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Less is More: FearLESS  Luke 2:1-12

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  1. Biggest Holiday Fears

  2. What are your biggest fears for the holidays?

  3. More than 2,200 adults 18 and older were surveyed last month. Here are the top 5 holiday fears:

  4. 1. 75% said they were worried about economy.

  5. 2. Missing Loved ones or experiencing grief

  6. 3. Affording gifts

  7. 4. Family dynamics

  8. 5. Feeling Lonely

  9. Some other holiday fears maybe:

  10. Letting people down — worrying the gifts, gatherings, or effort won’t meet expectations.

  11. Conflict resurfacing — old arguments, unresolved tension, or difficult family relationships.

  12. Overcommitment — saying “yes” to too many events and feeling overwhelmed.

  13. Comparing their Christmas to others — social media pressure to have the “perfect” holiday.

  14. FOMO — feeling like everyone else has more joy, more family, or more celebration.

  15. I don’t know about you, but I feel some of these fears too. I fear that my gifts, our gatherings wont meet others expectations. This is my first Christmas without my mom. I fear missing mom. And even though we’ve already purchased all our gifts, everything feels more expensive. Maybe it’s the news, maybe it’s reality—but fear can drive our decisions, and usually not in the right direction.

  16. We have been in our Christmas series titled Less is More. We saw Zechariah become speechless. We saw last week that God’s Kingdom is Endless. And today we are going to learn how we can become fearless.

  17. 1 Timothy 1:15

    1 Timothy 1:15

  18. 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—

  19. As we have worked our way through the Christmas story this year, we have come across several people who were afraid. Not because economics or family dynamics, but they were afraid at the visit from God’s angel Gabriel.

  20. Angels show up repeatedly in the Christmas story, and every time the response is the same—fear. Not because they look like Hallmark decorations, but because they are mighty warriors of God. That’s why they always begin with “Do not be afraid.”

  21. They’re not little babies with wings; they are warriors. In 2 Kings 19, one angel struck down 185,000 enemy soldiers in a single night.

  22. 2 Kings 6:15-17

    2 Kings 6:15–17

  23. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

  24. That’s the kind of presence that appeared to Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds. No wonder they were terrified.

  25. The Bible says angels can sometimes take on a human appearance—Hebrews 13:2 even suggests we may have interacted with one without realizing it. But when they show up in their glory, people fall on their faces. Their appearance is unexpected, overwhelming, and often interrupts ordinary life with the purposes of God.

    Hebrews 13:2

  26. So when an angel shows up in the Christmas story, it’s God breaking into human fear with a message: “Do not be afraid.”

  27. OK. Back to the Christmas story…

  28. Week one: Zechariah is serving at the Temple…

  29. Zachariah is startled and gripped by fear. First, he was in a place where there should be no-one but himself, serving in the Temple he is initially startled, then when he sees Gabriel. Zechariah was startled and gripped with fear—not because he saw a cute baby with wings, but because he was standing before Gabriel, God’s magnificent and powerful messenger.

  30. Week two: Mary is visited by Gabriel…

  31. Mary wasn’t so afraid at the sight of the angel, Gabriel, rather at his words, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” She wondered what kind of greeting she had just received from this heavenly being.

  32. Was she in trouble? Was she in danger? What was the purpose of this visit?

  33. Today: Let me remind us of one more angelic encounter … So if you have your bible open them to the gospel of Luke 1. If you don’t have a bible we have some on the back table — please take one as a gift from us to you. Luke is the 3rd book of the New Testament and is one of 4 books that we call the gospels. That word gospel means good news. Because Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell us the good news of Jesus. They tells about what he did and said. They tell us about his birth, life, teaching, death and resurrections. Luke is on the right side of your bible right after Mark and right before John.

  34. Luke 2:1-7

    Luke 2:1–7

  35. Even Joseph’s journey shows God orchestrating His plan in the middle of uncertainty—because nothing God does is accidental.

  36. Joesph Traveled by Miles. Joseph took Mary and traveled nearly 70 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Joesph Traveled by History. Joseph went to Bethlehem to be counted because he was of the house of David. God worked through the Roman emperor to get the plan accomplished. Joseph Traveled by God’s Plan.

  37. Micah 5:2

    Micah 5:2

  38. “But you, Bethlehem Eph-ra-thah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

  39. Luke 2:8-12

    Luke 2:8–12

  40. Shepherding was among the lowliest of jobs. Many people looked down on their work because it was almost impossible for them to strictly observe the Law. So, from the beginning, God extends his mercy to the outcast, the marginalized of society.

