Christmas Through Their Eyes: Why Shepherds Are in the Christmas Story

Why Shepherds Are in the Christmas Story

Christmas Through Their Eyes

Dr. Clayton Chisum

December 14, 2025

Why did the shepherds get front row seats?

Luke 2:8 (CSB)

Luke 2:9 (CSB)

Luke 2:10-12 (CSB)

The Christmas Gospel – A . For .

Isaiah 43:1 (CSB)

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 (CSB)

1 Corinthians 1:29-31 (CSB)

Luke 2:13-14 (CSB)

Joy isn’t found in life going right. It’s found in knowing God is with you when life goes wrong.

Luke 2:15-18 (CSB)

God uses to

You will never share your faith fully if you’re the central character in your own story.

How to Respond:

1. Thank God for good news of great joy

2. Bring that joy to someone else

The Good News came to shepherds so you would know that it came for you, too.

Discussion Questions:

1. What’s a moment in life when you felt overlooked or “picked last”? How did it shape you?
2. Why do you think God chose shepherds — the lowest and least — to receive the good news first?
3. If Jesus showed up today, who might be the “shepherds” He would go to first? (People overlooked? Undervalued? Judged?)
4. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26–31. How does God choosing the “weak” and “insignificant” change the way we see ourselves? How should it change how we see others?
5. Where do you feel like a “shepherd” right now — ordinary, unworthy, under-qualified? How does this passage bring hope to those feelings?
6. The angel called the message “good news of great joy… for all people.” Where do you need God’s joy and peace to break into your “night”
7. The shepherds didn’t wait to clean up their lives before sharing what they had seen. What keeps us from sharing Jesus with others?
8. Who is someone near you who needs the hope of Jesus this Christmas? How can you practically bring them “good news of great joy” this week?

Prayer

• Thank God that the gospel came “for you.”
• Ask God for boldness to share your story with someone this week.
• Pray for two people in your life — that they would encounter Jesus.