Sermon Text: Luke 2.8-20

“I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions…which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives.” – Leo Tolstoy

Among the many surprises of the Christmas story, God sends his angelic messengers to a group of common shepherds. Isn’t that…a bit of a waste of resources? Couldn’t God have sent his heavenly hosts to key leaders and influencers? To kings and rulers and priests and the like? Wouldn’t THAT get their attention? Wouldn’t THAT get the message out?

Then again, maybe these shepherds are the perfect candidates for a visit from God’s heavenly messengers. After all, God has been sending messenger after messenger to Israel’s other “shepherds” (“shepherd” is a very common metaphor for kings and rulers in the Old Testament), but the leaders ignored them.

Whatever the reason God chose these shepherds, the reason we know their story and still talk about it is because these shepherds chose to respond to the angel’s announcement with hope. They heard God’s word, they witnessed an awesome display of God’s glory, and they said, “Let’s go see this!” They heard and responded, and they became a part of God’s story. And we’re still talking about this story today – over 2,000 years later!

Sometimes the experience of waiting can lead to complacency, comfort, and stuckness – see the Tolstoy quote above. Sometimes the experience of waiting can lead to fear, anxiety, and paralysis. Sometimes the experience of waiting can lead to giving up or despair. However, remember whatever happens to us in the waiting, one response is always available to us: hope.

As Peter Steinke says, “Hope is a response. Hope sees the door is set open.”

The shepherds could have responded to their angelic visit by engaging a rigorous debate about rather or not angels exist. They could have responded with paralyzing fear that God might be angry with them, the heavenly host is an army after all! They could have responded by chalking it up to eating a bad burrito – after all, what good ever comes watching sheep in the middle of the night? Instead, the shepherds chose to walk through the open door. “Let’s go see this thing!”

Can you imagine how we might respond to the shepherds today? I mean, visited by angels? We’d think they were off their meds! But maybe God’s not looking for more people to tell him what to do and how he should work. Maybe God doesn’t need us to design his P.R. strategy in the world. Maybe God is simply calling us to get caught up in the wonder of what God is doing through Jesus and to respond by saying, “Wow! Did you hear that? We have got to check this out!”

Additional Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 1:68-79, Philippians 1:3-11, Luke 3:1-6

Light: The candle of LOVE

Read: Son of laughter, JSB p. 56 (Genesis 12-21)


Ask: When was the last time you laughed a glorious, happy laugh? When was the last time you made someone laugh? How did that feel?

Pray: Thank God for keeping His promise to send the Rescuer, Jesus. Ask God to rescue the children working on Lake Volta.

Jesse Tree Ornament: Old Couple

Act: Look for ways to make someone laugh this week.

Listen: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus