Well, you're very kind. It is a blessing to be with you this morning.

Pastor Robert had planned some vacation time and we always like it when he's refreshed.

And so he asked me if I would bring and we always like it when he's refreshed.

And so he asked me if I would bring to you a message this weekend

about the birth of the Lord.

And so I would ask you if you brought your Bibles today

to open those up to Luke's Gospel, the second chapter.

And if you did not bring your Bibles, that's okay.

We'll put all the scriptures on the screen for you.

Read with me, please, in Luke beginning in verse 1. And it came

to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the

world should be registered.

This census first took place while Quarrenius was governing Syria, and so all went to be

registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city

of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary his betrothed wife who was with child.

So it was that while they were there the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the end. I want to share with you

this morning four details of this story that are very much a part of the Christmas story that you may or may not be aware of.

Four things that Jesus teaches us, even in his birth, and the first one is is this in the birth of Jesus we learn a lesson

about God's authority. We learn a lesson about God's authority.

Luke, as you know, was a medical doctor, also was the author of the Book of Acts.

And being a medical doctor, Luke was a person who was well

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