The Shepherd’s Message From God

Devotional

Day 1: God's birth proclaims joy and inclusion for all.

You are reminded that the angel came to the lowliest—shepherds—declaring good news of great joy for everyone, not a select few. God intends that no one be left out of the gospel; Christ's birth invites the outsider, the overlooked, and the broken into God's family. Let this truth change how you see people and how you welcome them at the foot of the cross. [50:09]

Luke 2:8-14 (CSB)
In that region there were shepherds living out in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold—I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: For today in the city of David a Savior was born for you who is Messiah and Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

Reflection: Who in your life have you been tempted to exclude from the invitation of the gospel, and what is one concrete, compassionate step you can take this week to welcome that person into relationship or conversation?

Day 2: Self-examination before Communion preserves holiness and fellowship.

Before taking the Lord's Supper, pause and honestly examine your heart: confess sin, seek reconciliation with others, and ensure your practice honors Christ's table. Communion is not a private ritual for appearance's sake but a holy ordinance that can expose division, bring healing, or warn of judgment if taken unworthily. Approach the table with humility, repentance, and a desire to be reconciled with God and neighbor. [36:07]

1 Corinthians 11:28-30 (ESV)
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Reflection: Is there a relationship you have allowed to remain unresolved that would prevent you from approaching the Lord’s table with a clear conscience, and what is the first step you will take to make it right before taking Communion next time?

Day 3: God's love offers salvation through faith in Christ.

God’s love for the world is decisive and exclusive: He gave His Son so that whoever believes will not perish but have eternal life; faith in Jesus is the only means of salvation. This is urgent and loving—truth spoken plainly because a Savior died to rescue sinners, not to excuse falsehood. Let the clarity of this call drive your witness and your prayers for loved ones. [01:13:48]

John 3:16-18 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Reflection: Who is one specific person in your circle you will speak to or pray for this week about Christ’s exclusive offer of salvation, and what will you say or pray for them specifically?

Day 4: Pray for all—God desires all saved.

Intercession, thanksgiving, and prayer for authorities and all people are commanded because God desires that everyone come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Prayer is a practical expression of God’s heart for the lost and a means by which the church participates in God’s saving work. Commit to praying with specific people and for leaders so the gospel may advance in peace. [01:11:27]

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Reflection: Choose three names—one family member, one neighbor or coworker, and one public leader—and write a short specific prayer for each daily this week asking that God would bring them to saving knowledge and peace.

Day 5: God is patient, desiring repentance, not judgment.

God’s delay is not negligence but mercy; He is longsuffering because He does not want anyone to perish but desires everyone to repent. That patience calls for urgency in evangelism and holiness in living: God gives time so people can turn to Him. Let this truth move you to both bold witness and patient compassion. [01:12:56]

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Reflection: When you feel impatient with God’s timing in someone’s life, what three prayers or actions can you commit to that reflect God’s patient, redemptive heart rather than frustration?

Sermon Summary

We began by acknowledging how change often comes when we’ve had enough of the old way. That moment of honesty opens the door to freedom—yes, with money, but even more with God. So I asked us to turn down the volume of life and approach the Lord’s Table in humility. This Table doesn’t belong to our church; it belongs to Jesus. It is open to all who know Him, and it must be received with self-examination, repentance, and reconciliation. If there’s a grudge, a whisper, or a wound left unattended, go make it right. Don’t play with holy things.

From there, we looked at Luke 2 and the shepherds. God chose to announce the arrival of His Son to people near the bottom of the social ladder. That’s not an accident. It reveals His heart and confronts our pride. The gospel is for all people—the ones we prefer, the ones we avoid, and the ones we’ve wrongly judged. In an age of outrage, God is still saying, “Fear not.” We live in the age of grace. So let’s stop defining ourselves by what we’re against and start being known for the One we’re for—Jesus, who saves.

