This being my 49th year to preach just before Christmas, I've come to think that the most helpful thing we can do for one another as Christians in general, and what I can do as a shepherd to nurture your soul, is to help you think clearly about what you do in your life and your family this time of year.Whatever you choose to do with the holiday, make sure you meditate on what is most important and your interactions all include the message of God sending us a Savior. I'm pointing you to 12 announcements about the appearing of the Son of God, to help you with that. There are lessons for us from each of their examples.1 - Gabriel To Zacharias (1:11-20)2 - Gabriel To Mary (1:26-38)3 - Elizabeth To Mary (1:41-45)4 - Mary To The Universe (1:46-55)5 - Angel To Joseph (Matthew 1:18-23)6 - Angels To The Shepherds (2:8-14)7 - Simeon To Joseph And Mary (2:25-35)8 - Anna To All Believers (2:36-38)9 - Magi To Jesus, Joseph and Mary (Matthew 2:1-11)10 - Teachers To One Another (2:46-48)11 - Jesus To Joseph And Mary (2:49)12 - John To The Crowds (3:7-9)

Luke 2:1–7 (LSB): Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.Today and next Lord's Day we will comb through the first three chapters of Luke (with a cross reference here and there) and see The Proclaimers Of The Appearing. Each one emphasizes an aspect of the birth of Christ that we need to know. From them we will learn better how to explain what we are celebrating.1 - Gabriel to Zacharias (1:11-20)2 - Gabriel to Mary (1:26-38)3 - Elizabeth to Mary (1:41-45)4 - Mary to the Universe (1:46-55)5 - Angel to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-23)6 - Angels to the Shepherds (2:8-14)7 - Simeon to Joseph and Mary (2:25-35)

2 Contrasting Aspects that Reveal God's Providential Plan for You1 - Cycles of Reprobation & Restoration (4) a - The Failed First-Generation (4:1-16) b - The Futile Following Generations (4:17-25)2 - Cycles of Creation & Cessation (5)

2 Aspects of Preparation to Motivate Your Heart1 - The Prophetic Foretelling (5-38)2 - The Prophetic Fulfilling (39-66)

2 Contrasting Aspects that Reveal God's Providential Plan for You1 - Cycles of Reprobation & Restoration (4) a - The Failed First-Generation (4:1-16) b - The Futile Following Generations (4:17-25)2 - Cycles of Creation & Cessation (5)

The Roman governor in Jerusalem, Claudius Lysias, whisked Paul away by night to the city of Caesarea, where he handed him off to the regional governor named Felix. Let's tune in as Felix Flounders.1 - The Flimsy Accusations (1-9)2 - The Firm Defense (10-21)3 - The Flaky Judge (22-27)

We already knew Paul intended to complete the third missionary journey, then go to Jerusalem, and then he planned to go to Rome. Back in Ephesus:Acts 19:21: Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."While we survey the chapter, I want you to think like a X-ray machine. We're going to see what is here, but we are also going to look beneath the surface at what I'm calling Fingerprints Of The Invisible Hand a case study on the Providence of God.If the Providence of God can be described as His invisible hand at work in the world, in Acts 23 we can see Ten Fingerprints Of The Hand Of God. These are samples of the kinds of things that you do or you encounter all the time.1 - Your Life Circumstances (1)2 - Evil People Who Trouble You (2)3 - Working Despite Your Blunders (3-5)4 - The Foibles Of Sinners (6-9)5 - People Who Don't Know It (10-11)6 - Murderers And Liars (12-15)7 - Overhearing And Whistleblowing (16-22)8 - Clueless Unbelievers (23-24)9 - Self-Serving Pomposity (25-33)10 - Responsibility-Dodging Bureaucracy (34-35)

3 Movements of Cataclysmic Change that God Orchestrated to Reveal Man's Culpability1 - Deception & Defiance (1-8)2 - Discovery & Decision (9-19)3 - Destruction & Dejection (20-24)