The Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

Our true story comes from a part of the Bible called the Gospel of Luke. Luke loved Jesus and wanted others to know and love Jesus, too. The word gospel means “good news!”

One night, there were some shepherds watching their sheep out in a field. Shepherds have a hook they use to help take care of their sheep. It’s shaped just like a candy cane! A shepherd is someone who watches sheep. And you probably know what sheep are.


Now, on that very night, while the shepherds watched their sheep, Jesus, God’s Son, was born! It was all very exciting, but the shepherds didn’t know it, yet. All of that would change because God was about to make a big announcement! While the shepherds watched their sheep, an angel appeared in the sky. The shepherds were so surprised! The angel told the shepherds, “A special baby has been born! He is God’s Son! Go and find Him in a manger!”


Suddenly, the whole sky was filled with angels! They were praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest!” 


Everyone was excited about Jesus’ birth because Jesus is God’s Son! When the angels left, the shepherds had to remember what the angels told them to do. The angels told the shepherds to go see Baby Jesus in the manger! So, they ran to see Him! 


When the shepherds saw Baby Jesus, they knew they needed to tell everyone that Jesus, God’s Son, was born! Everyone who heard the good news that Jesus had been born was amazed. They knew Jesus is special because Jesus is God’s Son.





Bible Paraphrase: God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. — John 3:16, GNT

Text Truth: The angels tell about Jesus.



Family Devotional

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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.”
—Luke 2:8-20

Our Bible story was about very exciting news! An angel told the exciting news to shepherds who were out in a field watching their sheep. Do you remember what the exciting news was? The angel told the shepherds that Jesus is here and they should go see Him! And why is Jesus special? Jesus is God’s Son!

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. —John 3:16, GNT

If you have Christmas cookie cutters, grab one. And if you have a cookie cutter shaped like a candy cane, even better! Because that shape also reminds us of a shepherd's crook. Think of how the angel told the shepherds the good news about Jesus. After they saw Baby Jesus, they ran and told the good news to everyone else! They wanted everyone to know about Jesus! 

Bring the cookie cutter to your family gathering. Pass the cookie cutter around your group. And as each family member holds the cookie cutter, have them say the name of someone they can tell the good news that God loved us so much He gave us Jesus! Write down the name of the family member and the name of the person they can tell the good news.

Pray with your family. Allow any family members to pray if they wish. In your own words, thank God for the people who have told you the good news that Jesus is His Son and Jesus wants to be your friend forever. "Help (family member name) tell (name listed) about Jesus (repeat for each family member)." Acknowledge to God that you want everyone to know the good news that Jesus is His Son and Jesus wants to be their friend forever. Thank God for His love and acknowledge to God your love for Him.

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