Questions

1. Fill in the blanks below from Luke 2:8-12: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An _____ of the Lord appeared to them, and the _____ of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you ____ ____ that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the ________, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
2. What three responses best summarize the shepherds’ reaction to Christ’s birth?
3. Fear, doubt, silence
4. Curiosity, discussion, return home
5. Drawing near, sharing the news, worship
6. Celebration, feasting, resting
7. TRUE or FALSE:  Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah’s government and peace would never end.
8. Jesus was born in the City of David, also called ________.
9. What did the shepherds do after returning to their fields?
10. Resumed work silently
11. Argued about what they saw
12. Glorified and praised God
13. Waited for more angels
14. Match the Verse with the theme (Luke 2:10, Luke 2:15-16, Luke 2:17, Luke 2:20)
15. Worhsip and praise
16. Good news for all people
17. Obedient response
18. Sharing the message
19. Which Old Testament prophet foretold the birth and reign of the Messiah cited in the text?
20. Jeremiah
21. Isaiah
22. Ezekiel
23. Daniel
24. TRUE or FALSE: The shepherds praised God because everything happened exactly as the angel had told them.

Discussion

1. Read Luke 2:8-20 and discuss the following questions:
2. Why is the birth announcement of Jesus to shepherds so significant?
3. What does the shepherds’ immediate response teach us about obedience?
4. Discuss your time of preparation in this Advent season: are you intentionally seeking Him and drawing near to Him through spiritual disciplines of Bible reading and prayer?
5. What does it mean that the good news “spills over”?
6. Why is sharing the gospel with family often more difficult than with strangers?
7. Discuss how drawing near to God can overcome the fear of sharing the gospel.
8. Read 2 Corinthians 3:3 – 3You are a letter from Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. Discuss how this verse can impact our witness to the world of the gospel.
9. Why is worship a necessary response to Christ’s coming?
10. What personal response is God calling you to make this Advent season?
11. Discuss how drawing near to God in our disciplines can be impacted by our desire to proclaim the gospel.
12. What plans do you have this Christmas season to worship Him?
13. Read the following verses from the Book of Isaiah and discuss the different titles and descriptions that are prophesied and link them to our reading in Luke 2:8-20.
14. Messiah: Isa 9:6-7, Isa 11:1-2, Isa 42:1-4
15. Savior: Isa 12:2, Isa 43:11, Isa 49:6

Sermon Outline

No birth announcement in history compares to the one proclaimed by an angel over two thousand years ago, when God revealed to humble shepherds the arrival of His Son, Jesus Christ. The announcement was unexpected and terrifying, yet it compelled the shepherds to respond in ways they would never have imagined.

This extraordinary announcement was the fulfillment of a prophecy spoken centuries earlier through Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end… from that time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6–7). The long-awaited moment had arrived—God was keeping His promise.

The angel declared to the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” This birth announcement—and the shepherds’ response to it—still speaks directly to us today as we hear the good news of Christ’s coming.

The account of the shepherds teaches us three enduring truths: God’s gift of Christ calls us to draw near to Him, to share the good news with others, and to respond in worship and adoration of the Savior.

Desire to Draw Near to Him

Our response to hearing this good news should be to seek Him out. The shepherds had just witnessed an extraordinary event: an angel announcing the birth of Christ, the glory of the Lord shining around them, and a heavenly host joining in praise to God. Imagine the awe and exhilaration they must have felt—what a powerful strengthening of their faith. They had waited their entire lives for the promised Messiah, and now they received the news in such a personal and overwhelming way.

Verse 15 begins with the words, “When the angels had left them.” At that moment, the decisive test arrived. Earlier, in verse 12, the angel had clearly told them what to do: “You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” The message had been delivered, and the response had been made clear. The question now was whether the shepherds would act in obedience. Verse 15 gives us the answer.

Luke 2:15-16 – ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

These verses show us that the shepherds longed to see the Messiah and could hardly wait to be in His presence. Our reading comes from the New International Version, which omits the word “now” or “straightaway” found in other translations. Many render the phrase, “Let us go now to Bethlehem.” Then, in verse 16, we are told that the shepherds hurried off to Bethlehem. Together, these details reveal the shepherds’ first response to Christ’s coming: an urgent desire to see Him.

