Latest / Bible in a Year with Jack Graham / Behold Him

Transcript

Behold Him · Bible in a Year with Jack Graham

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: For the word of the cross is foolishness to those
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  Speaker 1: who are dying, but to us who are being saved,
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  Speaker 1: it is God. 1 Corinthians 1.18 Dear Lord Jesus, we
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  Speaker 1: stand in awe of your incarnation, humbled that you would
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  Speaker 1: choose us to witness your love and grace. Fill our
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  Speaker 1: hearts with reverence for your holiness. Give us the boldness
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  Speaker 1: to share your good news without fear of rejection or failure.
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  Speaker 1: We know that the message of your gospel holds the
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  Speaker 1: power to change and transform lives. May we press forward
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  Speaker 1: with boldness and joy, sharing with others the same message
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  Speaker 1: that has changed our lives. May our lives echo the
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  Speaker 1: shepherd's song of hope and redemption. Empower us with your
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  Speaker 1: Spirit to be bold, brave, and humble in the presence
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  Speaker 1: of others. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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  Speaker 2: Go, therefore, and see for yourselves. You will find the
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  Speaker 2: baby wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger. The
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  Speaker 2: angel continued, his words infused with an urgency that set
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  Speaker 2: their hearts aflame. As he spoke, the choir of angels
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  Speaker 2: slowly rose their voices. The light swirled to the rising
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  Speaker 2: and falling of their harmony. Finally, the song crescendoed into
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  Speaker 2: a resonating song of praise. Then, as suddenly as it
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  Speaker 2: had come, the light dissipated, leaving the valley bathed in
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  Speaker 2: the soft glow of the stars once more. The melodies
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  Speaker 2: of heaven were replaced by the gentle whispers of the
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  Speaker 2: evening wind and a few chirping crickets. The shepherds sat,
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  Speaker 2: stunned and silent, their minds reeling from the vision they
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  Speaker 2: had just witnessed. The oldest shepherd turned to his companions.
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  Speaker 2: Did we all just see that, or is this old
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  Speaker 2: man finally losing his mind? The two others nodded their
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  Speaker 2: heads in confirmation that they had all borne witness, still
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  Speaker 2: stunned by what they had seen. Slowly, their eyes turned
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  Speaker 2: towards Bethlehem, where a few torchlights still flickered in the distance.
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  Speaker 2: Resting above the city was a new star, radiant and singular,
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  Speaker 2: unlike any they had seen before. The older shepherd turned
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  Speaker 2: to his young friend and laughed. You may get to
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  Speaker 2: see royalty after all! They all laughed with unexplainable joy.
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  Speaker 2: With a shared understanding, they rose, leaving their belongings behind.
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  Speaker 2: their steps quickening as they ran towards Bethlehem. Their hearts
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  Speaker 2: were aflame with a joy they could not contain and
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  Speaker 2: a purpose they could not deny.
• 3:05
  Speaker 3: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible in
• 3:07
  Speaker 3: a Year podcast today. The Bible in a Year podcast
• 3:10
  Speaker 3: is an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come
• 3:14
  Speaker 3: to you each week through the support of listeners just
• 3:16
  Speaker 3: like you. Your support today is so important that we
• 3:20
  Speaker 3: want to thank you for your gift by giving you
• 3:22
  Speaker 3: a copy of my book called The Jesus Book. It
• 3:25
  Speaker 3: is a powerful guide that shows how every book of
• 3:28
  Speaker 3: the Bible points to Jesus and how his living word,
• 3:31
  Speaker 3: the truth of God's word, will transform your life. So
• 3:35
  Speaker 3: to get a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: to jackgram.org slash Jesus. That's jackgram.org slash Jesus. And thank
• 3:45
  Speaker 3: you for your support. This episode explores the themes of reverence, evangelism,
• 3:51
  Speaker 3: and the humbling joy of being chosen to witness God's goodness.
• 3:57
  Speaker 3: In our last episode, a small group of shepherds were
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  Speaker 3: visited by a choir of angels proclaiming the newborn King.
