DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. The Prince Despised by Man, vv. 1–7 (Isaiah 53:3)
How many years before, and by whom, was it prophesied that the Christ should be born in Bethlehem? (Micah 5:2). What decrees and deeds of man worked together to fulfill this prophecy and purpose of God? What does this prove? Where did the Prince of Peace begin His life on earth? Where did He close it? Why did He not begin His earthly life in the inn? Why did He close it so prematurely? In how many places is there room for Jesus to-day? Why have men no room in their hearts for Him to-day? When there was no room for Jesus in the inn, what ought to have been done? What ought we to do when there is no room in our hearts for Him?
2. The Prince Honored by Angels, vv. 8–14 (1 Peter 1:12)
To whom was the announcement of the birth of the Christ made? Have we any evidence of spiritual fitness on their part? (v. 15). Have we any evidence that they were waiting, longing and looking for the coming of Christ? (v. 16). What was Zacharias doing when the angel spoke to him? (Luke 1:8–11). What were the shepherds doing when the angels spoke to them? Why did God reveal Himself to the shepherds while they were keeping watch over the flocks, and to Zacharias while burning incense? Was it very pleasant work to keep watch over the flocks? Did it pay? What was “the glory of the Lord” that shone round about them? Where alone did “the glory” manifest itself? Why then was it manifested at the birth of Jesus? Where did the disciples behold “the glory”? (John 1:14; 2 Cor. 3:18; 4:6). What was the effect of all this upon the shepherds? Why? In what way does the supernatural usually affect men? Why? What was the angelic salutation? How frequently is this the message God’s messengers bring? (Look up the words “Fear not” in a concordance). What cure for fear did the angel propose? What sort of a thing according to the 10th verse is the Gospel? Is it “good tidings of great joy” to you? What was the Gospel the angel declared? What was the Gospel Paul preached? (1 Cor. 15:1, 3, 4). Which is the fuller Gospel? According to man’s notions, where would He that was to be Saviour, Christ and Lord be most likely to be found? What strange sign of the advent of the Saviour, Christ and Lord did the angel give the shepherds? Did the shepherds need that sign as a confirmation of their faith? (v. 15). What is all that real faith ever asks for? (Ro. 10:17; John 20:29). How did the angelic world receive the announcement of a Saviour born? How does this world receive it? What idea as to the feeling of the angels is suggested by the word “suddenly”? What, according to the angelic song, would be the result of the birth of the Saviour? To whom is this peace? (See R. V.) Who are the men “in whom He is well pleased”? (Find a Bible answer to this question).
3. The Prince Joyfully Received by the Believing Few, vv. 15–20 (John 1:11, 12)
How did the shepherds show their wisdom? What words are suggestive of important lessons in this resolve? How did they know that the thing announced had surely “come to pass”? What was their object in going? When any great truth is “made known unto us,” what ought we at once to attempt to do? What is there in the text that shows their eagerness to see this new-born Saviour? How many persons in the Gospel story came to Jesus with haste? Are many as eager to see Him to-day? What did the shepherds find? How did they know beforehand that they would find just that? What did they do as soon as they had seen it? What ought every one of us, to whom the good news of salvation comes, to do? What did they tell? What did Mary do with the great truths? What ought we all to do with them? Did the shepherds remain in Bethlehem? Why not? What did they do as they went from the place of revelation to the place of service?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. God
(1). Glorified:
By the fulfillment of prophecy, 1, 7; by the birth of the Saviour, Christ and Lord, 14; by His believing children, 20.
(2). Reveals His truth:
To lowly men, while at their post of duty, 8; if they will only believe, test, 15; testify, 17; return to their post and praise and glorify Him, 20.
2. What to Do with the Word
(1). The shepherds:
Heard the Word, 10; believed, tested, 15; testified to, 17; glorified God for the Word, 20.
(2). Mary:
Kept, pondered the Word, 19.
3. What to Do with Jesus
The shepherds:
Heard of Jesus, 11; came at once to Jesus, 15; saw Jesus, 16; witnessed concerning Jesus, 17; praised God for Jesus, 20.
4. What Not to Do with Jesus
Have no room for Jesus, shut Jesus Out, 7.
“What then shall I do with Jesus?”
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R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.