  41. But it’s interesting that God uses the imagery of the shepherd to teach us many things…

  42. Shepherd is a symbol of those who care for God’s people.

  43. David - was the shepherd boy who became a king

  44. The elders of Israel - called shepherds

  45. Jesus - ‘the great shepherd”

  46. The elders of the church - shepherd the flock

  47. Shepherds were keeping watch over the flocks, sheep, lambs. Jesus would be called the “Lamb of God.” He would become the ultimate sacrificial lamb, giving his life once for all.

  48. This morning I want us to focus, not on the fear that these encounters brought up, but the response of the angels when they saw the fear.

  49. BECOMING FEARLESS.

  50. What is God’s message to us in the face of our fears? Lets learn from the encounters we have seen. 1st Zechariah

  51. Luke 1:11-13

    Luke 1:11–13

  52. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.

  53. 1. IN THE FACE OF FEARS: PRAY

  54. The angel tells Zechariah that his prayers have been heard. It’s obvious to me that Zechariah has been in the habit of praying. Gabriel tells him that his prayers have been heard.

  55. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s heart. A healthy prayer life recognizes who God is and who we are in relation to God and puts us in the correct standing before Him. We do not go to God expecting something in return, we go to Him with respect and He responds according to His will and mercy.

  56. This beautiful excerpt from Daniel’s prayer on behalf of the Jews exiled in Babylon shows us a profound truth about prayer—that God answers our prayers because of his mercy, not our good works.

  57. Daniel 9:18

    Daniel 9:18

  58. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

  59. Many believers think their good works obligate or persuade God to act on their behalf. And while God does call us to live holy lives, it is not our obedience that moves God to answer our prayers, it is his great mercy toward us.

  60. Bottom line—God’s mercy, not our goodness, is the basis for answered prayers. Fear usually makes us act. Prayer redirects that action toward God. Prayer takes our fear-driven reactions and turns them into faith-driven responses. So in the face of fears with prayer.

  61. Look at Mary’s Encounter

  62. Luke 1:30-31

    Luke 1:30–31

  63. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

  64. 2. IN THE FACE OF FEARS: TRUST

  65. Mary may have been afraid of what all this might mean, but she had already found favor with God because of her life. Because she was found to be righteous. Mary is described by God as “highly favored” (Luke 1:28). The phrase found or highly favored comes from a single Greek word, which means “much grace.” Mary received God’s grace. And because of receiving this grace she would have to trust God to accomplish His will. Mary didn’t have all the answers. And neither do we. But trust is not about knowing everything—it’s about surrendering everything. What was Mary’s final response to the Gabriel? I am the Lord’s servant. Trust.

    Luke 1:28

  66. Psalm 56:3-4

    Psalms 56:3–4

  67. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—

  68. in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

  69. We too can overcome fear as we learn to trust in God more and more.

  70. Now look at the shepherds encounter.

  71. Luke 2:9-10

    Luke 2:9–10

  72. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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.

  73. 3. in the face of fear: THERE IS GOOD NEWS

  74. In the face of fear the angel spoke of Good News. What is the good news?

  75. Luke 2:11

    Luke 2:11

  76. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

  77. Here’s another way to say it….

  78. 1 Timothy 1:15

    1 Timothy 1:15

  79. 15Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—

  80. Fear may shout loudly, but the Good News speaks louder.

  81. Zechariah. Mary. Shepherds all gave full acceptance of the good news they had been given. at the end of the day, no matter what happens… we have the good news of Jesus!

  82. 1 John 4:18

    1 John 4:18

  83. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

  84. God’s perfect love shown to us through Jesus. A baby born who would become the good news for all the world. Darkness isolates. Fear isolates. And Jesus came as the Light that breaks into both.

  85. ALCATRAZ was at the time the prison for the worst of the worst criminals. Names like Capone, Whitey Bulger, Machine Gun Kelly, and Mickey Cohen. When inmates faced more punishment, they were put in the hole. Or isolation cells in the basement. And it was TOTAL DARKNESS. For WEEKS AT A TIME. Inmates said it was the worst punishment imaginable—total darkness, total isolation.

  86. It reminds me of Isaiah. He talks about people living and walking in darkens and the light that was coming.

  87. Isaiah 9:2; 6

    Isaiah 9:2

  88. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

  89. 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  90. Whatever your fear is this Christmas—loss, finances, loneliness, the future—God is not distant from it.

  91. Pray—He hears you.

  92. Trust—He is faithful.

  93. Believe the Good News—Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

  94. Christmas tells us this: In the face of fear, pray, trust, and believe the Good News—Jesus has come.

  95. The light has dawned. Step out of the darkness and into Christ today.

  96. The good news of Christmas is that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. You and me. He has broken into our darkness and isolation and the light of the world has dawned. Will you step out of the darkness and into the Light of Jesus today? Come put your trust in Jesus. Repent and be baptized today!