God's Grace: Hope for the Unworthy and Marginalized
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound and transformative story of the shepherds in Luke chapter 2. These shepherds, considered the lowest in society, were chosen by God to receive the first announcement of Jesus' birth. This choice underscores a powerful truth: God often reveals Himself to those whom society deems unworthy, inadequate, and unloved. The shepherds' story is a reminder that God's love and grace are not reserved for the elite or the righteous but are available to everyone, regardless of their status or past.
We began by reflecting on the fear that often accompanies God's call in our lives. Just as Mary and Joseph faced fear when they received their divine assignments, the shepherds were initially terrified by the angel's appearance. Yet, the angel's message was one of reassurance: "Fear not." This call to courage is a recurring theme in the Christmas story, inviting us to trust in God's plan even when it seems daunting.
The shepherds' encounter with the angel challenges our understanding of worthiness. In their culture, shepherds were seen as unworthy, inadequate, and unloved. They were marginalized, often labeled as unclean and untrustworthy. Yet, God chose them to be the first witnesses of the Messiah's birth. This choice illustrates that God's kingdom operates on a different value system, one that elevates the humble and the lowly.
We also examined the inadequacy of religion to bridge the gap between humanity and God. The law, with its 613 commandments, was never meant to make us right with God but to reveal our need for a Savior. True righteousness comes not from our efforts but from placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is not about adhering to rules but about trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Finally, we were invited to respond to this good news. Just as the shepherds hurried to see the newborn King, we are called to come to Jesus, not as a religious obligation but as a relationship with the Savior who loves us unconditionally. This Christmas, may we find our worth, adequacy, and love in Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. God's Invitation to the Unworthy: The shepherds, considered unworthy by society, were chosen to receive the first announcement of Jesus' birth. This highlights that God's grace is available to all, regardless of societal labels or personal feelings of inadequacy. We are reminded that our worth is not determined by human standards but by God's love and invitation. [38:01]
2. Fear Not: The recurring message of "fear not" in the Christmas story encourages us to trust in God's plan despite our fears. Like Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, we are called to step out in faith, knowing that God's presence and purpose are greater than our fears. [39:24]
3. The Inadequacy of Religion: The law reveals our need for a Savior, as it cannot make us right with God. True righteousness comes from placing our faith in Jesus Christ, not from our efforts to follow religious rules. This faith is about trusting in Jesus' finished work on the cross. [52:23]
4. The Transformative Power of Faith: Placing our faith in Jesus transforms our identity from unworthy, inadequate, and unloved to beloved children of God. This faith is not about religious rituals but about a relationship with the Savior who redeems and restores us. [01:02:04]
5. Responding to the Good News: Like the shepherds, we are invited to respond to the good news of Jesus' birth. This response is not about joining a religion but about entering into a relationship with Christ, who offers us peace, love, and eternal life. [01:10:12]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[30:29] - Introduction and Series Recap
[38:01] - The Shepherds' Encounter
[39:24] - Fear Not: A Divine Reassurance
[41:08] - God's Choice of the Lowly
[44:09] - Feeling Unworthy and Inadequate
[45:59] - The Label of Unloved
[47:30] - The Burden of Unworthiness
[50:31] - The Inadequacy of Religion
[52:23] - The Purpose of the Law
[54:09] - Our Need for Rescue
[56:33] - A Church of Imperfect People
[58:25] - The Example of Mother Teresa
[01:02:04] - Faith in Jesus Christ
[01:06:41] - Religion vs. Relationship
[01:10:12] - The Shepherds' Response
[01:13:14] - Invitation to Respond
[01:17:14] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:8-17
- Romans 3:20-22
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 2:8-17, what was the initial reaction of the shepherds when the angel appeared to them, and how did the angel address their fear? [38:01]
2. According to the sermon, why were shepherds considered unworthy and inadequate in their society? [41:08]
3. What does Romans 3:20-22 say about the purpose of the law and how we are made right with God? [52:23]
4. How did the shepherds respond after hearing the good news from the angel, and what did they do afterward? [01:10:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think God chose to announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, who were considered unworthy by society? What does this reveal about God's character? [41:08]
2. How does the recurring message of "fear not" in the Christmas story encourage believers to trust in God's plan despite their fears? [39:24]
3. In what ways does the inadequacy of religion to make us right with God highlight the importance of faith in Jesus Christ? [52:23]
4. How does the story of the shepherds challenge our understanding of worthiness and God's invitation to all people? [01:06:41]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy or inadequate. How can the story of the shepherds help you see your worth through God's eyes? [41:08]
2. The angel's message to the shepherds was "fear not." What fears are currently holding you back from fully trusting God's plan for your life, and how can you confront them? [39:24]
3. The sermon emphasized that true righteousness comes from faith in Jesus, not from following religious rules. How can you shift your focus from religious obligations to a genuine relationship with Christ? [52:23]
4. The shepherds responded to the good news by seeking out Jesus. What steps can you take this week to actively pursue a deeper relationship with Him? [01:10:12]
5. Consider the societal labels or personal feelings of inadequacy you may carry. How can you remind yourself of your identity as a beloved child of God? [41:08]
6. How can you share the good news of Jesus' birth with someone in your life who feels unworthy or unloved? What practical steps can you take to reach out to them this Christmas season? [01:10:12]
7. The sermon mentioned that religion is about what we do, while a relationship with Christ is about what He has done. How can this understanding change the way you live out your faith daily? [01:06:41]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Grace for the Marginalized
God's choice to announce Jesus' birth to the shepherds, who were marginalized and considered unworthy by society, reveals a profound truth about His kingdom. In a world that often values status and power, God operates on a different value system, one that elevates the humble and the lowly. The shepherds' story is a powerful reminder that God's love and grace are not reserved for the elite or the righteous but are available to everyone, regardless of their status or past. This narrative challenges us to reconsider our understanding of worthiness and to embrace the truth that our value is determined by God's love and invitation, not by societal labels or personal feelings of inadequacy. [38:01]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Who in your life might feel marginalized or unworthy? How can you extend God's love and grace to them today?