How does your response to Christ compare with theirs? Do you share that eager willingness to set everything else aside in order to be with Him? Here we are on December 14th—has your desire to draw near to Jesus been crowded out by the constant demands of the Christmas season: cards, parties, and shopping? These things press in on us relentlessly. Once again, we need to listen carefully to the angel’s words in verse 10.

Luke 2:10 – ¹⁰“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

The angel’s words were not meant only for the shepherds, they are spoken to you and to me as well, and they call for a response. As we enter these final days of Advent, I want to challenge you to pause and honestly evaluate your priorities over the next ten days. I know how busy this season becomes. Yet fix your eyes on the shepherds. They, too, had real responsibilities. Their livelihood depended on watching over their sheep, protecting them, and providing for them.

And still, when the angel announced the arrival of Christ, they went immediately to Bethlehem. They found a way to obey the word of God that had come to them—and I challenge you to show that same creativity and intentionality. In the midst of all the Christmas machinery and constant busyness, make space to draw near to the Lord. I promise you will be blessed.

Elisabeth Elliot expressed it well when she wrote,

“There’s always enough time to do the will of God.” The Discipline of Time, Part Five

You and I have a far shorter journey to make than the shepherds ever did. All that is required is a quiet place, your Bible, and a willing heart.

Share With Others

The coming of Christ is not meant to be kept to ourselves—it is meant to be shared, announced, and proclaimed. The shepherds did not hoard the good news; they spread it wherever they went. They could not contain the wonder of what they had seen and heard. Their hearts overflowed with the desire for others to know that the Messiah had come. Luke tells us in verse 17.

Luke 2:17 – ¹⁷When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

The shepherds not only dropped everything to witness the fulfillment of God’s promise, but they were also compelled to share it with others. Think about how we respond when a child is born into our family or close circle of friends. When we receive a picture of that newborn, we instinctively pass it along. Joy overflows and sharing it feels natural—because that is what good news does. It spills over.

In the same way, the message the shepherds shared carried profound significance. It was not casual news, but news of eternal importance. When we look again at the angel’s words in verse 11, we see that…

• The people's Savior had been born, who would save them from their sins and the sins of the world.
• This Savior is Christ, that is the Messiah, the one “anointed” by God.
• This child is the LORD Himself - not just a human being, but God as well.
• He was born in the city of David, which is Bethlehem - fulfilling Micah's prophecy over 700 years earlier.

Every detail of the angel’s message carried deep meaning for those who heard it. The words Savior, Messiah, Lord, and City of David were rich with significance for the Jewish people. What God announced to the shepherds was nothing less than the gospel itself: the Savior—God’s Anointed One, who is both Lord and God—had been born to rescue His people from their sins.

The advent of Christ is meant to be faithfully proclaimed. It is the greatest gift we can share, especially during the Christmas season. As we gather with family and friends, God often provides unique opportunities to speak of Christ’s birth. What message will you share this Christmas? What will be the content of your celebration? Will you be faithful to the gospel entrusted to the shepherds—and now entrusted to you?

Consider this: if someone you loved suffered from a disease that once had no cure, and a cure was later discovered—but never shared with you, how would you feel? I know I would feel angry and heartbroken that unnecessary suffering continued. I would find it deeply wrong for such life-saving knowledge to be withheld. And yet, we possess the knowledge of the greatest cure ever given—God’s provision to save humanity from sin and its consequences, including death.

Often, the hardest people with whom to share the gospel are our own family and friends. They know us best, and we value those relationships deeply. We fear discomfort or tension. But they share something in common with the shepherds of two thousand years ago: they need a Savior. Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, and that all stand in need of redemption. That is why the angel proclaimed that this good news was for all people.

Who in your life needs to hear God’s good news? Ask the Lord to help you be faithful in sharing the message of Christ’s birth. And if you lack courage, remember this: when God chose to announce the arrival of His Son, He did not send the message first to kings, rulers, or the powerful. He entrusted it to humble, uneducated, and overlooked shepherds. If God could use them, surely, He can use you.

If you fear offending someone, begin by praying that God would prepare their heart. If you worry about timing, ask the Lord to open the right door at the right moment—whether on Christmas Day or another day entirely.