I challenged us to recover joy. The good news is great joy, not a weekly funeral. Childlike wonder, united hearts, prayer, and fasting create a culture where the Holy Spirit is welcomed and lives are changed. And we clarified the angel’s song: “peace on earth” is not a promise of universal calm; it’s the inner, resilient peace God gives to those He favors—His children who trust and obey. If that peace is missing, something’s out of alignment. Come into the light, tell the truth, and let brothers and sisters pray heaven down with you. Intercession matters—God wakes His people to stand in the gap.

Finally, I invited anyone uncertain of salvation to come, repent, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. For the weary and the far-off, there is a church here that will proclaim the gospel and welcome you. Let’s rise together into a higher plane of worship—humble, joyful, prayerful, and wide open to all whom Christ came to save.

Key Takeaways

1. Approach the Table with reverence Communion is holy ground, not a ritual to rush. Examine your heart, reconcile with others, and refuse to carry sin and stubbornness to the cup. Turning the volume down to hear the Spirit is how grace restores fellowship. Reverence is love in action before a holy God. [36:32]
2. God announces good news to the lowly The first birth announcement came to shepherds—social outsiders—because God refuses to leave anyone out. That means our posture must be repentance from pride and an open door to the people we’d rather avoid. The cross levels us all; the church should look like that. Welcome everyone to Jesus, then disciple boldly. [53:45]
3. Live in the age of grace—fear not When God’s glory draws near, fear is natural, but grace is His current word to the world. Don’t define your faith by what you oppose; be known for the Savior you proclaim. Courage to love enemies and seek the lost flows from confidence in grace. Fear recedes when purpose takes over. [60:26]
4. Choose joy and worship with wonder Good news produces great joy, not bored religion. Childlike praise, unity, and intercession create room for God to move and people to heal. Joy is not noise—it’s a deep witness that Jesus saves and is present among His people. A joyful church becomes a compelling invitation to the weary. [66:12]
5. Peace belongs to those God favors “Peace on earth” lands in the hearts of those who belong to Christ and walk with Him. If peace is missing, align your life—repent, ask for prayer, and let the Spirit reorder what’s out of place. Intercessory prayer often secures what striving never can. In Christ, peace is promised and practiced. [75:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:27] - From finances to freedom
[35:13] - Communion: the Lord’s table
[36:32] - Examine yourselves and reconcile
[40:07] - He is coming back
[47:19] - The gospel welcome to all
[48:41] - Shepherds and the angel’s news
[53:45] - God’s heart for the lowly
[59:59] - Fear not—grace is here
[61:17] - Good news for all people
[66:12] - Joyful worship over dry religion
[74:41] - Peace to those He favors
[80:23] - Invitation: salvation and assurance
[88:40] - Prayer, protection, and invitations

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Luke 2:8–14
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 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. 10 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. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Observation questions (look closely at the text and the sermon)

What concrete details does Luke 2 give about who the first hearers were and where the baby was found? What do those details tell us about the kind of people God used? (text)
What two main messages did the angel bring in verses 10–11? How does the phrase “good news of great joy” shape your understanding of the announcement? (text)
What sign did the angel give so the shepherds would know the newborn Savior? Why might that sign (a baby in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger) have been surprising? (text)
Communion requires self-examination and reconciliation before participating. What specific warnings does Paul give about eating and drinking “unworthily,” and why does this demand slowing down and honesty before the Lord’s Table? [36:32]

Interpretation questions (think about meaning and why it matters)

Why would God choose shepherds—people on the social margins—to receive the first announcement of the Savior? How does that choice challenge pride and church practice today? [53:45]
The angel says “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” In what ways does “for all people” push the church to change how it welcomes and disciples others? (text)
The phrase translated “peace on earth” can mean “peace among people he favors.” What does it imply about where peace is found and how it is maintained in a believer’s life? [01:14:41]
Paul’s instruction to examine oneself before communion links personal holiness to corporate worship. How should that instruction shape the way a church prepares for and celebrates the Lord’s Supper? [36:32]

Application questions (practical, personal steps to grow)

