God Knows When to Speak Up
God may be trying to break into your ordinary routine with the message of good news. He loves you and has sent His Son to be your Savior. How long will you continue to ignore Immanuel? When will you hurry to the Holy One? He wants to bring you joy in the midst of all the junk going on in your life. Will you receive what He has done for you? Will you put feet to your faith?
Luke 2:1-18 (NASB)
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.”
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
Discussion:
What stood out to you from this week's sermon?
What stood out to you from this passage?
What do you learn about God from this passage?
What is the significance to God inviting the Shepherds to discover Jesus?
What was the shepherds response to the message from the angels?
What was their response after discovering Jesus?
What lesson is there to learn from the Shepherds?
In what ways are you prepared to discover Jesus this Christmas?
Application:
What fears prevent you from discovering Jesus this season?
What fears prohibit you from responding the way the shepherds did?
When fear is replaced with faith, where does that faith go?
Once they witnessed what the angels had proclaimed what was the shepherds response?
How have you responded to the message of the angels?
Is there someone close to you that needs to discover Jesus?
Is there someone God wants you to share Jesus with?
Prayer:
Ask God to lead you to discover Jesus this Christmas Season
Ask God to bring to mind someone you need to share Jesus with
Ask God for one person you can invite to LCC this Christmas Season