Have You Looked At The Nativity Lately?

Have You Looked At The Nativity Lately?

Author: Garry Brackett: Executive Coach, Non-Profit Leadership Equipping , and Blogger December 24, 2020 Duration: 18:29

Details of The Nativity

  1. Look At The Star – It Says, “God Wants Me To Find Him” – Matthew 2:9-10
    1. “ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold the star that they had seen when it rose went before them and came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
    2. God is not playing the childhood game of “hide and seek!”
      1. “…Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and we have come to worship him.” V.2
    3. Where would I have been if I had not found the star? When you follow God you do not need a crowbar to be pried loose or a cattle-prod to be motivated!
    4. When you find God you will find your purpose. God has provided a travel guide for you – your star of Bethlehem!
    5. God wants you to be a star for others – you are to be a star to lead others to Jesus. Your void and emptiness will never be filled without God!
  2. Look At The Stable – It Says, “God Wants Me To Know Him” – Luke 2:1-7
    1. Men of nobility found him. Shepherds found him. God wants us to find him. He provides celestial phenomena or angels singing in the heavens for the shepherds – bottom line – God wants us to find him.
    2. When you stop long enough to think about it, the only people that Jesus had problems with were religious people.
      1. Religious people always know how the church is to be run and how the preacher is to perform.
      2. Until we become broken over barren altars and fruitless church activity we should not talk.
    3. Look at God – He passed up good people to get to bad people. He passed up well people to get to crippled people.
    4. His love is a “HESED” unconditional love for us.
    5. God says; “I do not want to do thrones – I want to do ‘cow-sheds!’”
  3. Look At The Manger – It Says, “God Wants Me To Be Blessed By Him” Luke 2:7
    1. The manger was most likely hewn out of stone and not wood. This represents longevity, free from rot and serious erosion, a symbol of blessing because food is provided there.
    2. Jesus is the Bread of Life and Living Water
  4. Here is the real meaning: God takes the extraordinary and places it in the ordinary because He wants to be accessible.
    1. We will never surprise God by our behavior.
    2. Religious people are always disappointed in God’s unconditional love.

This is an IQ TEST: “Why would you not want a God who wants you to find Him, know Him, and bless you?”


Garry Brackett brings his experience as an executive coach and non-profit leadership specialist to every conversation on the Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a practical exploration of how leadership principles intersect with faith, culture, and the daily challenges of making a meaningful impact. Garry engages with a diverse range of guests-people who are actively shaping their communities and organizations-to uncover the real-world strategies and personal convictions that drive effective, compassionate leadership. You'll hear discussions that feel like a thoughtful mentorship session, covering topics from organizational health and personal resilience to the spiritual foundations that guide service-oriented work. This podcast serves as a resource for anyone, whether in ministry, non-profit, or broader community roles, who seeks to lead with purpose and integrity. Tune in for authentic stories and grounded advice that equips you to navigate the complex landscape of modern leadership with confidence and clarity.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 60

Shepherds Advantage Leadership Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Making Today A Better Tomorrow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
Few people realize that success is within their reach right now! The secret of success is determined by your daily agenda. Most people overestimate today and underestimate tomorrow. My success agenda is determined by the…
Making The Most of Our Mistakes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:29
The three most difficult words to pronounce are I Was Wrong! There are three things people can do when they make mistakes. (1) They can resolve that they will never make another, which is fine, but impractical. (2) They…
Flops, Failures, Fumbles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
“When we talk about how good we are, we emotionally disqualify the people around us.” John Maxwell People are impressed with success but impacted by our failures. • If we’re going to lead well, we must talk about success…
Sometimes You Win Sometimes You Learn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:29
The Robert Schuller Question: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?” The John Maxwell Question: “What have you learned from your failure?” The Roadmap For Learning Humility – The Spirit of Learning…
Courage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:30
“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point.” — C.S. Lewis 7 Key Benefits of Courage Courage enables you to maximize the potential of yourself and others. It has been said…
Leadership Landmines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:29
Many leaders never achieve their potential because they are “blown up” by problems they never see coming. Because of the fear and anxiety of this pandemic year that many leaders have experienced it is worth our time to e…
The Crisis Leader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:19
Bad situations in life needs good leadership. For some leaders a crisis will put them on the top. For some leaders, a crisis will topple them. Here are 7 Leadership Practices in Times of Crisis Stand Up and Be Seen Durin…
Never Waste A Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:29
Definition of CRISIS: A crisis is an intense time of difficulty requiring a decision that will be a turning point. “All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequ…
Digital Vs. Physical Gathering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:29
We are now into Week #32 of our COVID journey. Pause for just a minute to realize what has happened in 2020. Who would have thought we all would be facing the circumstances of what this pandemic has done to our national…