Sermon notes - Luke 2:1-20 - Littleby Baptist Church - February 15, 2026

1.        Luke is trying to build the faith of his audience, which includes us.

a.        He wants us to learn to trust in our God.

b.       To trust in His faithfulness.

2.        We saw great examples of God fulfilling His promises in just the first chapter.

a.        Zechariah was told his baren aged wife was going to be pregnant.

b.       It happened.

c.        Zechariah was told he was going to lose the ability to speak since he did not believe Gabriel.

d.       That happened.

e.        Mary was told she was to become pregnant when the Holy Spirit came over her.

f.          She was.

g.        It was said that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

h.        He was.

i.          Zechariah was also told that he would get his voice back when the events around John’s birth were fulfilled.

j.          Which happened at John’s circumcision.

3.        It came back in a mighty way, and he praised God

a.        He prophesied about Jesus and his son.

b.       John was going to be the herald of the coming Messiah.

c.        And Jesus was going to bring salvation to all.

d.       The light to our lives.

e.        Follow the Light of Jesus.

4.        Which brings us to the next major fulfillment of things promised in the first chapter.

a.        Mary gives birth to her son.

b.       The Son of God.

c.        The Messiah.

d.       Our Savior.

5.        Luke 2:1-2

a.        A census meant one of two things.

b.       A conscription of an army.

c.        Or more taxes.

d.       In this case it was the latter.

e.        Ceasar wanted more money.

6.        Luke 2:3-5

a.        It would have been nice if the pregnant lady could stay home.

b.       But that was not an option.

c.        For Joseph that meant he had to travel to Bethlehem.

d.       Which is a fulfillment of prophecy.

e.        Micah 5:1-2

f.          A ruler over Israel will come from Bethlehem.

g.        He will come from antiquity.

h.        Meaning the King will be tied to Israel’s history.

i.          He will be of the tribe of Judah.

j.          He will be a descendant of David.

7.        Not to mention that He is the creator of all things.

a.        The census was God’s way of having Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem at the right time.

8.        Luke 2:6-7

a.        Tradition tells us that Jesus was born in a cave.

b.       Then laid in a feeding trough.

c.        Not what we would expect after hearing what the prophet Micah had to say.

d.       Not what we would expect after reading about what Gabriel said to Mary.

e.        If we were hearing this for the first time.

f.          If we had never seen a portrayal of Jesus’ birth.

g.        We likely would not understand how a king would be born in such a humble place.

9.        If Luke is trying to grow the faith of his readers.

a.        Tying to the prophesy of Micah helps.

b.       But how does this humble birth come in?

c.        It helps people connect with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

d.       Most of the people who lived then or since, were not born in palaces.

e.        Most knew what it is like to go without at some point in their lives.

f.          Luke is including Jesus’ humble beginning to help us connect with Him.

10.   Luke 2:8-9

a.        This is not some unique situation.

b.       They spent all their time out protecting their flocks.

11.   One of our family traditions is to watch The Nativity Story each Christmas.

a.        In the movie, it shows a shepherd who believed he had nothing to give the world.

b.       He was exactly how one might picture someone who spent weeks or months out with the sheep.

c.        Not very pristine looking.

12.   Then all of a sudden an angel appears.

a.        The shepherds did not understand what was happening.

b.       Likely did not know Scripture very well.

c.        Let alone be able to connect the dots at this point.

d.       They were scared.

13.   Which is understandable when God is at work.

a.        We cannot always connect the dots of what God is doing.

b.       We may not be able to pick out the Bible verses that explain what is about to unfold.

c.        Their understanding did not impede God working then.

d.       Our understanding does not prevent Him working today.

14.   Luke 2:10

a.        I wonder if these words helped much.

b.       The shock, the unknown, an angel appearing and talking to them.

c.        When we do not understand something, it can be hard to be comfortable with it.

d.       It can be hard for us to go from worry and anxiety to peace and acceptance. 

e.        It tends to take us seeing more of the puzzle to understand.

15.   Luke 2:11-12

a.        The Savior has been born.

b.       The Messiah.

c.        The one who will provide a way to Salvation.

d.       A baby who will bring redemption.

e.        One who opens the door to eternity.

16.   Jesus is all of that.

a.        If we give our life to Him.

b.       If we repent of our sins.

c.        He is faithful to forgive us.

d.       To redeem us.

e.        To give us Hope that we will spend forever with Him.

f.          All we have to do is believe that He is God.

g.        That He came to earth to die for us.

h.        That He defeated death giving us new life.

i.          Then we will be redeemed.

j.          Salvation will be given to us.

