We know the Christmas story. We hear it every year. We know all the characters and the setting. It’s a great story, but what does this mean for us living over 2000 years after this first Christmas? Because while Christmas is supposed to be full of hope and peace, our world doesn’t feel anything like that, and neither do our own lives! What if the Christmas story wasn’t just a story to tell, but an opportunity for us to claim hope, joy, and peace for our own lives.

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MESSAGE NOTES

[Luke 2:8]

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.” 

 

REMEMBER: there’d been 400 years of silence from God

  • Who does God break the silence with? Shepherds 
  • God always picks those who never get picked

 

  1. GOD MAKES HIMSELF AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE

 

[Luke 2:9-12]

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

 

[Micah 5:2]

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.”

 

[Luke 2:13-16]

“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.”

 

2. THEY HAD TO CHOOSE FOR THEMSELVES TO BELIEVE IN JESUS

Knowing what the angels said and believing the angels are different things

  • How do you know they believed the angels? They got up and went
  • Most of you know the story of Jesus in the manger

 

  • You probably know the story of the resurrection that we celebrate at Easter
  • But BELIEVING in Jesus from the manger who resurrects on Easter is something completely different

 

  • How do you know if you BELIEVE? You turn from sins and center your lives around the teachings of Jesus (same message Jesus preached)

 

Watch what the shepherds do next…

 

3. THEY TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT JESUS

 

[Luke 2:17-18]

“After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,”

 

Maybe you’re like the shepherds

  • Not very religious OR a likely candidate to find religion
  • And God is speaking into your heart right now, like the angels to the shepherds back then 

 

Maybe you’re ready to do something with what you’ve heard today, like the shepherds

  • You want to give your life to God and follow Jesus
  • Tell him!

 

If you’ve already found God, then you probably want everyone you know to find Him also

  • Maybe you can spend some time praying for them
  • Ask God for an opportunity this next year

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in your relationships?