Virtual Nativity: Shepherds

Series: Virtual Nativity

Shepherds by John Burke, December 23, 2007


1. Merry Christmas! Since this is a Christmas message, we'll talk about both the first Christmas and our own Christmas experiences. So, what HAVE your own Christmas' been like. Take some time to share each of your faviorite Christmas memory/memories: anticipations, preparations, traditions, feelings, events... whatever you think of as something special and good about Christmas. (10 minutes)

2. So often Christmas can stir up both good and bad memories- but since we are focusing on the good - think about your own "favorite" for a minute and then think about why that "feeling" never lasts. The theme of this week's Cristmas message was coming home. John pointed out that even when things are good, we all often have a persistent longing for real home. In what ways can our homes in this life can be different from what we think real "home" SHOULD be like? Do you long for that kind of home? (10 minutes)

3. As part of the service, we heard from some "shepherds" who had gotten the message about the Messiah's birth from the angel. They talked about feeling like they had arrived "home" when they came to the stable where Jesus had just been born, but being afraid to really go "home". First, discuss the message from the angles and the whole story of what, who, when, and where of that first Christmas. There are a LOT of surprising things about this call to come home. What are the surprising things you see? Discuss this for a while and then talk about WHY you think God may have set up these surprising events in the way He did. (10 - 15 minutes)

4. John talked about how Jesus came here to allow us to come home to our Father God. While we can't really have all our perfect home in this life, discuss different ways that our life here can be like being "home" when we are connected to God. Then take some time to reflect individually on any ways you think God is calling you to experinece more of his home... or maybe for you to open the door to his family by commiting to be "adopted" through Jesus. End by giving God thanks for His surprising way of calling us home. (10 minutes)

Bible verses from the message:

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time…to bring you safely home to God.
1 Peter 3:18

“I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity…He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace.”
Micah 5:2, 5

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him…We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’
Luke 15:20-24

Get more - go further:

You can search for related books on-line at the Gateway Bookstore or look for books at the "reality" bookstore in the "Garage".

Remember - each Sunday's message is available by 5 PM on the day of the message. Past messages are also available for listening and download. Just go to Gateway's Sunday Messages. Free CD's of the messages will be available after the services at Gateway the following Sunday.