1) Caesar Augustus decreed a census that required everyone to return to their ancestral home. Joseph took a pregnant Mary to Bethlehem, as it was his ancestral home. 2) While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger, as there was no room for them in the inn. Shepherds in the fields were visited by an angel announcing Jesus' birth. 3) The shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Jesus just as the angel had said. They spread the word of what they had witnessed, bringing great joy and wonder to all who heard.

1. Luke 2:1-20
1

2. 2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to
God for His
indescribable
gift!
2

3. Luke 2:1-20
3

4. A moment in timeNow in those days a decree went out
from Caesar Augustus, that a census
be taken of all the inhabited earth.
This was the first census taken while
Quirinius was governor of Syria. And
everyone was on his way to register
for the census, each to his own city.1-3 4

5. A good marker
Quirinius-a trouble shooter for Augustus
Census taker-12 BC to 16 AD
Served twice as Governor of Syria
Jesus’ DOB probably 6 BC
5

6. Familiar passage
4-5 6
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, in order to
register along with Mary, who was
engaged to him, and was with child.

7. Why Bethlehem?
This was a small Judean village about six miles southwest
of Jerusalem and, therefore, about seventy miles south of
Nazareth. It was known in the OT as Ephrath (cf. Gen.
35:19), which became Bethlehem Ephrathah of Micah 5:2.
This was a way to distinguish it from a Bethlehem in the
north of Israel.
This city is known as the city where Boaz and Ruth, who
were ancestors of King David, lived (cf. Ruth 4:11). David’s
father, Jesse, lived here also (cf. 1 Sam. 17:12). Because it
was the ancestral home of David, it was the prophesied
site of Jesus’ birth
7

8. 700 years before
Micah 5:2 8
But as for you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, Too little to be among
the clans of Judah, From you One
will go forth for Me to be ruler in
Israel. His goings
forth are from long
ago, From the days

9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
9

10. The most pivotable moment in history
While they were there, the days were
completed for her to give birth. And
she gave birth to her firstborn son;
and she wrapped Him in cloths, and
laid Him in a manger, because there
was no room for them in the inn.
6-7 10

11. A little language trick
No room in the inn (census)
No room in the spare bedroom (family)
11

12. Time passes
First born
Wrapped like all babies
Laid in a feeding trough
12

13. Away in the Manger
13

14. First to be told
8-9 14
In the same region there were some
shepherds staying out in the fields
and keeping watch over their flock
by night. And an angel of the Lord
suddenly stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shone
around them; and they
were terribly frightened.

15. Shepherds
Their connection to King David
Not the most accepted
Aware of the prophecy
Jesus Lamb of God
8-9 15

16. Angelic message“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you
good news of great joy which will be for
all the people; for today in the city of
David there has been born for you a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will
be a sign for you: you will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
10-12 16

17. An Expanded Translation by Wuest
And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the army of heaven, praising
God and saying, Glory in the highest places
to God, and upon earth peace among men
of good will.
13-14 17

18. Angels
Army
Praising God
Punctuation the proclamation
18

19. Angels We Have Heard On High
19

20. Imagine the emotional swing
When the angels had gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds began
saying to one another, “Let us go straight
to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that
has happened which the Lord has made
known to us.”
15 20

21. Why these shepherds?
Men of action
Saw God’s hand
They told others
Men of goodwill
21

22. O Come All Ye Faithful
22

23. Faithfulness rewarded
So they came in a hurry and found their way to
Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the
manger. When they had seen this, they made
known the statement which had been told them
about this Child. And all who heard it wondered
at the things which were told them by the
shepherds.16-18 23

24. First evangelists!
 Good News
 Great Joy
 The Messiah has come
 Peace is now possible
24

25. A good news reaction
But Mary treasured all these things,
pondering them in her heart. The
shepherds went back, glorifying and
praising God for all that they had heard
and seen, just as had been told them.
19-20 25

26. The Good News is the Gospel
Hide in your heart
Glorify God
Tell others
26

27. Luke 2:1-20
27