12/7/25 10:30 || Go Tell It on the Mountain

Devotional

Day 1: Good news of great joy—for you

The angel didn’t skip the shepherds, and he isn’t skipping you. The announcement landed in ordinary fields and told ordinary people, “A Savior has been born to you,” and that changed everything. The shepherds moved from fear to action, from hearing to going, and then to sharing what they had seen and heard. This season, don’t just admire the manger; move toward Jesus and then go tell it on the mountain. Let your home, your table, your errands become places where the good news is spoken with joy. The Savior has come to you, and now He sends you out with hope. [12:14]

Luke 2:8–20
Out in the fields, shepherds were surprised by an angel and the bright weight of God’s glory. They were told not to fear, because a Savior was born for them in David’s town, and they would find Him lying in a manger. They hurried, found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, and then began spreading the news. Everyone who heard was amazed, and the shepherds went back praising God for everything they had seen and heard, exactly as it had been told.

Reflection: Who is one person you will tell this week, “This good news is for you,” and what simple step will you take to share it?

Day 2: Not condemned—saved and loved in Jesus

So many people assume God is only here to condemn, but the gospel says otherwise. Before Jesus came, we were already under the weight of sin; He came not to pile on shame but to rescue. He died in our place for the Father’s glory, so we could be brought home to a real relationship. If we say Jesus loves people in spite of their sin, then we must love people in spite of their sin. Lay down the instinct to condemn, and pick up the courage to love. Live like you are not condemned—and let others taste that freedom through you. [09:47]

John 3:16–17
God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that anyone who trusts in Him will not be lost but will share real, lasting life. God did not send His Son to point an accusing finger at the world but to bring rescue. His purpose was to save, not to condemn.

Reflection: Who have you kept at arm’s length because of their sin, and what is one concrete act of love you can offer them this week without compromising truth?

Day 3: From manger to cross to open curtain

Christmas is not just about a cradle; it points to a cross and an empty grave. Jesus fulfilled the law—He handled what we could never handle—and paid the price for our sin. At His death the temple curtain tore from top to bottom, and the Father threw open the way into His presence. You are invited, not to a weekly nod at God, but to a daily encounter—Tuesday, Wednesday, and every ordinary day. Step into that open space with prayer, scripture, and worship, and let the Holy Spirit keep filling you. This is why He came: so you could live with God, not just visit. [08:22]

Matthew 27:51
As Jesus released His last breath, the great curtain in the temple was ripped from the top down, signaling that God Himself had opened the way into His presence for His people.

Reflection: When and where will you meet with God daily this week to step through the “torn curtain,” and what will you do there for 15 focused minutes?

Day 4: A fire shut up in your bones

When you’ve seen, heard, and experienced Jesus, silence gets heavy and words start burning. God loves to answer prayers for boldness and line up opportunities, sometimes in the aisle at a store or around a family table. Ask Him for a holy urgency, the kind that says, “I can’t help but talk about what I’ve seen, heard, and experienced.” Boldness is not loudness; it’s loving clarity in the moment God provides. Let your life be so full of His presence that speaking of Him feels natural, necessary, and joyful. Pray, step, speak, and trust Him with the outcomes. [11:03]

Jeremiah 20:9
If I try to keep quiet and not speak God’s name, His word blazes inside me like a fire in my bones; holding it in wears me out—I can’t keep silent.

Reflection: What specific story of what you’ve seen, heard, or experienced with Jesus will you share this week, and with whom will you share it first?

Day 5: One body—older and younger, side by side

In the family of God, nobody is retired from the gospel and nobody is too young to matter. The Spirit equips older saints to guide, encourage, and steady; He stirs younger believers to serve, learn, and lead with humility. This is generational ministry—honoring each person’s value and place, walking together so faith outlives us. If you’re older, offer presence, counsel, and a seat at your table; if you’re younger, invite input and commit to grow. In a world of isolation, this shared life makes Jesus visible. Let love run both directions and watch the church come alive. [10:36]

1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let your youth become an excuse for anyone to dismiss you. Show the believers what following Jesus looks like—in your words and actions, in love, in trust, and in a life set apart for God.

Reflection: If you’re older, who will you intentionally mentor, and how will you start this week? If you’re younger, whom will you ask to walk with you, and what is your first text or call going to say?

Sermon Summary

We opened the morning by making space to pray—healing, provision, restored relationships, and a holiday season that actually changes lives. Then we split the room by age and asked the whole body to pray: first over those 30 and under—students, young professionals, and young families—that a holy fire would rise up in them; then over those 31 and up—that we would mentor, disciple, and stand alongside the younger with the faithfulness God has built in us. Nobody is retired from the gospel. Everyone matters to the kingdom.

