The Message Still Needs an Angel: A Briefing on the Call for Modern Messengers



Executive Summary



This document synthesizes the core themes from a sermon arguing that the message of Christmas, and by extension the Christian faith, has always depended on a messenger to deliver it. The central thesis posits that while supernatural "angels" (messengers) were essential to initiating the biblical Christmas story for ordinary people like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, the responsibility to be messengers in the modern world now falls upon individual believers. The sermon builds a logical case using scripture (Romans 10) to assert that since a majority of the population will never enter a church, the "Good News" can only reach them through personal relationships and conversations. The primary call to action is for believers to recognize they are "sent" and to practically apply this by sharing their personal "God story," particularly by listening for moments of need in conversations and proactively offering prayer.



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1. Core Thesis: Christmas as a Message-Dependent Event



The fundamental argument is that the events of the Christmas story were not spontaneous but were set in motion by divine announcements. Each key participant—from Zechariah and Elizabeth to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds—was first approached by a messenger who primed them for the supernatural event that was about to occur. Without these announcements, the story could not have unfolded as it did.



• The Catalyst: "All of the events of Christmas, all of the different pieces of the story happened because someone decided to take the message that God gave them to the people who needed that message."



• The Necessity of Priming: The sermon uses the concept of "priming," similar to a mentalist's technique, to explain the role of the angelic messages. The ideas presented (a virgin birth, a pregnancy in old age) were so far outside the realm of normal experience that the recipients needed to be prepared to accept them.



    ◦ "Nobody, nobody thinks a virgin is going to have a baby, but an angel brings that message in and then Mary is primed for it and she's ready when it actually happens."



    ◦ "I think it had to be supernatural beings that came to them because there's no way you would accept this message in fashion or form..."



2. Christmas as a Universal Catalyst for Change



The sermon draws a parallel between the life-altering experience of having children and the transformative impact of the first Christmas. The point is to illustrate that Christmas was a moment that irrevocably changed everything, not just on a global, historical scale, but also on a deeply personal level for the individuals involved.



• Personal Transformation: The lives of Mary and Joseph are presented as examples of ordinary existence interrupted by a divine collision. They were "normal people caught in the middle of supernatural moments."



    ◦ Before the announcement, Joseph was a business owner working long hours, and Mary's life was filled with mundane, normal tasks.



    ◦ The shift is captured in the statement: "One day Mary is carrying laundry, and then the next day she's carrying the Messiah."



• Global Transformation: This personal event is framed as the moment "that everything changed in the world," asserting that the audience's very presence in the room is a direct result of its impact.



3. A Theological Framework for "Angels"



A significant portion of the discourse is dedicated to deconstructing common, often simplistic, perceptions of angels to build a more biblically robust understanding. The purpose is to highlight that these messengers were complex beings who made a choice to obey God, reinforcing the gravity of their role.



Angelology: Key ConceptsDescriptionRole, Not SpeciesThe word "angel" literally means "a messenger sent by God." It describes a function, not a specific type of being, and can even refer to a human messenger.Possession of Free WillContrary to the idea of angels as divine "robots," the sermon emphasizes that they are supernatural beings with their own will who can, and sometimes do, defy God, citing passages from Revelation, 2 Peter, and Jude.Multiple ClassificationsThe term "angel" is a broad category encompassing various types of supernatural beings with different roles and appearances, demonstrating the complexity of the spiritual realm.



Mentioned Classifications of Supernatural Beings:



• Seraphim: Described in Isaiah 6 as having six wings.



• Cherubim: Described as having four faces, legs of burnished bronze, and covered in eyes.



• Archangels: Appear to be warriors against demonic forces (e.g., Michael).



• Living Creatures: Four beings with different faces and six wings, covered in eyes, who are around God's throne (Revelation, Ezekiel).



• Other Beings: The scripture also mentions "sons of God," "watchers," and "Satan" (whose name means "accuser").



4. The Logical Imperative for Modern Messengers



The sermon transitions from the biblical narrative to a direct charge to the contemporary audience, using Romans 10:14-16 to build a logical sequence demonstrating the necessity of personal evangelism.



The Argument from Romans 10:



1. To be Saved: One must "call on the one who they have not believed in."



2. To Call: One must first "believe in the one in whom they have not heard."



3. To Believe: One must first "hear without someone preaching to them."



4. To Preach: One must be "sent."



This progression culminates in the conclusion that believers are "sent" and therefore have a direct responsibility to "preach" or share their faith.



• The Unreached Majority: This responsibility is underscored by the statistic that "70% of this town, of this community are never going to step foot in this place." They will not hear the message from a pastor.



• Redefining "Preaching": The sermon broadens the definition of preaching from a formal sermon to any act of sharing the Gospel. "How will they ever hear if nobody's ever talking about it?"



• The Inherent Value: The beauty of this act is cited from scripture: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news?" This is because they bring "life change" and "hope."



5. Practical Directives for Action



The final section provides tangible, actionable steps for the audience to fulfill their role as modern-day messengers. The emphasis is on authentic, relational evangelism rather than confrontational methods.



• Start with Your Story: The foundational method is "taking the story of what God has done in your life and telling somebody about it." If a person has no such story, the first step is to "get a story with God."



• Listen for "The Knots": A key tactical suggestion is to listen for negative statements or "knots" in conversations, which create natural openings to share a personal story.



    ◦ Example 1: A coworker says, "I'm not doing well right now." This is an opportunity to say, "I know exactly what that's like... and it was Jesus [who helped me]."



    ◦ Example 2: Someone says, "I'm not from here." This signals a need for connection and community.



• Proactive Engagement: A direct challenge is issued for immediate action.



    ◦ The Text Message Challenge: Send a text to a non-Christian acquaintance with a message like: "I was thinking about you this morning, and I'm praying for you this Christmas. If I can pray anything specific, let me know." The goal is to show genuine care and potentially "tease out the opportunity to share your God story."



6. Concluding Theological Point: From Incarnation to Indwelling



The sermon concludes by tying the entire message back to the nature of God's presence in the world.



• Past Presence (Jesus): "God came to be with us. When he came as Jesus, he came in the form of a human." This was God as a person beside humanity.



• Current Presence (Holy Spirit): With Jesus's departure, the Holy Spirit was sent to "set up residence in you, Christian." This is God as a person who "lives inyou."



This theological point serves as the final affirmation that believers are the present-day vehicle for God's message. Having been transformed by the Christmas story, they are now called to embody it and deliver its message to others, effectively serving as the "angels" the world still needs.

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