• 4:04
  Speaker 3: With passion in their hearts, the shepherds will embark on
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  Speaker 3: a search for a child lying in a manger. Their
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  Speaker 3: search for Jesus mirrors our own. We stumble in darkness,
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  Speaker 3: looking for hope around every corner, And when we finally
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  Speaker 3: find Jesus, joy abounds in our hearts. I pray that
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  Speaker 3: this story will be a beacon of hope for anyone
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  Speaker 3: lost in darkness. The Gospel of John describes Jesus as
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  Speaker 3: a light that darkness cannot overcome. The closer you are
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  Speaker 3: to Christ, the further you are from darkness. Now, let's
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  Speaker 3: place ourselves in the sandals of these shepherds. Let's step
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  Speaker 3: into the presence of Christ and feel the gravity of
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  Speaker 3: His goodness. This story will showcase the transformative power of Jesus'
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  Speaker 3: presence and how it changes us from the inside out.
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  Speaker 3: After this story, we'll unpack themes and lessons to take
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  Speaker 3: into our daily walk with God.
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  Speaker 2: The city of Bethlehem was still asleep. Silence covered the
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  Speaker 2: night like.
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  Speaker 1: A warm blanket.
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  Speaker 2: Dawn was approaching to welcome the chirping of birds and
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  Speaker 2: the humming of vendors preparing for the day. The tranquil
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  Speaker 2: silence of the morning was interrupted by the ragged breaths
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  Speaker 2: of shepherds desperately searching for a child swaddled in a manger.
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  Speaker 2: Are we sure we heard the angel correctly? One of
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  Speaker 2: them asked. Would the child really be found in a
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  Speaker 2: feeding trough? It seemed absurd, but then again. It was
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  Speaker 2: absurd for a choir of angels to visit a few
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  Speaker 2: lowly shepherds. The wisdom of God seemed like foolishness to
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  Speaker 2: the world. None of it makes sense, the older shepherds
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  Speaker 2: said with a chuckle, but we know what we heard
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  Speaker 2: and saw. The companions paced through town, looking behind fences
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  Speaker 2: and walls for any sign of a baby in a manger.
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  Speaker 2: Their enthusiasm didn't wane, especially when they heard the faint
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  Speaker 2: cries of a newborn baby in the distance. The shepherds
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  Speaker 2: followed the sound down a cobbled stairway.
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  Speaker 1: Of an inn.
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  Speaker 2: Carved into the side of the hill, a flickering oil
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  Speaker 2: lamp revealed shadows of two people leaning over a crying baby.
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  Speaker 2: The baby's crying turned to soft whimpers, eventually soothed by
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  Speaker 2: his mother's voice. The shepherds inched closer, finally stopping at
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  Speaker 2: its entrance. When they reached the stable, their bodies froze
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  Speaker 2: in reverence. Their minds grappled with the enormity of what
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  Speaker 2: lay within. Like Moses near the burning bush, They knew
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  Speaker 2: that they were on holy ground. The air was thick
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  Speaker 2: with expectancy as they peered into the shadows. Joseph met
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  Speaker 2: their eyes and stood up. He stepped forward, blocking their
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  Speaker 2: view of his wife and child.
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  Speaker 1: Who are you?
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  Speaker 2: He asked sternly. Mary reached out and touched his arm,
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  Speaker 2: her eyes filled with understanding. They came to see him,
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  Speaker 2: she whispered, her eyes soft and tired. Joseph's eyes softened
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  Speaker 2: and he nodded, stepping aside to allow the shepherds to approach.
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  Speaker 2: With hesitant steps, the shepherds came closer, their hearts fluttering
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  Speaker 2: with awe and eyes brimming with tears. The humble surroundings
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  Speaker 2: faded away as they beheld him. The baby Jesus lay
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  Speaker 2: in a manger, his tiny form wrapped in swaddling clothes,
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  Speaker 2: his face radiant with innocence and promise. They were overwhelmed
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  Speaker 2: with joy and humility. God chose these simple men to
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  Speaker 2: witness his newborn son. The knowledge was a weight and
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  Speaker 2: a blessing. a secret that filled them with a reverence
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  Speaker 2: they had never known. The younger shepherd of the three
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  Speaker 2: stepped forward with humility. He pulled out a woolen blanket
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  Speaker 2: he had woven himself from his lambs. He handed it
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  Speaker 2: to Mary. His voice, choked with emotion, faltered as he spoke.
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  Speaker 2: For the child, a humble gift. Mary's eyes beamed with
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  Speaker 2: gratitude as she accepted the offering, her lips curving into
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  Speaker 2: a gentle smile.
