“The First Converts” | December 11, 2022

I.          “Faith In Action”
Luke 2:8-14
Luke 2:15-16; 7, 12; 1:26-55; 2:13-14; Eph 3:4-6
Hebrews 11:6; Lk 2:12, 16; Php 2:1-11; Ro 3:21-30
Luke 1:39-45, 56
 
II.         “The Shepherd’s Revelation” 
Luke 2:17-19; Matt 17:5; Jn 14:6, 25-27; Heb 11:6
2 Corinthians 5:17-21; 2:18, 19; 33, 51; Jn 2:1-12
Luke 7:11-16; Jn 19:28-30
 
III.         “Saving Grace” 
Luke 2:20-21; 1Jn 4:13-16; 1Pe 1:3-9; Lk 2:18; Ro 3:21-25
Matthew 11:25-30
Hebrews 4:14-16; 3:12-4:13; Lk 2:21; 1:31, 59; 2:11
Matthew 1:18-25
 
Greek Word Study:
Shepherds: ‘poimen’: a shepherd (literal or figurative) meaning one who generally cares for flocks. Particularly (Lk 2:8, 15, 18, 20) Figuratively of Jesus as the Great Shepherd who watches over and provides for the welfare of the Church, His Flock “Chief Shepherd: ‘Poimano’ (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27; Jn 10:2, 11, 12, 14, 16; Hb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25)
Angel: ‘aggelos: from ‘aggello’ (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; (by implication) a pastor; - angel, messenger. Noun meaning messenger, one sent to announce and/or proclaim. An angel, a celestial messenger, a being superior to man. God is represented as surrounded by a host of beings of higher order than man. These He uses as messengers and agents and in promoting the welfare of humans (Mt 1:20; 18:10; Ac 7:30) As to numbers of angels see Hb 12:22; Rev 5:11. (Lk 2:15)
Made Known: ‘gnorizo’: from a derivative of ‘ginosko’ (to make known); make known, proclaim, tell. To others, generally, to make known, declare, reveal, with dative (Lk 2:15, 17)
Haste: ‘speudo’: probably strengthened from ‘pous’ (a foot); to speed: - make haste, hurry. (Lk 2:16)
Found: ‘aneurisko’: from ‘ana’ (upon, on, in) and ‘heurisko’ (to find); to find out: - find, seek out. (Lk 2:16)
Baby: ‘brephos’: an infant (lit. or fig.) baby, childhood, infant. A noun meaning child. Usually an infant, babe, suckling (Lk 2:16) Used metaphorically of those who have just embraced Christianity.
Saying: ‘rhema’: from ‘rheo’(to speak); an utterance, by implication a matter or topic (especially of narration, command, or dispute): - that which is spoken, a statement, a word. Spoken by metonymy for things spoken of a happening (Lk 1:37; 65; 2:15) Particularly, a word as uttered by a living voice: a saying (Lk 2:17, 50)
Wondered: ‘thaumazo’: from ‘thauma’ (wonder): the act of wondering; (by implication) to admire: - amaze, astonish, astound, marvel surprise, wonder. [not necessarily with Faith] (Lk 2:18)
Pondering: ‘sumballo’: from ‘sun’ (together) and ‘ballo’ (to throw or cast): - [to put together] to combine, (mentally) to consider. Ponder (Lk 2:19)
Glorifying1 and2 Praising3: ‘doxazo1 kai2 aineo3’: ‘doxazo’: to render glorious (to esteem glorious): - exalt, glorify, give glory, honor, magnify. From ‘doxa’ (glory) to glorify: To ascribe glory and honor to God, meaning to render glory to Him; to celebrate with praise, worship, and adoration1; ‘kai2’: meaning “and”; ‘aineo3’: from ‘ainos’ (praise): to praise God. Spoken in the NT only of God (Lk 2:13, 20…) [both verbs here used in the present active participle tense, conveying a linear action presenting an event as it occurs – an action which thrusts the storyline forward with great importance.]
Circumcised: ‘peritome’: from ‘peritemno’ (to cut around); the rite of circumcision. Circumcision – practiced by the Jews as a distinguishing sign of the Jewish Nation from Abraham under the Old Covenant. Correlates to Baptism in New Covenant as outward sign of the spiritual circumcision of the heart and affections, by putting the sins of the flesh off from the body ‘In Christ’ (Ro 2:28, 29; Php 3:3; Col 2:11) (Lk 2:21)