Responding to the Invitation: The Shepherds’ Journey

Devotional

Day 1: God Meets Us Where We Are

God does not wait for us to be in the right place or to have everything together before He reaches out to us; instead, He meets us in the midst of our ordinary routines and extends His invitation of grace. Just as the shepherds were tending their flocks—going about their regular nightly duties—when the angel appeared, so too does God come to us in the everyday moments of our lives. He does not require us to be in a place of religious achievement or spiritual perfection; He comes to us as we are, offering us the opportunity to respond to His love and invitation. Reflect on the ways God has met you in unexpected places, and remember that His grace is not limited by our circumstances or our status. [34:57]

Luke 2:8-12 (ESV)
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Reflection: Think back to a time when God met you unexpectedly in the midst of your daily routine. How did you respond, and how might you be more attentive to His invitations in your everyday life today?

Day 2: Responding to God’s Invitation Requires a Decision

When confronted with the message of Jesus, each person must make a choice—either to investigate and respond to God’s invitation or to turn away and continue as before. The shepherds, after hearing the angels’ proclamation, did not simply return to their flocks as if nothing had happened; instead, they hurried to Bethlehem, eager to see for themselves what God had revealed. This sense of urgency and willingness to seek out the truth is essential for anyone who hears the good news. The decision to pursue Jesus is not a passive one; it is a deliberate step that can change the course of a life and even eternity. [37:47]

Luke 2:15-16 (ESV)
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you sense God inviting you to take a step of faith or obedience? What would it look like for you to respond with urgency and intentionality today?

Day 3: Encountering Jesus Leads to Sharing the Good News

A genuine encounter with Jesus naturally overflows into sharing the good news with others; the shepherds, after seeing the child and realizing who He was, could not keep the news to themselves but spread the word to everyone they met. Their excitement and joy were so great that it compelled them to tell others, not just about the birth of a baby, but about the arrival of the Savior, Messiah, and Lord. The things we value most are often the things we are most eager to share, and the shepherds’ response challenges us to consider whether our own experience of Jesus moves us to declare His goodness to those around us. [43:50]

Luke 2:17-18 (ESV)
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Reflection: Who is one person you can share the story of Jesus with this week, and what is one practical way you can initiate that conversation or act of love?

Day 4: True Worship Transforms Everyday Life

Worship is not limited to singing songs or attending church services; it is a whole-life response to God’s glory and grace, affecting every aspect of how we live. The shepherds returned to their fields glorifying and praising God, not just in song but in the way they lived and interacted with others. True worship is the outpouring of a heart transformed by the peace and salvation found in Jesus, so that everything we do—our work, our words, our relationships—becomes an act of honoring God. This kind of worship is the natural result of encountering Jesus and recognizing His worthiness. [46:23]

Luke 2:20 (ESV)
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Reflection: In what specific area of your daily life can you intentionally glorify God today, turning an ordinary task into an act of worship?

Day 5: The Invitation of Jesus Demands a Personal Response

The story of the shepherds reminds us that the invitation to know Jesus is extended to all, but it requires a personal response—one that leads to decision, discovery, declaration, and ultimately, devotion. Each of us must consider where we are on this journey: Have we received the invitation? Have we investigated the claims of Jesus? Have we declared Him as Lord and Savior? And has our life been transformed into one of devotion and worship? The peace and salvation Jesus offers are not meant to be passively received but to be embraced in a way that changes everything about us. [52:01]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Reflection: Where do you find yourself in the journey of responding to Jesus—invitation, decision, discovery, declaration, or devotion—and what is your next step in deepening your response to Him today?

Sermon Summary

As we gather in this season of anticipation, we are reminded that God’s grace meets us right where we are. The story of the shepherds in Luke 2:15-20 is a powerful example of how God’s invitation is extended not to the elite or the religiously accomplished, but to ordinary people in the midst of their everyday routines. The shepherds, outcasts in their society, were the first to hear the good news of Jesus’ birth. God did not wait for them to clean up or qualify themselves; He met them in the fields, in the middle of their work, and offered them an invitation to witness the arrival of the Savior.

This invitation required a response. The shepherds could have dismissed the message and returned to their flocks, but instead, they chose to seek out what God had revealed. Their urgency and excitement led them to Bethlehem, where they found everything just as the angels had said. The significance was not in the outward appearance of the baby, but in the truth of who He was: Messiah, Savior, and Lord. Each of us is faced with the same decision—will we investigate the claims of Jesus, and if so, what verdict will we reach about Him?

Upon encountering Jesus, the shepherds could not keep the news to themselves. Their hearts overflowed, and they shared what they had seen and heard with everyone around them. This natural outpouring challenges us to consider whether we are as eager to share the life-changing reality of Christ as we are to recommend a favorite restaurant or movie. What we share most passionately reveals what truly matters to us.

