The Reading of the Christmas Story

Welcome to the Homeowner Show, and this is the 2024 Christmas edition.

Yep, this episode is brought to you by Lone Star Appliance Repair. Kevin, what's the number to give them a call?

936-647-2364. And we are also sponsored by True Texas Solar. Their number is 936-286-8325. Thank you to our sponsors.

Yeah, guys, give them a call. Thank you to everything they do for the show. Uh, this is a special Christmas edition of the show. Support our sponsors.

That's it. We're going to be reading, as we do, as is the Homeowner Show tradition, we're going to be reading the story of Jesus' birth straight out of the Bible, and we're going to be reading in the New American Standard Bible. Starting in Luke chapter 2, if you want to join with us. Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was the governor of Syria. All the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, The city of Nazareth, to Judea, to

the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, Do not be afraid,

for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared an angel, a multitude of a heavenly army of angels praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among the people with whom he is pleased. When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, Let's go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord has made known to us. And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as he lay in the manger. When they had seen him, they made known the statement which had been told to them about this child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as had been told them.

And when 8 days were completed, so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of the Lord, every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to what had been stated in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or 2 young doves. And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, And this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was

upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought the child Jesus to carry out for the custom of the law, then he took Him in his arms and blessed God and said, Now, Lord, You are letting Your bondservant depart in peace according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples, a light for revelation for the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel. And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary,

Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, as a sign to be opposed, and a sword will pierce your own soul, to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for 7 years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of 84. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers And at that very moment, she came up and began giving thanks to God and continued to speak about him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. And when his parents had completed

everything in accordance with the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. Now the child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom And the favor of God was upon him. Uh, homeowner family, we thank you so much for joining us every year for this Christmas reading. Uh, we pray that you are blessed at the reading of God's word and that you find favor in knowing Jesus as Lord.

That's it. Thank you, guys.