The text this week is Luke 2:8-20. Once again, we won’t look at every verse, but at the way this episode, the story of the shepherds at Bethlehem is summarized in David Jackson’s song “Shepherd’s Call.” Our worship theme will be “Abiding in the Fields,” and our visual theme will be flocks of sheep in winter.
Here is the link to the YouTube playlist: 171217 Heart Prep
Prelude:
Noel – Lauren Daigle
Worship:
Angels We Have Heard on High – Hymn #132
1 Samuel 17:12-15 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years. 13The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. And the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14David was the youngest. The three eldest followed Saul, 15but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 17:34-36 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
Micah 5:2-5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5And he shall be their peace.
Luke 2:8-11 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – Hymn #128
While Shepherds Watched their Flocks
To God Be the Glory – Hymn #66
Offertory:
Shepherd’s Call
Benediction:
O Come All Ye Faithful
