Just a shepherd… laughing.

Pastor Kent Landhuis

THEME - The angel promised good news of great joy for all people.

TEXT - Luke 2:10

1. Unexpected interruption.  

Luke 2:8-9

What is joy?

2. Unexpected invitation.

Luke 2:10-11

Who needs joy?

3. Unexpected sign.

Luke 2:12-14

Where do we find joy?

4. Unexpected glory.

Luke 2:15-20

What happens when we find joy?

NEXT STEPS

1. Celebrate joy beyond circumstances.

2. Translate joy to praise.

3. Share joy with the joyless.

GO DEEPER - I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow suffered greatly. His wife, Fannie, died when her dress caught fire. Henry tried to smother the flame with his own body, but it was too late. Two years later his 18-year-old son Charley left home and signed up to serve in Lincoln’s Union Army where he was severely wounded in battle. 

On Christmas day, 1863, Longfellow - a 57-year-old widowed father of six children - sought to capture in writing both his despair and his hope. He heard church bells that day and the singing of "peace on earth" (Luke 2:14), but he saw a world of injustice and violence that mocked the truthfulness of this hopeful outlook. 

He ultimately found joy in spite of circumstances and wrote the poem that would later become "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

LYRICS

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play

And mild and sweet their songs repeat

Of peace on earth good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head

There is no peace on earth I said

For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells, more loud and deep

God is not dead, nor does He sleep

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail

With peace on earth, good will to men

Find more details of the story HERE.