MOMENTS THAT MATTER - Visited by Shepherds

SCRIPTURES
Romans 8:28 | And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Psalm 72:9 | Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.

Luke 2:8-20 | That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 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.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

DISCUSSION

1. Who are the nomads foretold in Psalm 72? How was their foretelling fulfilled in the moments (or circumstances) related to Jesus’ birth?
2. The shepherds are not necessary or needed for God’s plan of rescue through Jesus. Everything could have happened without them.

• How do you think God involving them in the birth of the Messiah changed their lives?
• According to Luke 2:19, how did God involving the shepherds impact Mary?

3. How do the shepherds respond to meeting the Savior? Does your life reflect the same attitude and awe because of your relationship with the Savior? Why or why not?
4. When the angel announces the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, more angels join solely for the purpose of worshipping God about the birth of Jesus.

• Why do you think this news caused the angels to worship God?
• Imagine for a minute what the praise and worship of God by angels would look, sound, even feel like. Do you worship God with