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  Speaker 1: Thank you, she whispered. Her voice was warm and soothing.
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  Speaker 2: The shepherds bowed to Jesus, their bodies trembling with the
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  Speaker 2: enormity of the moment. A profound and unbreakable connection had
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  Speaker 2: been forged, a moment in time that would resonate throughout
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  Speaker 2: the ages. Mary didn't say anything. She pondered everything in
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  Speaker 2: her heart, wondering what the future held for Jesus. The
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  Speaker 2: shepherds stood and bowed their heads to Mary and Joseph.
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  Speaker 2: They exited the stable, stealing one final glance at the
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  Speaker 2: child before they left. The sun began to rise over
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  Speaker 2: the hills, painting the sky with hues of gold and pink.
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  Speaker 2: Their hearts were filled with an overflowing well of joy.
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  Speaker 2: Their contemplative walk slowly turned into a dance of praise
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  Speaker 2: and worship. Soon enough, the shepherds were shouting through the streets,
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  Speaker 2: their voices raised in worship and faces glowing with a
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  Speaker 2: light that drew curious onlookers. Some shook their heads, thinking
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  Speaker 2: the shepherds were crazy, drunk or both. But the shepherds,
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  Speaker 2: undeterred by scorn, proclaimed that the Messiah had been born,
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  Speaker 2: and they had been privileged to see him. Word began
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  Speaker 2: to spread like ripples in a pond, the whispers growing
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  Speaker 2: in strength and conviction. The shepherds' testimony, although unlikely, rekindled
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  Speaker 2: hope in a few who heard it. If the Messiah
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  Speaker 2: had truly been born, then hope for Israel was alive.
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  Speaker 2: The testimony reached the ears of some of the servants
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  Speaker 2: of Herod, the land's ruler. Their faces paled, their hearts
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  Speaker 2: pounding with fear and hope. They did not tell Herod,
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  Speaker 2: choosing instead to hold silent, their minds filled with dreams
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  Speaker 2: of redemption from the oppression of Rome. Once weighed down
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  Speaker 2: by sorrow and suffering, the land seemed to awaken to
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  Speaker 2: a new possibility. The whispers grew into a chorus of voices,
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  Speaker 2: a community united by faith and longing. In that humble stable,
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  Speaker 2: a child had been born, a king who would change
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  Speaker 2: the world. The shepherds, once forgotten guardians of their flock,
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  Speaker 2: had become heralds of a new era, their voices resonating
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  Speaker 2: with the truth that would transcend time and space. As
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  Speaker 2: the day unfolded, the sun casting a golden glow on
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  Speaker 2: the land, the shepherds returned to their fields. Their souls
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  Speaker 2: were forever changed. They looked to the bright blue skies
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  Speaker 2: and basked in the sun's warmth. Their eyes would permanently
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  Speaker 2: be filled with wonder and gratitude that God had chosen
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  Speaker 2: them to bear witness to his greatest gift. It was
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  Speaker 2: a story they would tell for the rest of their lives,
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  Speaker 2: a tale of faith and providence, of humility and grace.
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  Speaker 2: They had stood on holy ground and they had witnessed
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  Speaker 2: God incarnate. In the silence of the fields, as the
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  Speaker 2: sheep grazed and.
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  Speaker 1: The world moved on, they would remember and.
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  Speaker 2: They would give thanks their voices raised in a song
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  Speaker 2: that would echo through the ages a melody of hope
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  Speaker 2: and redemption.
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  Speaker 3: I want us all to pause for a moment and
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  Speaker 3: consider how strange this scene would be to an ancient reader.
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  Speaker 3: The God of all creation chose to dwell among us,
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  Speaker 3: not in the form of a tyrant or warrior, but
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  Speaker 3: as a child. When he was born, he chose to
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  Speaker 3: be born from a poor family in a stable. set
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  Speaker 3: in a feeding trough, and as he lay there in
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  Speaker 3: a manger, his first worshipers were a few lowly shepherds.
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  Speaker 3: God packaged a remarkable event in unremarkable circumstances. This is
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  Speaker 3: proof to us that God uses the foolish things of
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  Speaker 3: this world to confound the wisdom of the wise. We
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  Speaker 3: often want to see God move in mighty and miraculous ways,
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  Speaker 3: like Moses parting the seas. or Elijah calling down fire
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  Speaker 3: from heaven. Still, the Christmas story reminds us that God
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  Speaker 3: is also at work in life's mundane and unremarkable margins.