I gave a quick family update: we’re praying, we’re growing, and we’re giving together. We’re moving toward funding campus-wide security and walking as a family through our annual conference and budget because every person plays a part.

Then we stood with Luke 2 and the song we’ve been singing: Go tell it on the mountain. Christmas isn’t just a manger memory; it’s the full gospel—birth to cross to resurrection—shared at tables, in stores, with neighbors and friends. Jesus did not come to condemn us; we were already condemned. He came to save. So we must stop living like we’re condemned and stop treating our lost friends like they are. If we announce that Jesus loves people in their sin, then we must love people in their sin.

We followed the shepherds’ trail: they heard, they went, they spoke, and they praised. That’s our pattern. Tell what we’ve seen, heard, and experienced. Like Peter and John, we can’t help but speak. Like Jeremiah, when we don’t, it burns in our bones. Jesus is good news because he fulfilled the law—living a perfect life and ending the sacrificial system by his own sacrifice. He paid our debt and opened the way to the Father; the torn veil means access now, not later.

I called us to boldness—real opportunities, real conversations, and a real willingness to be a little inconvenienced so someone else can meet Jesus. We prayed for a season where the Spirit fills us afresh, gives us words, and gives us love that doesn’t flinch. Let’s go tell it—everywhere.

Key Takeaways

1. Live uncondemned, extend uncondemning love. Jesus came to save, not to heap shame. Many around us avoid God because they only expect condemnation, and sometimes they’ve learned that posture from us. If we preach grace but embody rejection, our lives contradict our words. Practice the gospel by loving people inside their mess; that’s how they’ll believe God can love them too. [54:39]
2. Tell what you’ve seen and heard. The shepherds shared what they witnessed, and that turned amazement into praise. Your story—how God met you, provided for you, corrected you, healed you—is not small; it’s your assignment. Truth becomes compelling when it’s embodied and experienced. Be specific, be honest, and let your life be the evidence. [61:05]
3. Let holy fire fuel boldness. When God’s word burns within, silence becomes unbearable. Boldness isn’t volume; it’s Spirit-empowered obedience at the moment of opportunity. Ask for the fire, and then steward it with daily intimacy so courage has fresh fuel. Bold love, spoken at the right time, can change a family tree. [62:21]
4. Christmas is the full gospel. The manger points to the cross, and the cross to the empty tomb. Don’t stop at “Jesus was born”—tell why He came and what His life, death, and resurrection mean now. The season is a wide-open door: lean in, tell the whole story, and invite people into it. [49:32]
5. No one retires from discipleship. If the Spirit lives in you, you have something to give. Maturity isn’t hoarded; it’s multiplied in relationships that listen, guide, and walk alongside. Younger believers need presence more than polish—steady hands that remind them Jesus won’t let go. Step toward someone and begin. [36:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:45] - Ministry time: prayer for needs
[33:19] - Blessing the next generation
[36:12] - Charge to mentors and elders
[41:14] - Security project and year-end giving
[45:49] - Luke 2: Shepherds and Good News
[49:32] - Christmas as the full gospel
[53:24] - Not condemned—live and love accordingly
[56:56] - Good news for all people
[60:12] - Our goal: point people to Jesus
[61:05] - Testify: seen, heard, experienced
[65:52] - Jesus fulfills law; pays sin
[70:13] - Curtain torn—access to the Father
[72:23] - Prayer for boldness this season
[77:03] - Go Tell It on the Mountain reprise

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 2:6–20

Observation questions

In Luke 2:8–14 the angel announces “good news of great joy for all the people.” What is the heart of that announcement and why is it framed as “for all people”? [56:56]
In Luke 2:15–18 the shepherds hurry to Bethlehem, see the child, and “spread the word.” What did the shepherds actually do after seeing Jesus, and how did others respond to their report? [58:03]
Luke 2:19 says Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” What does this detail show about how people process revelation and testimony? [58:48]
Luke 2:20 says the shepherds “returned, glorifying and praising God.” What immediate change of heart or action does that verse describe? [59:42]

Interpretation questions

The angel’s message is “good news” intended for everyone. What does that claim imply about cultural, social, or moral barriers that might keep people from hearing or receiving the gospel? [56:56]
Jesus fulfilled the law (moral and ceremonial) rather than abolishing it. How should that fulfillment affect a believer’s experience of guilt, forgiveness, and daily obedience? [01:05:17]
The torn curtain at Jesus’ death shows new access to the Father. How should a clear understanding of direct access to God change personal prayer, worship, or confidence in approaching God? [01:10:13]
Jeremiah’s picture of God’s word as “a fire shut up in my bones” describes urgent compulsion to speak. What does that internal burning indicate about the link between personal intimacy with God and the boldness to testify? [01:02:21]

