“When You Feel Ordinary” (Luke 2:1-20)
Series: “Christmas Behind the Scenes”
Pastor Chris Mason
New Day Christian Church, Sarasota, FL
December 22, 2024
Good morning and Merry Christmas! It is great to be with you today as we celebrate our Savior being born into the world.
Have you ever just felt “ordinary”?
If it hasn’t happened to you yet it will someday!
At some point we all realize, I’m just an ordinary person, living an ordinary life. Now, the problem is that it takes people a lot longer to realize that today. We live in a culture where everybody gets a trophy. We’ve been taught that we can do and accomplish anything. And social media only exacerbates the problem. Everybody is a star; the world revolves around them.
The problem is that none of it is true.
When I first got married: I was determined that wouldn’t be ordinary husband. I’d be best husband ever! Take Megan on dates, write love notes, buy her flowers for no reason at all. Now, 25 yrs later: If I had to confess: I would confess that I’ve been pretty ordinary as a husband.
When my first child was born, I was determined I was not going to be an ordinary dad. I’ll be the best dad ever! I’m going to spend Quality time w/ each kid, I am going to be wise and loving… Honestly I’ve been pretty ordinary as a parent.
Someday you’ll realize Somebody once said, Always remember that you’re unique, just like everyone else. When that reality hits, I want you to remember: God brings hope to ordinary people!
Today, if you have your Bibles you can turn to Luke 2…as you’re turning there…we want to focus on one part of the Christmas story. The first people God told of his son’s birth: ordinary shepherds.
Luke 2 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Luke chapter 2 opens with Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem to register for the census, because Joseph was from the house and line of David. With that introduction, the stage is set…
We pick up the account in verse…
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And then the announcement…
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
These shepherds had every reason to feel ordinary. They had an ordinary job. It is estimated that there were up to 250,000 sheep in Israel b/c of sacrifices taking place at the temple. That’s a lot of shepherds! Being a shepherd was a simple, common, boring occupation. Nobody said, “I wanna be a shepherd when I grow up.” Worse than that: these shepherds: “Watching flocks AT NIGHT”. It’s hard to think of a more boring job than being a night watchman for a flock of sleeping sheep. They probably hoped for a prowling wolf to interrupt their night shift…at least it would give them something to do!
Not only was this an ordinary job…
but they were living in an ordinary town. Not a big city like Rome, Caesarea, Jerusalem. Nope, they’re just outside “The little town of Bethlehem.” Maybe there was a simple sign at edge of town: “Birthplace of King David.” But beyond that claim to fame, it was a boring little town. Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” (yawn) (bo-ring!) Maybe the town smelled good but beyond that… it was just an ordinary town.
It was also an ordinary time. We can’t quite fathom this today, but for these shepherds very little had changed in hundreds of yrs. For centuries it was the same life. Working the same job you’re your father, grandfather and even your great grandfather had. Wearing the same clothes, listening to same music, having the same old haircut…following the same religious rituals, eating the same foods, the same daily habits for 100s of years.
We live in an extraordinary time where the pace of change is so rapid: Every generation is living in a different world than their parents did. These shepherds were ordinary people with ordinary jobs, working outside an ordinary little town, at a very ordinary time.
Then… SUDDENLY.
[Luke 2:9-14 NIV] 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them,
(language indicates a sudden appearance) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, (light that shines from glory of God!) and they were terrified. Lit. “They feared a great fear.” Really afraid! (seeing this messenger-like angel from God-filled them with fear!) 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
(Don’t be afraid… this is GOOD news of GREAT JOY. A Savior has been born today. When you see a 1-day-old baby in a feeding trough in Bethlehem, you’ll know, that’s the one!)
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host (“host” is a military term – a mighty heavenly army) appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Have you Ever experienced one of God’s “suddenly” moments? Where you say, you know, “…I didn’t see that coming!”
I remember several of God’s “suddenly” moments, that I didn’t see it coming.
I was 14 years old, going to a Bible quizzing competition in Ocala, FL. I was living my ordinary teenage life…when I walked into the gym and from across the room saw the most beautiful girl I had ever seen from Norfolk, NE…SUDDENLY I’m in love until she agreed to marry me.
A few years later I move from Orlando, FL to Norfolk, NE to be with the woman I love. While there, I’m attending Nebraska Christian College. I’m asked to preach one weekend at a small church in Valparaiso, NE…SUDDENLY I’ve been called into vocational ministry.
