A Shepherd Preaches About Jesus

Q: What is a shepherd’s favourite karate move?

A: The Lamb Chop!

Q: When a male sheep opens the door of the sheep pen for his favourite lady sheep what does he say?

A: After ewe!

Q: What do sheep like to play at a casino?

A: Woolette!

Q: Why did the ram jump off the cliff?

A: Because he didn’t see the ewe-turn.

Q: What has 8 legs, 4 ears and has twice the amount of wool as a sheep?

A: Two sheep.

My name’s Shaun - Shaun the shepherd.

I am living in the fields with many other shepherds halfway between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Originally I was asked to come and talk about my job, tell you about my sheep and tell you some jokes – but something happened tonight and I must tell you.

It was late. It was dark. The sheep were almost silent.

It was my turn to keep watch. It was so dark. Then suddenly there was bright shining light all around. It was dark but there was bright light everywhere.

It was like the stories I was told as a child – stories of angels appearing with a message from God.

We looked, and then we saw him. We saw it.

We saw him and we heard him. So bright! So clear!

I tell you we were worried! We thought, “Maybe tonight we’re all for the chop!”

I mean he was big, and bright, and bold and booming!

He said, “Do not be afraid!” We were afraid …

He said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” “All the people?” we thought. “But we’re shepherds - 1st Century toilet cleaners. We are muck-spreaders and illiterate farm-boys. So when he said, “Good news of great joy for all people” we listened; because no-one has a good word for us.

He said, “Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”

Then he told us where to find him - lying in a manger, in an animal feeding trough. Can you believe it?

And then the whole sky was filled with singing angels.

The vocals were huge, harmonious and heavenly.

I mean they really know how to sing God’s praises!

And then we went to see for ourselves. We found him, just like the angel said we would.

You know, the thing that amazes me is that the angel came and told us. We’re shepherds. We’re nobodies – but now we’ve got a message of Good News for the whole world.

God showed up. He’s showing us what he’s really like. He’s giving us all a chance to know him.

Tonight God has changed my life forever. My life’s never going to be the same.

I pray that as you think about the Good News of Jesus you will want to know him for yourself, that you will know his peace and his joy; and that your life will never be the same again.

In fact, why not come with me and we can find him together?