INTRODUCTION
It’s great to be able to share our Christmas series Beyond the Hype — looking at how God invites us into something so much deeper and longer-lasting than the pressure-filled version of Christmas the world often sells us.
Today we’re looking at a theme we all know too well this time of year: more presents equals more joy - Or at least, that’s what every advert, catalogue, and shop display tries to tell us.
If you buy this gadget… if you get that toy… if you fill the stockings just right… if you wrap it beautifully… then you’ll have the “perfect Christmas.”
But deep down, we know that’s not how real joy works, right? Because every year we unwrap gifts that were exciting for a moment — and then back to the cupboard, or under the bed, or quietly “re-homed” to the charity shop by February.
Today we’re going to look at the shepherds and discover how they found a joy far greater than anything the world could offer — a joy wrapped not in paper and ribbon, but in a manger.
We read about the event earlier from Luke 2:1–20
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1. The Shepherds Had . . . . Nothing — Yet God Invited Them In
Shepherds were ordinary people. They didn’t have much.
They lived outdoors, smelt of sheep, and were considered unimportant. If you or I were planning the big announcement of a King, you wouldn’t choose shepherds.
But God did.
And that tells us something important:
God’s joy doesn’t depend on how much we own.
In fact, sometimes the people with the least “stuff” are the most open to Him.
The shepherds’ joy didn’t come from anything they had.
It came from Someone they met.
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2. God’s Gift Arrived Without the Wrapping
When the angels appeared, the shepherds were terrified.
But when they finally found the baby, what did they see?
No lights.
No decorations.
No festive cheer.
No glittering tree.
Not even a crib. Just an animal trough.
From the outside, nothing about this scene looked special or joyful.
But it was heaven touching earth.
And this is the important part:
God didn’t wrap His gift the way the world wraps its gifts.
He didn’t come in sparkle and gold.
He came …. simply… quietly… humbly.
Because God wanted us to know that His joy isn’t found in the glitter.
It’s found in His presence.
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we can have beautifully wrapped boxes (like last week).
Look: exciting, big, shiny, - expensive!
We’re conditioned to think: “Bigger present = bigger joy.”
But how many times have we opened a gift and found – nothing that we actually want?
This is what the world promises us every Christmas.
The adverts are shiny.
The packaging looks great.
The sales tell us, “You need this.”
But often, when the wrapping comes off… we find that the joy doesn’t last.
It looked full — but it was empty.
Let me be clear — I’m not saying presents are bad!
Gifts are great. Thoughtfulness is wonderful.
But if our hope is in things,
if our joy depends on what we unwrap,
we end up disappointed.
Because no object — no matter how nice — can give us lasting joy.
The shepherds found something different.
What they discovered wasn’t shiny.
It wasn’t sweetly perfumed.
It wasn’t wrapped in glossy paper.
But it was full — overflowing — and with joy.
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3. The Shepherds Found Joy Not in a Gift… But in a Person
What happened when they encountered Jesus?
They didn’t suddenly become wealthy.
Their jobs didn’t improve.
Their circumstances didn’t change.
But they changed.
Scripture tells us:
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God…”
They went back to the same fields…
the same sheep…
the same long nights…
But now they carried joy with them.
Not because of what they owned — but because of Who they’d met.
And this is the message for us:
Joy isn’t something you unwrap.
Joy is Someone you encounter.
Jesus didn’t bring them more stuff.
He brought them Himself.
And that was enough.
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4. We Often Chase What Can’t Satisfy
Every year the cycle repeats:
We try to find the perfect present.
We overspend.
We get stressed.
We wrap until midnight.
And we hope it will all feel “worth it.”
But every present eventually loses its shine.
The new gadget gets outdated.
The toy breaks.
The candle burns out.
The jumper shrinks in the wash and we blame the tumble dryer.
The joy fades because the joy was never meant to last.
It’s short-term joy — and that’s fine — but it’s not the joy that holds us when life is hard.
We don’t need more wrapping.
We need more Jesus.
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5. The Joy Jesus Brings Is Different
Here’s what the shepherds show us:
• Real joy doesn’t depend on what we have
• Real joy doesn’t come from our circumstances
• Real joy isn’t found under a tree
• Real joy isn’t tied up with ribbon
Real joy is found in Christ — God with us.
The world offers shiny boxes.
God offers a Saviour.
One looks impressive.
One actually satisfies.
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6. APPLICATION: How Do We Live “More Than Stuff”?
Let me give you three simple ways to live this out this week:
1. Choose presence over presents
Be there for someone.
Listen.
Make space.
Have the cup of tea, the conversation, the moment.
People remember presence far longer than presents.
2. Celebrate simply
Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
Release the pressure.
Let the small things be enough.
3. Go to the manger daily
Take a quiet moment each day this week and pray:
“Lord, help me find joy in You today.”
Joy grows where Jesus is welcomed.
So often, this world offers either a shiny temporary joy at best, and maybe an empty box
(Gesture toward a nativity scene)
And this is what God offers:
Simple… humble… but full of life and joy.
One can be impressive on the outside.
One is full on the inside.
Which will you choose this Christmas?
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PRAYER
“Lord Jesus, thank You that You came not with wrapping and ribbons, but with love and humility. Thank You that You are the joy we truly need. Help us to stop chasing the things that cannot satisfy, and instead to come to You — the source of lasting hope and joy. Fill our hearts with Your presence this Christmas. Amen.”
