Christmas: Shepherds heard the Good News!

1. LESSON

• Last week, we talked about a special visitor for Mary and Joseph and how a government ruling made them travel all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This was done so God’s prophecy would be fulfilled — the Saviour will be born in Bethlehem.
• Let’s find out what happened the night Jesus was born, according to Luke 2:8-20.

• The lowly shepherds heard the good news first
  • The first people to find out about Jesus’ birth were not important dignitaries or VVIPs. They were lowly shepherds who had to spend the night in the fields to keep watch over their flocks and ensure their safety. 
  • We don’t know why God decided to announce the birth to the shepherds first. Perhaps He wanted them to know that the Good Shepherd of the world has come! Do you remember Psalm 23? The Lord is my Shepherd …

• The angels announced the good news with joy 

• Angels were not cute little cherubs with pretty white dresses. Real angels were large and glorious and can look a bit intimidating.
• In the dark of the night, an angel appearing can be a frightening sight, and the shepherds were terrified. 
• But the first thing the angel said was, “Don’t be afraid.”
• The angel brought “good news” of “great joy”.
• Then the angel was joined by a vast host of others, like a whole choir in the sky, shining brightly. They all praised God saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
• The birth of Jesus IS good news for all of us, and it brings great joy and peace to all of us!

• The baby was wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. 

• The King of Kings, the Saviour of the world, did not have a bed of His own when He was born. He was wrapped in cloths and laid in the feeding trough of animals. 
• The manger is not a nice, comfortable baby cot. It’s cold, dark and dirty. It’d be full of mud, animal dung, must and mold. 
• The manger is a picture of our hearts and lives. 
  • Our hearts are cold because we do not know God’s love
  • Our hearts are dark because we do not have His light of salvation 
  • Our hearts are dirty because of sin

•  But the miracle of Christmas is that Jesus is willing to be born into hearts like that! No matter how cold your heart is, Jesus is willing to be born there. No matter how dark your heart is, Jesus is willing to be born there. No matter dirty your heart is, or how sinful your life has been, Jesus is willing to come in, enter and clean your heart. 
• Jesus meets us at a place where we are utterly lost, hopeless and helpless. And when we invite him into the manger of our hearts and lives, He transforms it into something beautiful.

• The shepherds responded to the good news

• 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. 
• Every one of us should have a chance to hear the good news about Jesus — the One who came to give His life for us so that we can live.
• Like the shepherds, we should also respond to the good news and accept Jesus’ gift of His life and love for us.
• And just like them, once we get to know Jesus, we will be able to glorify and praise God for all that He has done for us on the cross!

•  Conclusion 
  • Invite the children to accept the good news of Jesus this Christmas just as the shepherds did.