Communion is holy ground and calls for repentance and reconciliation. Who in your life do you need to ask forgiveness of, or forgive, before you next come to the Lord’s Table? What specific step will you take this week to do that? [36:32]
God announced the Savior first to the lowly. Who are the people you tend to avoid, judge, or exclude? Name one concrete way you will welcome or speak the gospel to someone like that in the next two weeks. [53:45]
“Fear not—grace is here.” What fear (of rejection, failure, loss, ridicule) keeps you from loving enemies or sharing the gospel? What is one small act of courage you can commit to this month to step past that fear? [01:00:26]
Joy should mark the good news. What is one simple change you can make in your own worship or family life to cultivate childlike wonder and joy (examples: start a short family praise time, join a praise team, invite someone to a joyful church event)? [01:06:12]
Peace belongs to those God favors. If peace feels absent in your life, what one area do you need to confess and bring into the light? Who in the church will you ask to pray with you this week? [01:15:38]
Intercession matters—people are often changed because someone prayed. Who will you commit to pray for regularly, and when will you check in with that person to see how God is moving? [01:17:18]

Use this guide to help the group linger over Luke 2, to practice honest self-examination, and to make real, small steps of welcome, repentance, prayer, and joyful worship.

Sermon Clips

For those of you that think, that are watching today, that think there's no hope, that pastors, you don't know what I've done. I want you to know that there's a church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, no matter where you're at in the world today, that we're going to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. And you are welcome here at Calvary Virginia Beach. Amen? Because that's truly the good news. No matter who you are, no matter what you've done, no matter where you've been, the good news of Jesus Christ is that he came, he was born a virgin birth, he lived, and he died on the cross of Calvary for each and every one of us to set us free, no matter who you are. [00:46:57] (50 seconds) #GospelForEveryone

The glory of Christmas is that God's intention was that no one get left out. How many of you know God's intention today is still the same? No one gets left out. That means you have to change your view about people. The only way you're going to do this is you've got to be right with God. [00:59:20] (25 seconds) #NoOneLeftOut

How many of you know, if the glory of the Lord is showing up, you have no reason to be afraid? Because right now, we are in the age of grace. Come on, amen? God has given the human race grace. Fact, not fiction. He's given us grace. And whenever the Lord shows up, his spirit shows up, and there's a thing, there is an atmosphere of grace. [01:00:26] (37 seconds) #AgeOfGrace

You have friends today that you need to make sure that they know you love them. You have people that may not like you, and you can be my enemy. You can hate me, but I can tell you before God today, I have no hatred in my heart for any human being. I may not like some things people do, but I'm going to tell you right now, I'm required to love them, to be right with God. And my walking with God means more to me than my walking with a human being. [01:02:40] (26 seconds) #LoveBeyondHate

Because of the power of Jesus, we can move mountains. Because of the power of Jesus, we can walk on the water. Because of the power of Jesus and his resurrection, praise God, we're more than conquerors today. Some of you backslid Baptists need to get right and start shouting glory to God. [01:03:38] (20 seconds) #MoreThanConquerors

There is no reason for any human being to die and go to hell. God has given us the answer. God has given this church something to stand up and shout from the mountaintops, Jesus saves, Jesus saves, Jesus saves. And everybody is welcome with great joy. Why anybody come into a funeral every Sunday? There's no excitement about you, but if you read the Bible, don't take my word for it, knucklehead. Read your Bible that God has given you and read over in Psalm 100. [01:06:06] (62 seconds) #JesusSaves

``God had set me free. He saved me, and he set you free. And he came to the lowliest. All of them people that said, Pastor Angelo, old little Jimmy Pugh, you'll never amount to nothing. You'll never do nothing. Listen to me. You've had people in your ear that tell you that you would never amount to nothing. You would never do nothing. They were all wrong. God said he's going to empower you. God's never going to call you to do something that he's not going to give you the power to do. [01:08:04] (32 seconds) #EmpoweredByGod

You want to see a church grow? You get a church that's happy to be together. You get a church that's in unity instead of a bunch of nonsense all the time. And how do you stop that the man, that remnant of God that's here needs to pray like they've never prayed before and fast for their church, fast for their leaders, and pray that if there's one thing that's wrong, God will get it right or remove it. [01:08:49] (26 seconds) #UnitedInPrayer

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