17.   Luke 2:13-14

a.        This news was so exciting it could not be kept quiet.

b.       A multitude was praising God.

c.        Praising Him for what He had done.

d.       The giving of His Son.

e.        Fulfilling prophecy.

f.          Fulfilling what Gabriel had told Mary.

18.   When we give our lives to God, He works in us and through us.

a.        As He does, we are to praise Him.

b.       Thanking Him for what He is doing.

c.        Celebrating what He is doing.

d.       Even when we are not sure what is happening.

e.        Especially when we face hardships or persecution.

f.          Praise God always.

19.   Luke 2:15

a.        When I read these verses, I picture the shepherds from the movie.

b.       The Nativity Story.

c.        They are dirty.

d.       They don’t look like people you want around a brand-new baby.

e.        They don’t feel like they have much value.

f.          But they come in from the fields to see this little child.

g.        They come to see the sign.

h.        They want to see God fulfilling His promises.

i.          And that is exactly what they saw.

20.   Luke 2:16

a.        This is another instance of Luke working to build the faith of his audience.

b.       The angel said they would be there.

c.        He told the shepherds what the sign was.

d.       Read verse 12.

e.        A sign that was fulfilled.

21.   Trusting in God can be hard.

a.        The shepherds could have hung out in the field and avoided what might have been a waste of time.

b.       They could have stayed focused on their jobs.

c.        They could have thought who were they to see this amazing gift.

22.   A lot of things can interfere with us following God.

a.        Our jobs.

b.       Thinking we do not know enough.

c.        That we don’t have the right skills or resources.

d.       We might think we are too old or too young.

e.        It does not take much effort for us to come up with reasons to not follow God.

f.          To not do what He has called us to do.

g.        It is easy for us to let life prevent us from seeing God at work.

23.   We need to stay focused on our Jesus.

a.        Look up to our Lord and Savior.

b.       Not at the things of this world.

c.        Follow His lead.

24.   Luke 2:17

a.        The shepherds knew less than Mary and Joseph did.

b.       But they shared anyways.

c.        Sharing what they heard and saw.

d.       To Mary, Joseph and others.

25.   Luke 2:18

a.        They told everyone they could about what they had seen.

b.       They were faithful witnesses.

26.   They did not go out and try to convince people that they had to trust in Jesus.

a.        They probably did not know that they needed to believe in Him.

b.       They did not know all the theology behind Jesus’ birth.

c.        They simply shared with others what God was doing.

27.   That is where it starts for us.

a.        We do not need to be able to counter every argument.

b.       We don’t need to be a fast talker or an expert evangelist.

c.        We simply need to talk about what God is doing in our lives.

d.       When we talk about our God.

e.        About how He has worked in our lives.

f.          The things we have seen Him do for others.

g.        It gets people’s attention.

h.        God uses that to change their lives.

28.   Luke 2:19-20

a.        Two very valid responses to that days events.

b.       Reflecting on all that had just happened.

c.        I suspect Mary was surprised that a group of shepherds showed up.

d.       Especially a group that had heard and witnessed what they did.

e.        She was likely reflecting on what Gabriel had told her, Joseph’s dream, what she heard from Elizabeth, and now this.

f.          We know she believed.

g.        She had a couple of the pieces of the puzzle but may have been wondering how they would fit together.

29.   The shepherds responded differently.

a.        They were praising God.

b.       They were excited.

c.        God took some men who may have had no hope and gave them hope.

d.       Their faith grew that day.

e.        Things happened just as they had been told.

30.   It is amazing when we know that God is at work.

a.        Sometimes it may be hard to piece it all together.

b.       We may not realize it until after the fact.

31.   But when we see that God has been at work.

a.        When a loved one gives their life to Christ.

b.       When something we have been praying about comes to fruition.

c.        Or a door is closed and we later realize it was for the best.

32.   Our response to God should be that of glorifying and praising Him.

a.        Brothers and Sisters.

b.       I want to encourage you to do just that.

c.        Take time this week to reflect on what God has done in your life.

d.       Then take time to praise Him for it.

e.        And if the Holy Spirit is guiding you to step out in a new way.

f.          It is time to do it.

33.   If you don’t know Jesus.

a.        He loves you.

b.       He came to earth for you.

c.        He died to redeem you.

d.       He rose from the dead to give you new life.

e.        If you would like to Know Jesus.

f.          I would love to talk with you.