Day 2: Courage in the Face of Fear
The message of "fear not" is a recurring theme in the Christmas story, inviting us to trust in God's plan even when it seems daunting. Just as Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds faced fear when they received their divine assignments, we too encounter fear when God calls us to step out in faith. The angel's reassurance to the shepherds, "Fear not," is a divine invitation to courage, reminding us that God's presence and purpose are greater than our fears. This call to courage encourages us to trust in God's plan, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. [39:24]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What fear is holding you back from fully trusting God's plan? How can you take a step of faith today, trusting in His presence and purpose?
Day 3: The Law and Our Need for a Savior
The inadequacy of religion to bridge the gap between humanity and God is highlighted by the law, which reveals our need for a Savior. With its 613 commandments, the law was never meant to make us right with God but to show us our need for redemption. True righteousness comes not from our efforts to follow religious rules but from placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is about trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross, rather than relying on our own efforts. It is a call to move beyond religious rituals and embrace a relationship with the Savior who redeems and restores us. [52:23]
Galatians 3:24-25 (ESV): "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian."
Reflection: In what ways have you been relying on religious rituals rather than a relationship with Jesus? How can you shift your focus to trust in His finished work on the cross?
Day 4: Identity Transformed by Faith
Placing our faith in Jesus transforms our identity from unworthy, inadequate, and unloved to beloved children of God. This transformation is not about adhering to religious rules but about entering into a relationship with the Savior who loves us unconditionally. Through faith, we are redeemed and restored, finding our worth, adequacy, and love in Him. This transformative power of faith invites us to embrace our new identity in Christ and live out of the truth that we are beloved children of God, fully accepted and loved by Him. [01:02:04]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: How does your identity in Christ change the way you view yourself and others? What steps can you take to live out of this new identity today?
Day 5: Responding to the Good News
The shepherds' response to the good news of Jesus' birth is a model for us today. They hurried to see the newborn King, not out of religious obligation but out of a desire for a relationship with the Savior who loves us unconditionally. This Christmas, we are invited to respond to the good news by coming to Jesus, not as a religious duty but as an opportunity to enter into a relationship with Him. In this relationship, we find peace, love, and eternal life, discovering our true worth and identity in Him. [01:10:12]
John 1:12-13 (ESV): "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
Reflection: How can you respond to the good news of Jesus' birth in a way that deepens your relationship with Him? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this relationship today?
Quotes
"Religion is all about rules. This religion has always been about rules. The do's and the don'ts. Don't smoke, don't chew, don't go with girls who do. Right? And the problem is, we've done it. We've done it. We've done it. We've done it. We've done it. We've done all the don'ts. And we haven't done very many of the do's. And religion just doesn't work, does it?" [00:51:14] (30 seconds)
"Isn't it interesting that God, when he is wanting to announce the birth of his son, that he hires a herald like no other herald, an angel, a warrior angel, not one of these little naked babies with wings, but a warrior angel that would scare the bejeebies out of anybody in here. He sends a warrior angel, and who does he send the angel to? Not someone of influence, not a group of people of wealth. Or not the university prestige." [00:40:36] (32 seconds)
"How many of you have ever, even once in your life, you have ever lied? You've twisted the truth. You've exaggerated the truth. Anybody? How many of you have ever lied? I'm looking around. I just saw somebody who didn't have their hand up. I was about to point them out, and then they put it up. Okay, okay, you can put your hands down. Okay. Good. See, I always say half of our church has been in jail, and the other half should have been, right?" [00:55:34] (27 seconds)
"Religion did not work for the shepherds. It made them feel even more distant from God. They could never measure up. They never knew the presence of God in that system. And religion will not work for you and I. And that's why God did not send a religion. God sent a person. He sent Jesus, his son. He sent a rescuer." [01:06:41] (29 seconds)
"Maybe today you walk in and you feel unworthy and inadequate and unloved. Can I introduce you to Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord who has come? And that in what you are feeling, he doesn't promise that he's going to necessarily take away from you. He doesn't promise that you're going to take away all of your ouchies and boo-boos and that life is just going to be cupcakes and unicorns from this point forward, but he does promise that he will walk with you through it." [01:07:11] (31 seconds)
"That you can have the assurance that he is with you. And even though the first 90 years might be hard, Norm, I just sat down with Norma this past week. I always tell you about my friend Norma Harmon. She told me this years ago. She told me this years ago. She said, you I think before she was even 80, she told me, you know, the first 80 years are the hardest. And now she's 90, and so we're just talking, and it's like the first 100 years are the hardest." [01:08:26] (27 seconds)
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