Merry Christmas!  If you do not a a Christmas Morning devotional plan I would like to suggest this 15 plan to use with your family and or friends.

Begin: 

Ask this question: “Briefly, tell us about the best Christmas you ever had and why?”  After everyone has responded read from your Bible

Read:

 Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.  2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census.  4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.   5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.  6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,  10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,  14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”  15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.  18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,  19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.  20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

 Talk About It:

Here are some questions that might spur some discussion.  You don’t have to use them all and you might have some of your own to use.

       1.  What do you think was the most difficult part for Mary…

• Telling her parents and friends she was pregnant, if so why?
• Trying to explain her pregnancy to Joseph?
• The journey to Jerusalem on a donkey’s back while she was 8+ months pregnant?
• Having to give birth in a stable?

       2.   What would have been the most difficult part of this story for the Shepherds? And why?

       3.  What part of this story speaks to you the most?

Finally Pray:

Ask everyone to bow their heads.  During this time of prayer, thank God for the gift of Jesus.  As you express your gratitude, offer your heart felt worship to Him.