Christmas Snapshots: Providence, Humility, Glory

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Speaker: Mark Estes
Scripture: Luke 2:1-16
December 21, 2025

Luke 2:1-16: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
   and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Sermon Outline

1. Introduction

• How the Christmas story does not begin

• How the Christmas story does begin

2. Snapshot #1: God’s quiet providence

3. Snapshot #2: The humble arrival of Jesus

4. Snapshot #3: The glory of who this baby truly is

5. Application

• If you are dull to the incarnation, consider the beautiful simplicity of the gospel

• If you can’t rejoice because you’re trapped in sin, start going on the offensive

• If you haven’t met Jesus, the angel’s message is for you

Daniel 2:40: And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these

Proverbs 21:1: The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
   he turns it wherever he will.

Psalms 89:20-27: I have found David, my servant;
   with my holy oil I have anointed him,
so that my hand shall be established with him;
   my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him;
   the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
   and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
   and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
   and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
   my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
And I will make him the firstborn,
   the highest of the kings of the earth.