The shepherds weren’t wealthy. They weren’t influential. They weren’t the spiritual elite of Israel. They were ordinary, overlooked, working-class men doing the night shift on the outskirts of Bethlehem… and they were the first to hear the good news of great joy.

This week in The Cast of Christmas, we step into their story, a story of hope announced, joy awakened, and lives transformed. The angel declared to them:

“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

Their response? They ran to Jesus. They encountered Jesus. And then they couldn’t keep quiet about Jesus.

From these humble shepherds, we learn that true joy doesn’t come from gifts, circumstances, or momentary excitement. Joy comes from encountering the Savior. Joy is sustained by remembering what God has done.

Joy grows as we choose to rejoice, even when life feels empty, uncertain, or disappointing.

This week we’ll discover:

• The Desperation for Joy

How we chase momentary pleasures and “toys” that fade — and why our hearts long for something deeper.

• The Foundation of Hope and Joy

How meeting Jesus gives us a joy that does not diminish, fade, or wear out.

• Embracing Joy as a Daily Posture

How Scripture teaches us to rejoice first — not because everything is perfect, but because the Savior has come.

• A Hope and Joy No Circumstance Can Take Away

How God works in all things for our good and why that truth keeps our hearts anchored.

• Refusing to Settle for Less

How sin steals joy, how obedience restores joy, and how salvation itself is the greatest cause for rejoicing.

The shepherds remind us that joy is not a mood, it’s a response.

A response to the God who came near.

A response to salvation that can never be taken away.

A response to a Savior who sets us free.

Join us this Sunday as we follow the shepherds into the presence of Jesus and rediscover the hope and joy that Christmas makes possible.