12.28 Sermon Devotionals

As we step into the new year, may we continue to reflect on the truth we celebrate this time of year.

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Tuesday, December 30th

Day 1: God Initiates True Worship

Reading: Luke 2:8-14; Genesis 3:1-15

Devotional: The shepherds weren't seeking a spiritual experience when heaven interrupted their ordinary night. They were simply doing what shepherds do, watching their flocks. Yet God chose that moment to reveal His glory. True worship begins not with our pursuit of God, but with His pursuit of us. While every other religion represents humanity's attempt to reach upward to the divine, Christianity is God reaching downward to us. The shepherds didn't manufacture this moment; God initiated it. As you begin this new day, remember that your worship isn't about working yourself into an emotional state or finding the perfect environment. It's about responding to what God has already revealed about Himself through Jesus Christ. Where is God revealing Himself to you today in your ordinary moments?

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Wednesday, December 31st

Day 2: The Gospel at the Center

Reading: Luke 2:10-11; John 4:19-24

Devotional: "Do not be afraid," the angel declared, words that directly addressed the fear introduced when sin entered the world in Genesis 3. The good news isn't just information; it's the reversal of the curse. True worship must be rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, centered on who He is: Savior, Christ, Lord. Jesus taught that genuine worship happens "in spirit and in truth", not in a specific location, but through hearts made alive by the Holy Spirit, responding to revealed truth. Truth without spirit becomes cold, lifeless religion. Spirit without truth becomes misguided emotion. But together? They create worship that transforms. Today, don't settle for mere religious activity or emotional experiences disconnected from Scripture. Let the gospel, the good news of Jesus, be the foundation of your worship.

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Thursday, January 1st

Day 3: Faith and Obedience in Motion

Reading: Luke 2:15-16; Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 11:1-6

Devotional: "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see." The shepherds didn't just hear the message, they moved. God's revelation produced movement toward Christ. True worship responds in faith and obedience. It's not passive observation; it's active participation. Consider Jesus at Lazarus's tomb, weeping not over death but over unbelief. He longs for people who will trust and obey Him, even when His instructions don't make sense. "Roll away the stone," He said, though Lazarus had been dead for four days. True worshipers roll away the stone. Paul begged believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, a daily declaration of "Here I am, Lord; whatever You want." As you face this day, what is God asking you to do that requires faith? What stone is He asking you to roll away? Worship that never moves us toward obedience is incomplete.

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Friday, January 2nd

Day 4: Humble Adoration and Evangelism

Reading: Luke 2:16-18; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 4:18-20

Devotional: The shepherds found no stage, no spectacle, just a baby in a manger, exactly as God said. True worship bows before Christ as He is, not as we wish Him to be. Many create a "god" of their imagination, one who accommodates their preferences. But biblical worship adores Christ as revealed in Scripture. And here's what's remarkable: the shepherds couldn't keep quiet about what they'd seen and heard. Worship and mission are inseparable. If you truly encounter Christ, you cannot help but tell others. The early believers spoke boldly even when their lives were threatened. Yet today, we struggle to share our faith even in freedom. Ask yourself honestly: Who did I tell about Jesus this week? If our worship never leaves the building, do we really understand worship? True worship overflows into evangelism naturally, not as a forced program but as an irrepressible response to encountering the living God.

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Saturday, January 3rd

Day 5: Living for God's Glory

Reading: Luke 2:20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17, 23-24

Devotional: The shepherds returned to the same fields, the same job, but they weren't the same people. They went back "glorifying and praising God." Worship doesn't remove you from ordinary life; it reshapes how you live in it. Paul's instruction is comprehensive: "Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." Worship isn't an event you attend weekly; it's a life transformed to bring honor to God in every moment. Your daily work, your conversations, your recreation, your relationships, all become acts of worship when done for His glory. As you enter this new year, will you be a true worshiper who makes God smile? Or will unbelief and disobedience cause Him to weep? The shepherds' pattern shows us: God reveals Himself, we respond in faith, we adore Christ humbly, we live the mission, and we live our lives to the glory of God. That's worship according to God.