NEWS AND VIEWS

Sports Plus 07 – Application forms are out and places are filling up fast!  Don’t be disappointed – fill in forms and send them through to the office! More info

Night of Champs Oxford – Coming soon on the 16^th December – check out the link to find out how to register.  

New Year Conference – 2-5 January:  There are still places left for year 11/12/13 students.  A great time of equipping, encouragement, top banter and sport! Check out the link!

Chiara Clark is spending a day a week doing work experience in the Christians in Sport Head Office in Bicester.  We asked her what it was like to be a Christian in her Hockey Team – read all about it here

Congratulations  to Tim Henery (Sports Plus goer for the last couple of years) and his football team as they won a county sportsmanship award and are being granted £200, receiving medals from the FA and getting their photo’s in the local paper.  Class work Tim!!

Week 6 – Luke 2v13-14: "Glory to God in the highest"

 

You remember the story so far – an ordinary night round the mountains of Bethlehem where the Shepherds were watching over their sheep and suddenly an angel appears and tells them of some ‘good news of great joy’ about a baby born who can rescue all people.  We cannot begin to think of that amazing scene – but it really did happen!

 

This week we’re looking at the verses that directly follow the angels explanation – in two parts:

 

V13 – “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God…’’

You know when sometimes you’re asked to describe yourself and your experiences when you’re getting to know a group of people for the first time – “what’s the greatest sight you’ve ever seen?’  Imagine asking the shepherds that question. Can you imagine the scene – magnificent – A Great company of angels.  That doesn’t mean 1 or 2 or a small group – it means an almighty hoard that would have filled the night sky.  And they were all praising God – can you imagine the noise?  I don’t think I can?  My Pal Wellsy says that he reckons he sounds like an angel when he sings – but I reckon that this noise would have been out of this world!

Now, I guess that the shepherds were probably so overawed at the sight of the heavenly sight that they weren’t too bothered about what the angels were singing about but Luke records it because it is important. 

 

V14 – “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests”

They are singing about God.  That word ‘glory’ simply means in this context – credit or the highest praise.  The angels are singing that God is worthy to be praised, that all praise is due to him, that he deserves to be sung to.  The greatest beings that the shepherds have ever witnessed are almost saying ‘Don’t look at us and praise us, we are only the messengers, all praise should go to God.  

There’s a lesson in there for us isn’t there?

How often do I want people to praise me for the things that I have done instead of praising God who is far above me and given me every good gift!

 

There is one more thing the angel says:  ‘Peace to men on whom his favour rests.’ 

We must understand this idea of peace.  The angels want the shepherd to know that they are from God and now there is a chance for man to be brought back to me, to be at peace with God.  The whole Christmas message is about the birth of the rescuer of all mankind who will bring ‘peace’ between God and Man.  The angels are not talking about ‘world peace’ (however good that is to speak about) they speak of something far greater, far more important – the peace that Jesus offers between God and man!

 

What a night that night must have been!

Oh that you may feel afresh some of the joy that the angels felt that night and praise God like them over this Christmas time!

 

Not long left till Christmas – be different this week.

 

The Youth department