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  Speaker 3: God chose to move in a run-down stable surrounded by
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  Speaker 3: ordinary shepherds. Therefore, he can work in your life as well.
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  Speaker 3: The shepherds' reaction as they entered the stable was pure awe.
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  Speaker 3: They felt the weight of the moment. They were in
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  Speaker 3: the presence of something holy and divine. In today's fast-paced,
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  Speaker 3: noisy world, the concept of reverence can seem outdated and
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  Speaker 3: out of touch. Yet these simple men teach us timeless
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  Speaker 3: lessons about reverence and worship. What does it mean to
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  Speaker 3: have reverence and awe for God? First, it means to
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  Speaker 3: recognize God's holiness. Just as Moses stood before the burning
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  Speaker 3: bush the shepherds realized that they were on holy ground
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  Speaker 3: and responded accordingly. This encounter invites us to recognize God's
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  Speaker 3: sanctity in our lives. Do we approach God with the
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  Speaker 3: recognition that he is holy and set apart from us? Second,
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  Speaker 3: the shepherds allowed themselves to be suspended in wonder. Their
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  Speaker 3: hearts were fluttering with awe in the presence of Christ.
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  Speaker 3: This awe and wonder at God's nature is something we
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  Speaker 3: can cultivate by reflecting on God's greatness, His love, and
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  Speaker 3: His works in our lives. It requires us to pause
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  Speaker 3: and ponder and press into the glory of God. When
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  Speaker 3: was the last time you stepped back and allowed yourself
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  Speaker 3: to be in awe of God? Lastly, the shepherds responded
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  Speaker 3: to God's holiness with evangelism. The shepherds didn't keep their
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  Speaker 3: experience to themselves. They went out into the streets, proclaiming
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  Speaker 3: the birth of the Messiah. Despite scorn and misunderstanding, the
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  Speaker 3: shepherds boldly shared the good news. We are called to
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  Speaker 3: share our faith with others, not fearing rejection. Their testimony
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  Speaker 3: ignited hope in the hearts of those who heard. Sharing
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  Speaker 3: our faith can catalyze hope in a world often weighed
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  Speaker 3: down by despair. Some people will doubt your testimony, and
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  Speaker 3: others will receive it gladly. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 18
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  Speaker 3: tells us that the gospel is folly to those who
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  Speaker 3: are perishing, but to those who believe, it's a source
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  Speaker 3: of power. The realization that they were chosen to witness
• 14:29
  Speaker 3: this event overwhelmed the shepherds with joy and humility. The
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  Speaker 3: shepherds were simple men, yet they were chosen. This is
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  Speaker 3: a profound reminder that God's choosing is not based on
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  Speaker 3: status or worldly qualifications, but on His grace. My friends,
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  Speaker 3: you are chosen. You are chosen to be witnesses to
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  Speaker 3: the light and love of Christ. Just as the shepherds
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  Speaker 3: proclaimed the Messiah in the city streets, so too should
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  Speaker 3: we boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus. May this
• 15:03
  Speaker 3: Christmas season awaken us a renewed reverence a boldness to
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  Speaker 3: share the joy of Christ, and a profound gratitude that
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  Speaker 3: we have been chosen to be part of God's marvelous plan.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
• 15:20
  Speaker 3: And before we go, I wanted to let you know
• 15:22
  Speaker 3: that the Bible in a Year podcast is an outreach
• 15:25
  Speaker 3: of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each
• 15:29
  Speaker 3: week through the support of listeners like you. Your support
• 15:33
  Speaker 3: today is so important, that we want to thank you
• 15:36
  Speaker 3: for your gift by giving you a copy of my
• 15:38
  Speaker 3: book called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: guide that shows how every book in the Bible points
• 15:45
  Speaker 3: to Christ and how you can better read and understand
• 15:48
  Speaker 3: the Bible and how God's Word transforms our lives. So
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: to get your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go
• 15:55
  Speaker 3: to jackgram.org slash Jesus. That's jackgram.org slash Jesus. And thank
• 16:02
  Speaker 3: you for your support.