Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, December 15, 2024

The Shepherds Today, Pastor Michael is talking about the birth of Jesus.  Here, he’s talking about the shepherds.  Farm kids growing up in the country.  The shepherd’s story shows us that God doesn’t see value like people.  God chooses those who are overlooked. In those days, it was hard for shepherds to participate in Jewish customs and rituals due to them being ceremonially unclean.  But the announcement of the birth of Jesus came to shepherds!  Just to the north of Bethlehem is Migdal Eder, “Tower of the Flock,” where a special group of shepherds raised the temple flock of sacrificial lambs.  Most likely, these shepherds were the shepherds in the Christmas story.   The shepherds remind us what Jesus’ birth was all about.  It’s the story of God sending his son to give his life so we can live.  (CSB Bible Notes) Though the social position of shepherds was lowly, the role is often viewed positively in the Bible. God is pictured as a shepherd (Gn 49:24; Ps 23:1). King David was the shepherd of God’s people (2Sm 5:2). Jesus called himself “the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). Today’s verses can be found in Luke 2: 8-20.  Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.