesus is the greatest news in heaven (heavenly kingdom) and on earth
(the whole world). This is because the coming of Jesus Christ will save God’s people
from sins and the clutches of Satan.
2) Therefore, the Lord Jesus was born in the town of David (the King’s town). However,
the place where the Lord Jesus was born is a place people would never have
thought of, which is the manger (an extremely inferior and dirty place) = Although the
Lord Jesus is King, the purpose why He came to earth was to save God’s people
who are suffering, inferior, powerless and are bounded.
3) Children, you are God’s children. Therefore, we are Kings like Jesus Christ.
Therefore, regardless of the conditions we are brought up in (intelligent or otherwise,
rich or otherwise, beautiful or otherwise), we are all God’s glorious children. Do not
be inferior, do not compare and the more so, do not be proud. This is because the
purpose of why we are born to this earth with all the conditions that God has given us
is to save and help many of God’s people who are suffering, inferior, powerless and
bounded.
2. God however told this great news that concerned all people to the shepherds first.
1) Who are the shepherds? They are people who are very poor, suffering and have little
education. They had to watch their flocks at night and people all looked down on
them. However, they are people who know God and love God’s people.
2) Therefore, although the birth of Jesus is the greatest news in the entire world, God
chose the shepherds and revealed to them the good news first. This is because the
coming of the Lord is to save and heal all those suffering and wandering, God’s
people who are wandering.
3) Children, we are like the shepherds at times, who have many problems, are looked
down upon by others, suffering and wandering right? However, the Lord Jesus loves
us and He looks at us with importance. He came to this earth for us. Therefore, if we
love Jesus, love His words, God will surely reveal to us.

3. The angels praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom His favor rests.”

1) Why is the glory given to God? This is because God is the One who created
everything on this earth. He is the only True God. His heart continues to love His
people, His plans continue to bless His people and His eyes are always on His
people.
2) Who are the people whom God is pleased with? They are the ones living on this
earth who believe and know Jesus Christ, are willing to listen to Him and submit to
His words. Just like the shepherds, regardless of how inferior and powerless they
were, and people all looked down on them, but when they heard the words of God
spoken through the angels, they immediately believed and followed. These are
people whom God is pleased with.
3) Children, we only need to be successful in one thing today! That is, to become a
person whom God is pleased with. We who believe and know Jesus Christ are
already children of God. However, many times, our hearts are attracted and tempted
by many things/ material things and toys. We often listen to the words of people
more than the words of God. Therefore, we often cannot see God revealing Himself
to us and also cannot hear the voice of God. However, if from today onwards, we are
willing to maintain a heart that continues to love God and want to submit to God’s
heart, God will definitely not abandon us. God will definitely reveal to us in our
situations/ problems.