The Shepherds' Message | The Wolfe Notes

These notes follow our 7-step rhythm for Bible study. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV) translation.

The Shepherds' Message

(From Luke 2:8-20)

Annotation Notes, Summary, N/W/L Statements, Key Verse, God's Character, Prayer, Action 

1. Annotation Notes

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, ! a connection, and italics a referenced source.

1. ! Fear is a common response when in the presence of divinity. (Luke 2:9)
1. x I [King Darius] make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. Daniel 6:25-27
2. 🎵Great and mighty is the Lord our God / Great and mighty is He🎶 (Contributed by Divine Hymns)
2. ! Just as Mary pondered the events in her heart, so did Jacob regarding Joseph. *This is a loving parent's response. How many thoughts about us God must hold in His heart.
1. x And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying [interpretation of Joseph's dream] in mind. Genesis 37:11
2. x How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalms 139:17-18

2. Summary

Shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at night when an angel appeared and told them of the Messiah's birth. A great company of angels appeared to praise God and pronounce peace to those in His favor. Once the angels left, so did the shepherds - to find the baby. After seeing Him, the shepherds went and told everyone what they had heard, then returned to praise God. Mary pondered everything in her heart. 

3. N/W/L Statements

1. I NOTICED the shepherds were outside instead of sheltered. So Jesus must have been born when it was warm. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible
2. I WONDER what a whole choir of angels sounds like when they are praising God. Would I have believed if I heard the shepherds' message?
3. I think God wants us to LEARN that 
1. God wants everyone - even commoners - to hear His message.
2. God does not withhold His grandeur from the "lesser" people.

4. Key Verse

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:17-18

It reminds me of our purpose. Just as the shepherds were to go and share the good news of who Jesus is, so, too, are we. Yes, He could send angels to tell everyone, but He chooses us. ("One Life, One Message: Why Your Yes Matters" by Grant Agler). Tell the Good News because God deserves for His people to return to Him. "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering." ("This Could Change Your Evangelism Forever" Clearly Podcast)

5. God's Character

1. God abundantly bestows elaborate blessings upon even the lowliest of us. (The angel chorus guested a shepherd's field, not a king's palace.)
1. "And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I [Moses] command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Deuteronomy 11:13-14
2. "Therefore I [Jesus] tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:25-26
3. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
2. God wants us to see His goodness. (The shepherds attended the earth's reception of our Savior.)
1. [After rebuilding the temple following exile, the Israelites] sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Ezra 3:11
2. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 
3. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11
3. God trusts us with His message. (The shepherds spread the good news to all who would listen.)
1. For I [God] have chosen [Abraham], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him." Genesis 18:19
2. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." Isaiah 52:7
3. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I [Jesus] have commanded you. And behold!, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

6. Pray

Father God, thank You for loving me far beyond what I deserve. May I forever spend my days like Mary - treasuring and pondering the wonder of You, and like the shepherds - joyfully spreading the truth of Your wonder and goodness.

7. Act

1. Treasure Him. 
2. Ponder what it means to be called into His story.
3. Tell the good news: His story is your story now.

Sample these related posts:

• To see obedience in the Christmas story.
• To connect with the Good Shepherd.
• To treasure God treasuring you.
• To reimagine your life with Christ as a fairy tale.
• For inspiration to tell your story.

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