Carols and Lessons for KidsSample

Lesson 3: Angels and Shepherds

The first ones who came to worship Jesus showed us his priorities—the angels shared the good news with ordinary people, shepherds working out in the fields.

Sing: The First Noel

The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Read: Luke 2:8-20

When something good happens to you, who do you tell? When you were born, who were the first people your parents told?

After Jesus was born, God sent angels to share the good news of his birth. The angels appeared in the fields outside Bethlehem, bright and beautiful, praising God. Did they tell the king or the mayor of the town? Did they share the news with Jesus's grandparents?

No! The angels appeared to a group of shepherds. The shepherds were in the fields to protect sheep at night. It was a dirty, uncomfortable job, and the shepherds were not important people—they were ordinary people.

But here's the best part of the story—the shepherds listened to the angels! They went to find Jesus, and they praised God for what they saw. Maybe that's one reason God chose to share the news with them. God doesn't care how important you are in the world, but God does care how you respond to his good news.

Pray: God, thank you for sending the gift of Jesus. Help me to follow you, just like the shepherds.