Big news stories get big announcements in the media designed to capture as much attention from as many people as possible. The biggest and best news story in all history certainly got a big announcement, but, strangely, it was made just to a small group of obscure men...

The announcement of the birth of Jesus was made to shepherds who were watching over the flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. An angel was sent by the Lord God with a message of good news - joyous news in fact - about the coming of the Saviour of sinners. The shepherds didn't hesitate to respond. They heard the good news and, believing it, decided to go to see for themselves the Saviour.

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:16-20, ESV)

They found everything just as had been told them by the messenger from God. And then they started telling other people. News spreads.

The news about Jesus has continued to spread ever since and is still spreading today. The same good news is right at the heart of what our church believes and teaches. Things are exactly as God says in His Word - we are sinful people; we are under God's displeasure and face His judgement of death and hell; but, the other side of the coin is that God sent Jesus to be the Saviour of sinners, in whom we may be forgiven and receive true and eternal life. This what God has told us and this is how things are. Like the shepherds, we need to take God at His Word and believe in Jesus as our Saviour.