TRANSFORMED SHEPHERDS
December 7, 2025 / Abundant Life ChurchTRANSFORMED SHEPHERDS
CHRISTMAS – A FRESH PERSPECTIVE – Part 2
Vernon Zook December 7, 2025
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. – Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE SHEPHERD’S EXPERIENCE?
1. GOD IS VERY IN EVERYTHING HE DOES!
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. – Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)
2. GOD INTERRUPTED THE SHEPHERD’S .
…there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them… – (vs 8-9)
…they were terrified… – (vs 9)
[Angel] “Don’t be afraid… I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.” – (vs 10)
“…unto you is born…” – (vs 11)
3. THE SHEPHERDS IMMEDIATELY.
…“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off … – (vs 15–16)
4. THE SHEPHERD’S LIFE WAS FOREVER.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God… – (v 20)
5. THE SAVIOR STILL .
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. – Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
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