December 07, 2025

GLORIA: THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

December 07, 2025

 Pastor Jonathan Falwell

The Christmas season! The most magical time of the year. Watch any child in a shopping mall, and see them mesmerized by the decorations, or older folks, whose memories of Christmas still reflect the wonder of the season from their early years. What a shame that many today turn a deaf ear to Jesus, who is the reason for the season. Would that they could experience the amazement of a supernatural birth by a young girl who knew without a doubt she had never ‘known a man.’ Or a stand-in father who Gabriel, the Archangel, told that his fiancée was pregnant with the Great I AM. Do you know how the shepherds trembled hearing the message of the birth of the Savior who would offer salvation to the world? Or the wise men who brought gifts to keep the small family through many months, possibly years, without worry for their sustenance? Join us for our new series, Gloria, as we celebrate Christmas as the coming of Jesus to the earth, bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God and salvation.

Focal Passage: Luke 2:8-20.

The power of fear:

  • Read Luke 2:8-9. All of us have had a time when fear rendered us unable to move. Can anyone share such a moment? Where were shepherds in the hierarchy of people groups in the Middle East at the time of Jesus? Why were they of a low reputation? As you think of David, many years before Jesus, do you think of him as “low class”? Why not?
  • What would it have been like for you to be sitting in a field in the night, babysitting your flock (or herd, or…) when an angel appeared before you? Do you think they asked each other if they saw it? Why would they have been afraid? Do you see this fear as terrifying, or ‘to flee’? Is it possible you would be stunned, but in anticipation, rather than fear? What do you imagine as “the glory of the Lord” that shone around the shepherds?
  • One of the meanings of this fear is to be so fearful you don’t run—perhaps too scared to move. What happened when they found themselves too petrified to move?

The power of listening:

  • Read Luke 2:10-12. Why did the angel start by saying not to fear? Was that needed at this time? Would they have listened? Would you have been curious in the same situation?
  • What were three major things the angel said in verse 10? In verse 11, what was the news the Jews had waited for years to hear? Does anyone know if Eve had known of a coming Messiah? Read Gen. 3:15 if you need to confirm this.
  • In verse 12, do you think the shepherds understood they were to search for the Child? Archaeologists believe there may have been only a few baby boys alive in Bethlehem at this time, and probably no other newborns. Definitely no other newborns were in a stable! What do you think the shepherds did after hearing the message?
  • Do you believe these shepherds were knowledgeable of the Messianic prophecies and knew just how special they were to have received the news?

The power in a promise:

  • Read Luke 2:13-14. Can you share any other time in Scripture that an angelic host, a heavenly host, or an army of chariots appeared in the sky? Do you imagine the total as a few or myriads? What were they saying?
  • What happened to the fear of the shepherds as the angel host started praising? Was this worship?
  • Do you think they felt as if they had just witnessed a little bit of what heaven would be like?

The power of obedience:

  • Read Luke 2:15-17. Would you have loved to have overheard the conversation among the shepherds? How do you know that they believed what they heard was true? Who did they credit for being chosen to hear this message?
  • Did they take a long time to decide to go to Bethlehem? What did they find? What did they do when they left the stable?
  • Was this just ‘another night in the life of a shepherd’ or was this a life-changing event? Did the acceptance of the truth that Jesus loves you change your life?

The power of our story:

  • Read Luke 2:18-20. Why did people listen to the shepherds as they told their story of finding the newborn King of Kings? What was Mary pondering? Do you realize that this story from the shepherds verified to her that her experience really was from God?
  • What is the difference between the story of the shepherds and our story?

TAKE AWAY:

Every one of us who has accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior has heard the same message—though granted, not in the same way—as the shepherds. The declaration of the good news of the Gospel has had to be ‘preached’ to each of us, as in Romans 10:14. Whether we heard, or read, or were told a story, we received the Word. We heard, we believed, and we gave our lives to Christ to be transformed into the likeness of His glory (2 Cor. 10:18).

Now we have a story. Our story is not like anyone else’s. It is the product of our experiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and makes it unique. The worse we were, the more glory goes to God, because people who knew us might have said, ‘I thought they were too bad for God ever to save them.’ What a testimony those people can share!

Tell your story. It is only your changed life that makes your story one that will touch the right heart, when someone can relate to your overcoming whatever past you had and your turning to the Lord. Don’t let someone go to hell because you keep your story to yourself.

By Sandy Day

December 07, 2025                                                                         

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