An Important Announcement
EXCUSE THE INTERRUPTION
This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. The broadcasters of your area in voluntary cooperation with the Federal, State and local authorities have developed this system to keep you informed in the event of an emergency. If this had been an actual emergency, (optional -- stations may mention the types of emergencies likely to occur in their area) the Attention Signal you just heard would have been followed by official information, news or instructions. This station (optional -- insert station call sign) serves the (operational area name) area. This concludes this test of the Emergency Broadcast System."
IT’S PERSONAL: “FOR YOU”
A. The shepherds were surprised at what they saw and heard. They did not expect to hear such songs or see such sights.
B. We are surprised that shepherds were chosen to receive this greatest of all announcements. We would expect that the heavenly choir would sing for a prestigious audience. Can you imagine the Metropolitan Opera putting on a performance for illiterate herdsmen?
C. We may never know why they were chosen, but the fact that they were chosen is a comfort to all of us ordinary people.
D. Paul suggests a possible reason in 1 Corinthians 1:26–29. God often chooses humble things for grand purposes, and ordinary people to do extraordinary deeds.
E. Now centuries later we must sill hear the message as a personal message. The fact that hundreds of years have passed and thousands upon thousands have heard must not diminish the impact of the message. It is still personal!
IT WAS UNIVERSAL - “FOR ALL PEOPLE”
IT WAS TIMELY - TODAY!
A. Spiritually it seems that every Christmas we are celebrating the birth of Christ for the first time.
B. Nationally and internationally we seem to need Christmas especially at this time.
C. Perhaps in your life Christmas has special meaning this year.
D. We must never be content with simply recalling a past event.
E. The famous Christmas carol says “Be born in us today!”
IT WAS TIMELESS - “A SAVIOR”
A. That’s what people needed then.
B. That’s what people need now.
C. That’s what people have needed in all the years between then and now.
D. That’s what people will need until the end of time.
It is never enough to just listen to the announcement even if we listen attentively. It is not enough to just listen to the announcement, even if we listen reverently. We must respond to this angelic announcement
While it is proper to pay special attention to these verses in December, it is equally true that they are important to us every day of the year. On any Sunday we could appropriately sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!” At any time of the year we could appropriately sing “O Come All Ye Faithful.”