This sermon in the series, “The Announcement,” focuses on the announcement made to the world, the birth of Jesus Christ, made by a multitude of heavenly hosts. In this sermon, we learn that the angels first visited shepherds with a message that God had come to man and that man would now be able to come to God. The message was brought to others through prophecy and the signal given by a bright star. The message was received by magi, and Simeon, a minister, among many others.

The angels first visited the shepherds with their message of the birth of the Messiah. As we learn, shepherds were considered unclean, yet these were the people God chose to send the angels to first. The message that the angels were giving was that all that was unclean before would now have a new cleanliness through the Messiah. Now that the Son of God was born, the shepherds and all men willing to believe in Him, would have a chance to have a relationship with God again. The Magi traveled from the Orient to Bethlehem not only to see the newborn King, but to worship Him. The minister Simeon heard of the birth of the child, and decided to ask God to spare his life until he was able to see the King. Eight days after His birth, Mary brought Jesus into the temple, where Simeon was able to see the newborn King.