Podcast Summary: Shepherds & Good News of Great Joy (Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin, S25E2)

Release Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Pastor Joby Martin
Guest: Pastor Ona

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Joby Martin and special guest Pastor Ona explore the biblical account of the shepherds in Luke 2 within the Christmas narrative. The discussion centers on why God chose shepherds as the first recipients of the Gospel announcement, the implications of "good news of great joy for all people," and how encountering God's message transforms ordinary people for His extraordinary purposes. They dive into the cultural, theological, and practical dimensions of shepherding, humility, obedience, the fear of the Lord, and spreading the Gospel across diverse contexts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing Pastor Ona and His Journey (00:17–03:20)

• Pastor Ona shares his transcontinental journey from planting a church in South Africa to joining Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Quote: “It's a journey, you know, flying across the Atlantic and a new context, a new culture. But we're surprised. My wife and I are massively surprised. Our girls have adjusted really, really well. They're enjoying school.” — Pastor Ona (02:32)
• Emphasis on the beauty and challenge of joining a thriving church and being able to contribute to God’s work globally.

2. Shepherds: Social Status and Theological Significance (03:21–07:31)

• Shepherds in the first century held a low, even “shady” reputation—transient, untrusted, marginalized.
• Quote: “It was not a high and holy compliment to be called a shepherd, even though Jesus said he was, even though David says God is.” — Pastor Joby Martin (04:29)
• Yet, both David (Psalm 23) and Jesus claim the identity of the shepherd, flipping the script on cultural status.
• God's pattern throughout Scripture: using the humble and overlooked to accomplish His purposes.

3. Shepherds, Cowboys & Pastors: A Lesson in Leadership (07:31–11:48)

• Contrasting shepherds (gentle, sacrificial leaders) with cowboys (driving, self-focused).
• Quote: “Woe to the church that is led by a cowboy and not a shepherd… If a pastor begins to use his flock as a means to his own end... You're in a real, real, real problem.” — Pastor Joby Martin (07:36)
• Caution to church leaders: shepherd the flock with love, not ambition.
• Call for authenticity and relational leadership within pastoral ministry.

4. God's Mission: Using the Marginalized (05:58–07:31)

• God consistently calls the insignificant to do the significant (Moses, David, females as witnesses to resurrection, etc.).
• Quote: “He loves to take the culturally insignificant, to do the eternally significant. This is not unfamiliar to what he does.” — Pastor Ona (06:45)

5. The Orchestration of Events in Luke 2 (12:46–14:54)

• Discussing the backdrop of Roman politics and census impacting Joseph and Mary.
• God masterfully weaves together what appears humanly chaotic ("worst situation ever") into the fulfillment of prophecy.
• Quote: “God can take something that seems like...the worst situation ever. And yet he is molding it and shaping it...to unfold this grand narrative.” — Pastor Ona (13:33)

6. Fear and Good News: The Angelic Announcement (15:42–19:16)

• The angel’s message to the shepherds starts with “Fear not”—because encountering God’s holiness is rightly terrifying.
• Quote: “Our normative response when the Authority shows up is, 'oh…they know'...not 'I probably won a prize'…” — Pastor Joby Martin (17:07)
• Distinction between worldly fear and holy reverence; the angel offers reassurance and hope rather than condemnation.

7. Defining "Good News of Great Joy" (19:41–23:09)

• The “good news” is not a philosophy but a proclamation about real, historical events: the incarnation, sacrifice, and resurrection.
• Quote: “For news to be news, two things have to happen. One, it had to actually happen. And then you have to tell somebody about it.” — Pastor Joby Martin (21:09)
• Joy contrasted with happiness: joy is anchored in Jesus, not in fluctuating circumstances.

8. The Universality of the Gospel: “For All People” (27:13–32:59)

• The inclusive scope of the Gospel (not just for the Jews, but all nations).
• Personal stories of apartheid in South Africa and the struggle for gospel unity across barriers.
• Quote: “Good news brings people together...if we’re not seeing that, then what news are we putting out there?” — Pastor Ona (30:56)
• Warning: unity is in Christ, not in uniformity or just diversity for its own sake.

