A Good Shepherd for the sheep
Advent is God’s gracious invasion into our longings. From the start, God delights to make His identity unmistakably clear—not to impress the powerful, but to rescue the needy, the known, the hurting. That’s why the announcement of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:8-20 lands first in a field, not a palace. Shepherds—the overlooked, the out-on-the-edge—are interrupted by heaven, and the sign they receive subverts every expectation: the Lord of glory wrapped tight and laid in a feeding trough. As our Christmas series, “Every Longing Fulfilled,” continued last Sunday, Pastor Sean looked at how the Good Shepherd (John 10:11–15) arrives among the animals He came to care for. That isn’t sentimentality; it’s strategy. If you want to lead sheep, you have to smell like sheep.
Key Takeaways
– God chooses the margins on purpose.
God’s announcement to shepherds isn’t a quaint detail; it’s a declaration of how His kingdom moves—toward the overlooked, not the overlords. By bypassing the gatekeepers, God reveals a Savior who serves in the fields, not just the halls of power. If grace came to the margins first, it will meet you in your periphery too.
– The Good Shepherd draws near.
You cannot shepherd from a throne room; you have to walk the same paths and carry the same dust. Jesus closes the distance, choosing proximity over convenience and embodiment over abstraction. He is with you in the dark places, not merely aware of them.
– He lays down His life for us.
The cross is not a tragic accident; it’s a shepherd’s decision to stand in the doorway and take the hit. Jesus protects us not by denying danger but by absorbing its fatal edge so sin loses its claim. This is justice and mercy meeting in a single act of love.
– Known by name, pursued in love.
Jesus doesn’t call to crowds; He calls to people, and they know His voice. Being named by Him means being seen, claimed, and led—out of confusion and into companionship. Discipleship begins with recognition: that familiar voice is for you.
– Don’t shut up—go tell.
The first witnesses didn’t wait for perfect conditions; they simply shared what they saw and heard. We return to our same jobs, but we don’t return the same. In a culture hungry for hope, your simple, joyful witness is timely and powerful.
Reflection Questions
- In Luke 2:8–20, what three titles are given to the baby, and what specific sign is offered to the shepherds? How do the titles and the sign sit together in the story?
- What does God’s choice to announce Jesus’ birth to shepherds reveal about how His kingdom moves toward the overlooked rather than the overlords?
- God promised, “I myself will” shepherd the flock, which takes on skin in Jesus. What does this teach about God’s presence and commitment versus outsourcing His care?
- Name your “field”—the ordinary place you’ll return to tomorrow (home, job, neighborhood). What would it look like to go back there changed, glorifying and praising God in simple ways?
- Who is one person you can “go tell” this week with simple, joyful words about Jesus? When and how will you share? What keeps you from speaking—and what could help you be bold?
- How are you learning to recognize Jesus’ voice among many voices? What habits (Scripture, prayer, quiet, community) help you notice and follow Him by name?
Watch the Message
Worship Songs from December 21
- “Joy To The World (Hillsong)”
- “O Holy Night”
- “A Christmas Alleluia”
- “Holy Forever” (after the message)
Listen to the songs we play on Sundays by clicking the image below to access our Spotify playlist!