Application questions

Jesus came to save, not to condemn. Who in your life do you find yourself treating with condemnation rather than grace? What one specific, loving action can you take toward that person this week to show God’s saving love? [54:39]
The shepherds “spread the word” about what they saw. Prepare a 60–90 second account of one concrete way God has met you (something you’ve seen, heard, or experienced). Who will you share that with before the next meeting? [01:01:05]
Boldness is fueled by the Spirit and daily intimacy with God. Choose one spiritual habit to start this season (5–10 minutes of Scripture each morning, a short daily prayer for one unsaved friend, practicing a two-sentence testimony). Which habit will you commit to and when will you do it each day? [01:02:21]
Christmas is the full gospel (birth → cross → resurrection). At an upcoming holiday gathering, how will you share the whole story in a loving, non‑awkward way? Write one simple sentence you could use to move a conversation from “Christmas memories” to “why Jesus came.” [49:32]
No one retires from discipleship. If you are older in the faith, name one younger person you will meet with in the next month and one concrete thing you will offer them (time, dinner, Bible study help). If you are younger, name one mature believer you will ask to meet and one specific question you want them to help you with. [36:12]
Prayer and practical help were lifted for needs like healing, provision, and restored relationships. Identify one real need in your family, workplace, or neighborhood to pray for this week—and one practical next step you will take to help (a call, a meal, an offer of babysitting, a small gift). When will you take that step? [27:45]

Sermon Clips

And what we need is older people in our church that have walked with Christ for 10 years and 20 years and 30 years to sit with a person that's 22 that's walked with Christ for about eight minutes and say, this is what it's going to look like. And it ain't all going to be perfect. And it's not all going to be precious. And it's not going to be everything you want, but Jesus will never let you go. [00:37:00] (17 seconds) #MentorTheNextGen

Jesus did not come here to tell you how bad you are. Jesus did not come here to wake up one day and say, hey, by the way, you're terrible. Jesus is not waiting on Monday morning for you to come open the Bible and for him to say, hey, let me tell you all the things you've messed up this week. Jesus did not come here to condemn you. He came here to save you. [00:53:31] (15 seconds) #JesusCameToSave

And you got friends and you got family members that are living without Christ because they think that Jesus is only here to condemn them. I don't know if you've ever felt condemned, but when you feel condemned, that's not the place you want to run back to and stay all the time. So what we have to do, one thing we have to do is begin to live our lives like we're not condemned. Because many of us, even as Christ followers, we still live like, well, we're still condemned. [00:53:46] (25 seconds) #LiveUncondemned

He's still holding all of our sin against us. That's not the truth of the gospel. Number two, we have to begin to help our brothers and sisters and friends and neighbors know that they're not condemned. That Jesus came to save them, not just to condemn them. But here's something really critical. Watch this. Y'all paying attention? Listen, we also have to stop treating our lost friends like they are condemned because we condemn them. [00:54:11] (25 seconds) #NotCondemnedByGod

Listen, if you want to tell somebody that Jesus loves them in spite of their sin, then you have to love them in spite of their sin. You can't sit there and condemn them and say, but Jesus will love you. I mean, I don't. Anybody listen in to that? But when we change the way we love people and the way we deal with people and we love them in spite of anything that they've done, then they will accept that because they've seen an example from it, from us. Now they can accept that about Jesus. [00:54:39] (34 seconds) #LoveBeyondSin

Listen, we talked about this already, but we got too many people in this world still living with the mindset that God hates them and he condemns them. Some of us are in this very room and we still live that same way. We still feel like, man, if we miss it one time, God's going to be mad at me. He's going to get me. We still have people that we look at and we think they are, what their sins are. And we condemn them because of their sinfulness while trying to say to them, Hey, God loves you no matter what you've done. [01:09:22] (40 seconds) #GodDoesntHateYou

When Jesus Christ dies on the cross, that curtain comes apart, starting at the top. Why do you think they pointed out that it started at the top? Anybody know? Because no man could do it. And God himself, what's this? God has just watched his son die on the cross. And think of the heart of God. He says, finally, I get to open this curtain so I can be with my people. That's what he did. That's Christmas, by the way. That's the gospel. [01:10:51] (35 seconds) #CurtainTornForUs

So when you and I live this thing out, this Christmas season, and we're gifting and getting and all the things, let's remember the truth of the gospel. That Jesus hit that manger, and then he eventually hit that cross. Was in the grave, and God raised him from the grave, and you and I get to have a relationship with him because Jesus came. That's why we celebrate Christmas. [01:11:26] (26 seconds) #MangerToResurrection

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