Finally, the shepherds returned to their fields, but they were not the same. Their circumstances had not changed, but their hearts had. Their response was worship—not just in song, but in every aspect of their lives. True worship is a whole-life response to God’s glory and grace, transforming our actions, words, and attitudes. The journey of the shepherds—decision, discovery, declaration, and devotion—mirrors the journey each of us is invited to take. The invitation of Christ requires a response, and our answer shapes not only our lives but the lives of those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. God Meets Us in Ordinary Moments God’s invitation does not wait for us to be in the right place or to have our lives together. He meets us in the midst of our daily routines, just as He met the shepherds in their fields. This truth reminds us that God’s grace is not reserved for the religious or the accomplished, but is extended to all who are willing to listen and respond. [34:57]
2. Our Response to God’s Invitation Matters The shepherds had to choose whether to investigate the message they received. Likewise, each of us must decide how we will respond to the claims of Christ. The decision to seek, to question, and to discover for ourselves is crucial, for it is in this pursuit that we encounter the truth that can transform our lives. [37:47]
3. Encountering Jesus Leads to Overflowing Witness When the shepherds discovered the truth about Jesus, they could not keep it to themselves. Their excitement and joy compelled them to share the good news with others. This challenges us to reflect on what we are most eager to share, and whether the reality of Christ’s work in our lives is something we naturally declare to those around us. [43:50]
4. True Worship Transforms Everyday Life The shepherds returned to their ordinary lives, but everything was different. Worship is not confined to singing or religious rituals; it is the offering of our whole selves in response to God’s grace. When we truly encounter Jesus, every aspect of our lives—our work, our relationships, our words—becomes an act of worship, reflecting the glory of God. [46:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Opening Prayer
[02:30] - Preparing Our Hearts for Advent
[04:45] - Recap: The Significance of Jesus’ Birth
[08:20] - God’s Faithfulness and the Kingdom for All
[12:05] - The Peace Jesus Brings
[15:30] - Introducing Today’s Passage
[17:00] - God’s Unexpected Invitation to Shepherds
[20:40] - God Meets Us Where We Are
[24:15] - The Shepherds’ Decision
[28:00] - Urgency in Responding to God
[31:59] - The Significance of the Discovery
[34:57] - The Verdict: Who Is Jesus?
[37:47] - Sharing the Good News
[43:50] - What Our Response Reveals
[46:23] - Worship as a Whole-Life Response
[49:39] - The Journey: Decision, Discovery, Declaration, Devotion
[52:01] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 2:15-20 (ESV) — 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Observation Questions

What was the shepherds’ immediate reaction after the angels left them in the fields? ([37:47])
According to the passage, what did the shepherds do after they saw Jesus in the manger? ([43:50])
How did the people respond when the shepherds shared what they had seen and heard? ([43:50])
After their encounter with Jesus, what did the shepherds do as they returned to their fields? ([46:23])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God chose to announce Jesus’ birth to shepherds, who were considered outcasts in their society? What does this reveal about God’s character? ([34:57])
The shepherds had to make a decision after receiving the angels’ message. What does their choice to go to Bethlehem show about their faith and priorities? ([37:47])
The shepherds could not keep the news to themselves after meeting Jesus. What does this say about the impact of truly encountering Christ? ([43:50])
The shepherds’ worship was not just a song, but a whole-life response. What does it mean for worship to go beyond singing and include every aspect of life? ([46:23])

Application Questions

The shepherds were met by God in the middle of their ordinary work. Can you think of a time when God met you in an unexpected or everyday moment? How did you respond? ([34:57])
The shepherds had to decide whether to investigate what they had heard. Is there an area in your life where you feel God is inviting you to take a step of faith or investigate something further? What might be holding you back? ([37:47])
After encountering Jesus, the shepherds shared the news with others. Are you as eager to share what God has done in your life as you are to recommend a favorite restaurant or movie? Why or why not? ([43:50])
What is something about Jesus or your faith that you find hard to talk about with others? What would help you become more open in sharing? ([43:50])
The shepherds returned to their same jobs, but their hearts were changed. Is there a part of your daily routine where you could be more intentional about worshiping God? What would that look like? ([46:23])
The sermon described worship as a whole-life response to God’s grace. What is one specific way you can offer your work, relationships, or words as worship this week? ([46:23])
Looking at the journey of the shepherds—decision, discovery, declaration, and devotion—where do you see yourself right now? Is there a next step you feel God is inviting you to take? ([49:39])

Sermon Clips

Whatever that moment was for you God didn't wait for you to get things right he didn't wait for you to do the right things or be in the right place no he came and he met you where you were with an invitation. [00:37:18] (15 seconds) #GodMeetsYouNow

Worship and praise this idea of glorifying God is more than just that you know we worship that which we deem worthy it's the response we have of all that we are in mind will emotions and body and action to all that God is it's more than just singing some songs when the worship team's up here on Sunday morning or when we're blasting our worship playlist in the car yeah that's one way that we do it but true worship is the acknowledgement of God and all of his power and glory in everything that we do with our lives it's the way that I speak to others it's the way that I act it's the way that I do my job it's it's everything. [00:48:00] (49 seconds) #TrueWorshipEveryday

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