Sermon Study Guide | Series: Come All Ye Faithless | Sermon: Come All Ye Lonely | Scripture: Luke 2:8-20 | Date: December 20, 2025

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REMINDER:

There are NO IN-PERSON SERVICES on Sunday, December 28th.

We encourage you to Host a watch party with your friends or Life Group. Gather, share a meal, stream the service on your TV or laptop, and participate in the work of the Spirit when we are willing to be honest, vulnerable, and hopeful in the company of one another.

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CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

We all experience loneliness in different seasons—sometimes in a crowd, other times in the quiet of our own lives. As we revisit the familiar Christmas story, we’re reminded that the message of Jesus’ birth was first delivered not to the powerful or popular, but to forgotten shepherds on the margins. Maybe that’s how you’ve felt this season—overlooked, uninvited, or unseen. The story of Christmas speaks directly to that ache, reminding us that God sees us, loves us, and draws near.

Take a moment to share a time when you felt unseen or overlooked—how did it shape you? Did someone show up in that moment? Or did you feel God’s presence in an unexpected way?

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read Luke 2:8–20 aloud together. What stands out to you in this familiar passage when you slow down and see it with fresh eyes?

• God works in the familiar. How does the shepherds’ ordinary routine setting (watching sheep by night) speak to God’s ability to interrupt our everyday lives?
  
  
• God invites the uninvited. The shepherds were not the religious or social elite. Why do you think God chose them first? How does that reflect God’s heart for the lonely and marginalized?
  
  
• God makes news with peace. The angels declared “peace on earth” to those with whom God is pleased. How do you define peace right now? What kind of peace do you think your soul most needs?
  
  
• God’s peace is worth pondering. Compare the shepherds’ response (they ran to Jesus) with Mary’s response (she pondered and treasured all these things in her heart). Which of these responses feels more like your posture today—and why?
  
  

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• What’s one way you can move toward Jesus this week? This might look like taking a first step of serving in the new year, considering leading a new group, or being more open about your spiritual journey.
  
  
• If you’re in a season where it’s hard to move at all—what might it look like to sit with God and let Him meet you in your loneliness?
  
  
• Who in your life might be feeling left out or forgotten this Christmas? What simple invitation could you offer them this week—whether it’s a text, a meal, or an invitation to a service?
  
  
• Christmas reminds us that God comes close—not just with words, but with presence. How might you offer the gift of your presence to someone this week?
  
  
• Commit to reading the Come All Ye Faithless daily devotional plan on YouVersion (Bible app) from today until Christmas Day
  
  • Don’t worry if you miss a day, just catch up so you can stay on-track! 
    
    • Think practice over perfection.
  • Note: YouVersion is a mobile app so you’ll need to install it on your phone or tablet to access the reading plan.
    
    • Use the link above or search “Menlo Church” in the Bible app
  • Share with a friend! If you’re someone who has seen God’s faithfulness break through a long season of silence, who else might benefit from a daily spiritual centering?

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

Jesus, thank you that you came for all of us—including the forgotten, the unseen, and the lonely.

Thank you for choosing the shepherds, the ones no one else would choose, as the first to hear the good news.

Help us see that same good news as for us today. For those of us ready to run to you, give us courage.

For those of us barely holding on, meet us in the stillness. Help us share the peace we have found in you with someone else this week. Amen.