Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Luke 2:8-20 ESV
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Key Points
- In this story, the opposite of fear is joy and peace.
- Unending joy and peace are found only in Jesus.
- The shepherds responded to God’s invitation by going to see what God had done.
- Believing the Good News of Jesus should compel us to do something about it.
- Like the shepherds, God invites us to come and see, that we might go and tell.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
-Luke 2:10 ESV
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: How would you describe the joy of Jesus?
2: How would you describe the peace of Jesus?
3: What fears are you wrestling with today?
4: How can the joy and peace of Jesus speak into your fears today?
5: God could have had Mary and Joseph journey with baby Jesus for the shepherds to meet out in the fields. Instead, God announced the birth of Jesus out in the fields and invited the shepherds to journey to Bethlehem to meet Jesus.
· What does this teach us about God’s character?
· What does this teach us about God’s desire for us?
· What does this teach us about the Good News of Jesus?
· How should this truth affect the way we live?
6: What are some ways you can come and see Jesus this week?
· How can you be more intentional about going and telling what you have come to see in Christ Jesus this week?
7: What do you find most encouraging about the shepherd’s story?
8: Who do you know who needs to hear the shepherd’s story?
· Will you tell them?
Pray
Lord, even in the face of great fear, we can have greater joy because Christ has come, and peace has won. Stir our hearts to seek and find your joy and peace this Christmas. Show us so much more of who you are this Christmas. Help us to see clearly why you came and how you reign. Quicken our steps to go and tell what great joy and peace we have come to see in you.