Ann Weems captures this truth beautifully when she writes:

“Later, after the angels, after the stable, after the child, they went back, as we always must, back to the world that doesn’t understand our talk of angels and stars, and especially not the child.”

Ann Weems - Kneeling in Bethlehem

They do not yet understand because God has not opened their hearts by His Holy Spirit. We do not know when the Spirit will move, or when words, long heard, will suddenly come alive and take root in faith. That work belongs to the Lord.

After Christmas, the real work of Christmas begins. It is then that we are called to take risks—to love and to speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable. We are called to step into situations we might rather avoid: to forgive those who have wronged us, to extend grace to the unlovable, to serve others, and even to love our enemies. This, too, is part of proclaiming the good news of Christ’s birth—living out the truth of the message we proclaim.

The words I hope will one day be written on my tombstone come from Galatians.

Galatians 5:6 – ⁶The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Paul says something interesting in 2 Corinthians. He says to you and me and all who follow Christ,

2 Corinthians 3:3 – ³You are a letter from Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.

Do you realize that you're a letter from Christ? It's like you're a billboard as you go through your day, and you are a billboard with a message from Christ. It's not with ink, not with something audible, but it's the Spirit of the living God, your words, and your actions are that letter.

Lead Us to Worship

Our response to the coming of Christ must ultimately lead us to worship and adoration. Luke describes the shepherds after their encounter with the Messiah, saying,

Luke 2:20 – ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The shepherds had heard God’s message from the angel. They hurried to Bethlehem to see the promised Messiah. As they shared the joyful news of His birth with everyone they met, they made their way back to the fields, continuing to praise and glorify God throughout their journey. Verse 20 tells us that they worshiped because everything the angel had spoken had come true. God’s promises are trustworthy, and we can be confident that every one of them will be fulfilled.

Having witnessed the fulfillment of God’s promise, the shepherds’ natural response was worship—joyful, wholehearted worship. The Messiah for whom Israel had waited for generations had finally come, and their long-held hope had become a living reality. They returned transformed, praising God for His faithfulness.

You are called to respond to the coming of Christ in the same way. It is not enough simply to see Him. It is not enough to proclaim the message to others. God desires a personal relationship with you—one that leads to worship and adoration.

Have you ever driven far from the city, away from artificial light, and looked up into the night sky? Only then do the constellations become visible in all their splendor. In much the same way, the busyness of the Christmas season can drown out the voice of the angels—and even the voice of the Lord Himself. When was the last time you stepped off the Christmas carousel and took time to truly worship God? Was it today? This week? Or has it been longer?

Take time to praise the Lord for keeping His promise in the first Advent, and to express your longing for His return at the Second Advent, when He will make all things right. Worship Him for His faithfulness and for who He is.

What, then, can we conclude from Luke’s account of the shepherds? Each of us shares something in common with them. Though they were humble in status, they received a birth announcement from God—and that announcement includes you and me. “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” This is the gospel in its simplest form: Christ came into the world to save sinners.

The shepherds provide a clear model for how we are to respond to the coming of Christ—a model we can choose either to follow or to ignore. When they heard the message, they did three things: they went immediately to see Jesus; they proclaimed the good news to others; and they returned home worshiping God with unrestrained joy because of His faithfulness.

You have a choice to make today, and in the days ahead. You have received a birth announcement—a message from God Himself. What will you do with it? Advent is a season of preparation—spiritual preparation. Paul reminds us that we are letters from Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. Your life and your words proclaim a message.

Is anything smudging that letter, making it difficult for others to see or hear the good news? This Advent season, examine yourself. Is there a broken relationship that needs reconciliation? Go and make it right. Is there hypocrisy in your life that obscures your witness? Root it out. Is there hidden sin? David prayed, “Forgive my hidden faults, O Lord.” (Psalm 19:12). Repent, make a fresh start—now is the time.

We cannot share the good news with God’s power when there is unconfessed sin or a judgmental spirit in our hearts. If your letter seems addressed only to “perfect people,” ask yourself—how then did you ever receive the gospel? Confess that spirit to God and ask Him to help you see others not for what offends you, but for their need of grace.

Advent is a season of preparation. We sing, “Let every heart prepare Him room.” You are a letter from God, carrying His birth announcement. Make whatever corrections are necessary so the good news of salvation can shine through you clearly and boldly—because nothing matters more than that this Advent season.