A Few yrs later I’m married to that girl from Norfolk NE and she says “I’m pregnant.”…SUDDENLY I’m gonna be a parent. Happened 3 times…and what a blessing that has been.
God is in those suddenly moments. You didn’t see it coming. But he interrupts your ordinary life with his GOOD NEWS and your life will never be the same.
But of all the “suddenly” moments this is the biggest in history. Suddenly a great company of heavenly hosts appeared to these ordinary shepherds, and the whole world would never be same.
I love the shepherds’ response:
[Luk 2:15-20 NIV] 15 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, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary… and Joseph…, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
They FOUND the baby. The Shepherds Found the baby. How’d they find him? Bible doesn’t say. But I bet it wasn’t too hard. This is not a big city; it’s a small town. Like the size of your neighborhood… or smaller. They could easily go door-to-door asking about newborn baby. News travels fast in a small town. Maybe everybody knew the young couple from Nazareth just had baby in middle of night.
Or maybe God miraculously directed them we don’t know.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
They were so excited, couldn’t keep the news to themselves. When we have good news we want to share it. When we watch a good movie…oh you have to go see it, it is so good! When we find a great new restaurant…you have to try their fajitas…they are amazing! The Shepherds had come face to face with the Savior of the world and they couldn’t keep it quiet. They told everyone what they had experienced.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Notice something here… The shepherds returned! Back to those ordinary sheep! Back to their ordinary boring jobs! They had this amazing moment and then had to return!
But now they had a story to tell…Can you imagine from that time forward at every campfire…When other shepherds start telling tales of adventure…They would say… “I was one of shepherds who visited baby Jesus. I saw Jesus in the manger.
You and I have a story to tell!
God has changed your life in these suddenly moments – healed you, saved your marriage, provided financially – those are stories people need to hear. Tell your story…
We need to testify – God wants us to tell our story – I need to tell the story of his GOOD NEWS!
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Of all the people, why did God choose shepherds…? They couldn’t bring exp. gifts like the wise men who came later. They couldn’t bring spiritual blessings like a priest or rabbi could. They weren’t doctors or nurses who could assist in the baby’s birth.
They’re just these dirty, smelly, ordinary shepherds!
Why shepherds? All they could do: show up / praise God / tell the story. And you know what…that was enough.
The next time you’re feeling ordinary…
Remember that God came for ordinary people like shepherds…ordinary people like you and me.
The good news of Christmas is for Everybody. As you leave here and return to your ordinary life. Be like the shepherds: Show up, praise God, and tell your story.
You have had these “suddenly” moments when God interrupted your ordinary life and did something extraordinary.
Those extraordinary God-moments are important Tell your stories. Tell them to you children and grandchildren…the moments of God’s glory…
Most importantly you have a salvation story. For me: I was in elementary school living my ordinary kid life…
Each week my parents would give me 4 quarters. 2 to put in our Sunday School class offering and 2 to put in the church offering. This particular week, I decided to put 1 quarter in the Sunday School offering and 1 quarter in the church offering. I also decided that I would keep the additional 50 cents to buy myself and apple pie at the convenient store on Monday after school. On Monday after school, sure enough, I bought that Apple Pie, but you know what…it didn’t taste very good. For the first time in my life, I felt convicted of my sins. It wasn’t a mistake. I knew what I was doing was wrong…and I did it anyway. I wasn’t a mistaker…I was a sinner. I needed a Savior. I repented of my sins, asking God for forgiveness and soon after…I went down front at Southeast Christian Church in Orlando, FL and got baptized. That one suddenly moment in my life changed everything. Of all the suddenly moments in my life… that’s the top one.
Your life may look a little ordinary today, but make no mistake: There was a day God interrupted your life with his “suddenly” moment. The day God met you and saved your soul…You have seen his glory…For you, that tops all other stories. It means your life is not meaningless. And your future is not hopeless. Your sins have been forgiven, your soul has been saved.
Your life is not ordinary, it’s extra-ordinary, extraordinary… not b/c of anything you’ve done, but because…Suddenly one day he visited you and your life will never be the same.
If he hasn’t done that for you YET… he’s knocking right now. This could be the day for you…God will interrupt your ordinary life and SUDDENLY do something extraordinary. Your life will never be same. Like these shepherds you’ll have a story to tell…if you’ll open up the door of your heart and let him come in.
Today could be your suddenly moment!
–
Be sure to check your spam folder for your emailed notes!