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Holy Moments: A moment of boldness
Introduction:
The shepherds in the Christmas story were seemingly ordinary men, considered lowly in society. But when confronted with the angelic announcement, they readily left their flocks and went to see the baby Jesus, showcasing how God can use anyone to spread His message regardless of social standing. They displayed remarkable courage by immediately sharing the news of Jesus’ birth with everyone they encountered, demonstrating the power of God’s message to transform even the most humble individuals into bold proclaimers of the Gospel.
Bottom line: You never know how God might use one moment of boldness to change someone’s life.
Something To Talk About:
God often chooses the unlikely to do the extraordinary:
- Shepherds were in the fields among smelly and not-so-bright sheep. They had no power or influence. They had nothing to bring the baby King. So why did God choose the lowest members of society to entrust the greatest truth of the ages? Why didn’t God choose the religious leaders? Surely, they would have been excited after waiting thousands of years to meet their Savior. Why not choose a king or a rich man whose testimony would have carried more weight? Why shepherds?
- One possible reason is that shepherds could be humbled and amazed that God chose them to hear the news. Imagine how unworthy they must have felt, but how honored. Why not religious leaders? Religious people back when Jesus was born thought highly of themselves. They loved religion more than they loved a relationship with God. They probably wouldn’t have been very impressed that God chose to reveal the secret of the ages to them. In fact, they might have thought they deserved to hear the news first. But not the shepherds. They were amazed God chose them, and they couldn’t keep it to themselves.
- A second possible reason God chose shepherds is that after they had seen the baby Savior, they “spread the word” concerning what they knew. They didn’t overthink the situation and talk themselves out of telling the news. They were exuberant, overflowing with joy, and probably still reflected a bit of the glory of being with Jesus. People were amazed when those uneducated, simple shepherds spread the word that a Savior had been born.
- God in His infinite wisdom chose just the right group of people to entrust the greatest news of eternity. Those humble men took the good news of Jesus and did just what God wanted them to do – told others, and their lives were never the same. This story demonstrates that God often uses the unlikely to do the extraordinary.
Discussion Questions:
- Read Luke 2:16-18. What stands out to you about the shepherds’ response to seeing Jesus?
- At that time, there were many people worldwide to whom the angel(s) could have appeared. Why shepherds?
- Read Luke 2:13-14. Share how you would have reacted if millions of God’s angels broke out in the first Christmas chorus right before your eyes.
- God intentionally chooses the disfranchised to receive His good news. God can use you to reach others. What can you do to be more willing to tell others?
- Share the last time God prompted you to have a bold conversation with someone. How did you respond to that moment? What happened?
- How can you draw inspiration from the shepherds’ boldness to proclaim the Gospel daily?
- Is God calling you to take a bold step with anyone or anything in your life? How can you take that step this week?
- What will you do? How will you or your group put into practice what you’ve learned today?
- How can you start to apply this message this week? What do you plan to do?
Take one thing home with you:
The most unlikely people acted in the most unlikely way. Unlike others who might have hesitated or doubted, the shepherds acted swiftly, “hurrying” to the manger to see the newborn Messiah, demonstrating their faith and eagerness to share the good news. The Bible explicitly states that the shepherds “told everyone what they had heard and seen.” This highlights their willingness to openly proclaim the message to anyone who would listen, not just those they considered worthy. The angel’s announcement deeply impacted the shepherds, which instilled a sense of awe and urgency, empowering them to share the news with others. Consider moments where you might have hesitated to share your faith due to fear or self-doubt.
The story of the Bethlehem shepherds reminds us that God can use anyone, regardless of their social status, to be a powerful witness for Him. By embracing the same boldness and enthusiasm, we can become effective messengers of the Gospel in our communities.