Jesus is born to Mary and Joseph and the angels erupt in praise. The shepherds don’t linger long after this nighttime divine interruption. They high-tail it to Bethlehem to see what God has done.
(Luke 2:8-20)
SERMON OUTLINE
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
God’s Glory Arrives to Ordinary People (Luke 2:8-9)
- The angelic appearance and God’s glory
- The ordinary shepherds and their appropriate awe
The Glorious Announcement of God’s New Work in Jesus (Luke 2:10-14)
- God’s good news of great joy for all
- The announcement of the Savior, Messiah, and Lord in David’s city
- The mystifying arrival of this Messiah
- The great company of angels singing God’s glory
Ordinary People See and Tell of God’s Glory (Luke 2:15-20)
- The shepherds run to see the child
- Mary glorifies God by treasuring and pondering these events
- The shepherds continue the angel’s song and spread the word of God’s glory
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When have you encountered something you would describe as “glorious”? What was it or what happened?
- This weekend we continue the journey of Advent and our preaching series, “Canticles of Christmas,” by turning to the song of the angels and the shepherds based in Luke 2:8-20. Begin your study in prayer by asking God to speak to you through His Word, and then, whether you’re on your own or with a group, read Luke 2:1-20 aloud.
- This fourth song of Advent brings us to the culminating event: Jesus’ birth. There is much to celebrate in the first seven verses of this chapter, but we want to focus our attention on the angels and shepherds in verses 8-20. What strikes you about the identity and situation of the shepherds?
- Try to put the angels’ message in verses 10-12 into your own words. How would you summarize this announcement?
- Why do you think this announcement is a big deal? What is significant about it?
- What does this announcement mean for us in our lives? What has it meant to you?
- An angel chorus joins in to praise God for this amazing announcement in verses 13-14. Why were the angels praising God?
- How would you describe the shepherds’ response to the angelic announcement and praise?
- What do you notice about Mary in verse 19? Why might this be important?
- In verse 20, the shepherds pick up the angels’ praise with their own lips and lives. What do you think it looks like to give God glory in our lives because of Jesus?
- What is one thing God is revealing to you through this study? If you’re on your own, write that down, pray over it, and share it with someone this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Luke 2:10-12 or 2:14.
- Continue with the devotional that accompanies Advent and this series here: eastbrook.org/devotionals/.
- Draw, ink, or paint the scene of the angel’s appearance to the shepherds or their visit to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Take time to talk with God as you depict the scene in your own way. What is God speaking to you through this?
- Listen to a musical rendering of this song, such as: “Glory to God” from Georg Friedrich Händel’s Messiah as performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.