Bible story · Part 4 of 7 · 4 min
Good News for the Shepherds
In the fields near Bethlehem, there were some shepherds.
It was nighttime.
The shepherds watched over their sheep to keep them safe.
Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared before them.
A wonderful light surrounded them.
The shepherds were frightened!
They had never seen anything like it.
But the angel spoke to them:
“Do not be afraid. Today in Bethlehem, the Savior has been born, Christ the Lord.”
The Savior had been born! Christ means the Messiah, the one God had promised to send to save us.
That good news would bring great joy to all the people.
The angel explained how to find him:
“You will see a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Then a great group of angels appeared.
They praised God and announced his peace. They gave glory to God in heaven and announced peace on earth.
The night, which had seemed so quiet, filled with a joy the shepherds would never forget.
Then the angels returned to heaven.
The shepherds looked at one another. They had to go to Bethlehem.
“Let's go and see what has happened,” they said.
They hurried to find the child.
And they found him just as the angel had said.
There were Mary and Joseph.
And there was Jesus, lying in the manger.
The shepherds had gone from caring for their sheep to meeting the Savior.
They had not been invited because they were rich or famous.
God had shared the news with them.
The shepherds told what they had seen and heard in the fields.
They talked about the angel, the light, and the words announcing Jesus' birth.
Everyone who listened was amazed.
Mary listened carefully. She kept all these things in her heart: she remembered the words and thought about what they meant.
Afterward, the shepherds returned.
They went back to their fields and sheep with a new joy.
They praised God for everything they had seen and heard.
They had found the baby just as the angel had said. God had sent the Savior!
That night reminded them that they mattered to God too.
And the joy they had received was too great to keep only for themselves.
The story of Jesus' birth will continue.
Adapted from Luke 2:8–20.
Also based on The Desire of Ages, chapter 4.
Talk about it together
- Gratitude
- Generosity
A verse to remember
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.”
Psalm 34:3NKJV
- What sign helped the shepherds find the baby Jesus?
- How did the shepherds move from fear to joy that night?
- What good news can you share with encouraging words?
Activity · 2–5 minutes
Tell Some Good News
Take turns completing three sentences about the shepherds: “The angel announced…,” “The shepherds found…,” and “Afterward, they told….” A grown-up can help, and little ones may answer by pointing to the pictures. Then each person shares some good news from their day while the others listen without interrupting.
Try it today: I can share a joy and listen carefully to other people’s good news.
More stories with these values
Activities for this story
Play online or print materials for home, classroom, and family.
To “magnify” and “exalt” God means to praise him and recognize his greatness. We can thank him together for Jesus, as the shepherds did.