Christmas Series 4: "Joy" - Good News of Great Joy / Luke 2:8-20

Christmas 2023, Lesson 4: Joy

Luke 2:8-20 

Key Verse: 2:10, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

1.  Who does Luke introduce, and what are they doing (8)? Who might they represent today? Note how often the shepherds are mentioned here. What does this tell us (1:52)?

2.  What happens, and how do the men react (9)? Read verse 10. What is the good news (11)? What does it mean that Jesus is our “Savior” (1:69)? “Christ the Lord” (Acts 2:36)?

3.  Why is his birth such “great joy” (cf. Rom.5:11; 1 Pet.1:8–9)? How can we live with such joy (Gal.5:22–23)?

4.  What is the significance that it is “for all the people” (24:47–48; Acts 1:8; cf. Rom. 15:9–12)? How should this truth change us?

5.  What does the angel tell them, and why would this be “a sign to you” (12)? What other epic thing happens to confirm this (13–14)? What do these words mean (14)?

6.  What do the shepherds say and do (15–16)? After finding the baby, what do they do (17–18)? What does Mary do (19)? How are the shepherds described in the end (20)? Note how often the word “told” is repeated; what is this stressing? How can we have the shepherds’ joy?