Why We'll Always Celebrate Christmas!
The Heart of Christmas
Tuesday, December 9, 2003
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for being worthy of my worship and praise. As I move to a Monday, I pray that I will worship You as fully today as I do on Sundays, when I gather with brothers and sisters through Your Son, Jesus, to worship as His body gathered together. I pray that my thoughts, words, and actions, will be offered to You as a living sacrifice, which is my spiritual act of service and worship to You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that all that I am and all that I do will glorify You. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Verses
Luke 2:8-20
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Questions for Reflection
Today, we’re focusing on fellowship as we turn again to Luke 2:8-20. Consider the characters involved in this first Christmas story and see how they enjoyed fellowship: The angels came together to praise God. The shepherds formed a community of workers who joined to tell everyone they could about Jesus, and who were the first visitors to see Him personally. Mary and Joseph found themselves a part of a new “fellowship”—a family with Jesus as their firstborn son.
When you hear good news, who is the person with whom you most want to share it?
Questions for Exploration
How does the text portray the shepherd as being in fellowship with one another? (8-20)
In what ways do the shepherds share their fellowship with others in today’s Scripture? (8-20)
What is there in today’s Scripture that makes it evident that God wants to have fellowship with humanity? (8-20)
Questions for Understanding
What is the most important fellowship demonstrated in today’s Scripture reading?
What is the best way to share fellowship in the Christmas season?
Question for Application
What is one way you will offer fellowship to another as a result of reading today’s Scripture?
And There Were Shepherds....
The shepherds lived in the fields outside of Bethlehem. Many scholars believe they watched over the royal flocks belonging to King Herod. Rather ironic, then, that the King’s shepherds were the first to hear of the birth of the new King in Israel, rather than the current one! This announcement to the shepherds is evidence that God’s fellowship is made up of folks that many would not consider worthy of such company. Shepherds were considered “low life” by the “uppercrust” in Israel at the time. In fact, shepherds weren’t even permitted to give testimony in a court of law, because of the dubious nature of their work, and the questions raised as to what they did out in those fields! Yet, when God sent His only Son, Jesus, into the world it was the shepherds to whom He sent the birth announcement. The angel appeared to a group of common shepherds, a fellowship of those of little account. This is as it should be, being that Jesus, Himself, was considered to be of little account by many throughout his life. Fellowship is a desire to belong to others and to treat others as we desire to belong to and treat Jesus. We don’t know for sure whether the shepherds held such relationships with one another, before the angels appeared, but we can be assured that after the angel had given the message to the shepherds, they drew close to each other and welcomed others into their circle of influence as those who had met God’s son first hand. One of the truest signs of Christian fellowship is that we want to include others in it with us as well!
To view other studies from the Why We Celebrate Christmas series, click here.