“Simeon and Praise”
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Luke 2:21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the
name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Luke 2:22-24 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,
Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (23) (as it is written in the
Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), (24) and to offer a
sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young
pigeons.”
1. A MAN NAMED SIMEON
Luke 2:25-27 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and
devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. (26)
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen
the Lord’s Messiah. (27) Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the
parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
2. THE TWO STATEMENTS OF SIMEON
Luke 2:28-32 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
(29) “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in
peace. (30) For my eyes have seen your salvation, (31) which you have prepared in the
sight of all nations: (32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people
Israel.”
Luke 2:33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:34-35 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is
destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
spoken against, (35) so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword
will pierce your own soul too.”

“Shepherds and Angels”
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Luke 2:8-20 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. (9) 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. (11) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.” (13) Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
(15) When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (16) So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. (17) When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (18) and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. (19) But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart. (20) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
SHOW – Two Cherub – On screen.
SHOW – Sistene Madonna on screen.
1. THE ANGEL’S APPEARANCE
1 Samuel 16:11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will
cause great joy for all the people.
2. THE ANGEL’S WORDS
Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the
Lord.
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests.”
Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told
them about this child
Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

“Joseph, Mary, and the Baby”
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

1. THE BIRTH STORY IS HISTORICAL
Luke 2:1-3 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of
the entire Roman world. (2) (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was
governor of Syria.) (3) And everyone went to their own town to register.

2. THE BIRTH STORY IS MESSIANIC
Luke 2:4-5 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. (5) He
went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a
child. 
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 For 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. (7) Of the greatness of his government and
peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and
forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

3. THE BIRTH STORY IS A CONTRAST
Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, (7) and she gave
birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no guest room available for them.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he
was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might
become rich.

“Where Can I Get Confidence?”
INSECURITY
Exodus 3:7-10 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have
heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. (8) So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (9) And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. (10) So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the
Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”
Exodus 4:10-16 Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been
eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (11) The LORD said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the LORD? (12) Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (13) But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (14) Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. (15) You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. (16) He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him.

1. BEING CLOSE TO GOD DOES NOT ELIMINATE INSECURITY

2. MOSES HAD A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED ADDRESSED
Exodus 4:10 “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to
your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Acts 7:22 Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and
was powerful in speech and action.

3. GOD’S POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ’s power may rest on me.

“I’m Not Good Enough”
INSECURITY

1. I DON’T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH TO BE SAVED
Romans 8:31-34 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who
can be against us? (32) He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how
will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (33) Who will bring any
charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. (34) Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus

2. I DON’T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH TO STAY SAVED
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or
persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
(36) As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as
sheep to be slaughtered.” (37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

“I’m Unsure of Myself”
INSECURITY
1. GOD’S WORD TO US
Jeremiah 1:4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying…
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you
apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my
mother’s womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2. VOICING OUR INSECURITIES
Jeremiah 1:6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too
young.”
Jeremiah 1:9-10 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and
said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. (10) See, today I appoint you
over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to
build and to plant.”

3. GOD’S RESPONSE TO OUR INSECURITIES.
Jeremiah 1:7-8 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to
everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. (8) Do not be afraid of them, for I
am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

WE MUST THINK PROPERLY ABOUT THE END TIMES

2 Peter 3:1-2 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as 
reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

2. JUDGMENT IS COMING
2 Peter 3:3-7 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 

Acts 2:16-17 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

3. GOD CURRENTLY OFFERS PATIENCE

2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

4. JESUS WILL COME UNEXPECTEDLY

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

5. THE END SHOULD IMPACT US NOW

2 Peter 3:11-12(a) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

2 Peter 3:14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

6. WE HAVE A HOPE

2 Peter 3:12(b)-13 That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

A NEW CREATION

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

2. A NEW COMMUNITY
Matthew 16:17-18 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

A QUESTION FROM JOHN

Luke 7:18-23 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to 
the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

Acts 2:22 Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

2. A QUESTION FROM JESUS

Luke 9:18-20 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

John 20:30-31 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.