Look for Greatness in All the Wrong Places

Luke 2:8-20 Study Guide

Soul Food

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” - Luke 2:8-20 NIV

Soul Search

Name some people who you think are great and who you look up to and admire. You can include people who are now deceased but who you think were great while they lived.

Explain the qualities those people have that cause you to consider them great. What was it about the things they did, the things they said, the character they demonstrated that causes you to admire them and to put them in that category of ‘greatness.’

What are the qualities in most peoples’ minds that mark the lives of people who are considered great?

Are those qualities of ‘greatness’ the same qualities that God considers great as described in the Bible? How are they similar and how are they different?

Soul Moves

Begin thinking now about what true greatness looks like – its qualities, its actions, its words – and along with some of that re-defining, start to build a new list of people who you think are great.

As you develop this list, have conversations with friends and family members (this is a great exercise for children) about the qualities and characteristics that you think make people great.

Begin studying people from history who demonstrated greatness as God and the Bible would define it and have discussions around them.

Look for greatness close by; close-up and personal. Look for it in friends and family members and be willing to tell those people why you think they are great and explain to them the characteristics about them that cause you to think so.