9. Cultural Adaptability in Worship and Mission (35:08–41:17)

• NT worship sheds prescriptive cultural forms; “Emmanuel” is present in every context.
• Humorous and poignant missionary stories about cultural adaptations (e.g., T-shirts in Africa, offering chickens).
• Quote: “We’re not trying to make Baptists, you’re trying to make like disciples.” — Pastor Joby Martin (38:24)

10. Faith, Fear, and Obedience: The Shepherds' Response (42:00–48:19)

• The shepherds demonstrate a model for faith: recognizing God’s authority, immediately obeying, and allowing faith to move them to action.
• Quote: “The distance between what you hear and what you do reveals the depth of your faith.” — Pastor Ona (43:06)
• Delayed obedience is “just dressed up disobedience.”

11. Transformed Lives: Returning Different (50:23–55:04)

• After encountering Jesus, the shepherds return to their work changed; worship is not just an event but a whole-life response.
• Quote: “For many of us, it’s, go back to your job, go back to your family, go back to your marriage. And what comes out of your mouth now is different.” — Pastor Ona (51:20)
• All believers are called to ministry in their own sphere—not just pastors or missionaries.

12. Practically Sharing the Good News (55:05–60:20)

• Evangelism is for everyone, not just clergy: it may mean inviting someone to church, telling your story, praying for someone, or simply being present.
• Quote: “When was the last time you shared the gospel? When was the last time you told someone about Jesus?” — Pastor Ona (55:45)
• Accountability and intentionality in sharing faith; teaming up in community to “herald” the good news.

13. Being Ready and Spiritually Alert (58:19–58:55)

• The importance of spiritual alertness and readiness to respond to God’s nudges.
• Quote: “We could miss the burning bush....How many times are we walking on holy ground for 40 years and we didn’t realize it?” — Pastor Joby Martin (58:33)
• Prayer for God to open opportunities to be used in His mission.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Woe to the church that is led by a cowboy and not a shepherd... You’re in a real, real, real problem.” — Pastor Joby Martin (07:36)
• “God loves to take the culturally insignificant, to do the eternally significant.” — Pastor Ona (06:45)
• “The good news is a rescue mission that God’s going to come and do for you what you couldn’t do for yourself.” — Pastor Joby Martin (23:10)
• “The distance between what you hear and what you do reveals the depth of your faith.” — Pastor Ona (43:06)
• “Delayed obedience is just dressed up disobedience.” — Pastor Ona (47:41)
• “Good news brings people together... if we’re not seeing that, then what news are we putting out there?” — Pastor Ona (30:56)
• “We could miss the burning bush....How many times are we walking on holy ground for 40 years and we didn’t realize it?” — Pastor Joby Martin (58:33)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:17–03:20: Pastor Ona’s background and journey to Church of Eleven22
• 03:21–07:31: Social standing and stigma of shepherds; theological implications
• 07:31–11:48: Shepherd vs. cowboy leadership—application to pastoral ministry
• 12:46–14:54: God’s orchestration behind seemingly chaotic events in the Christmas story
• 15:42–19:16: Angels announce “Fear not”—understanding fear in the presence of God
• 19:41–23:09: “Good news” explained—not an idea, but a history-changing event
• 27:13–32:59: The gospel's inclusive intent (“all people”); cross-cultural unity
• 35:08–41:17: Cultural flexibility in worship; stories from global missions
• 42:00–48:19: Obedience of the shepherds; faith in action
• 50:23–55:04: Transformation after encountering Christ—worship in daily life
• 55:05–60:20: Evangelism is collaborative; sharing faith in practical ways
• 58:19–58:55: Spiritual readiness and awareness of God’s presence

Takeaways for Listeners

• God pursues and uses the humble, marginalized, and overlooked to herald His message.
• The “good news” is a historical, objective reality that brings real joy—deeper than mere happiness.
• Worship and obedience are lifelong, whole-life responses that extend into everyday life and work.
• Cultural diversity in the church is both anticipated by and a result of the gospel’s power.
• Every believer—regardless of their vocation—is called to share the good news and live transformed lives.
• Spiritual alertness ensures we don’t miss God’s invitations to join His work.

This episode is an encouragement to embrace the margin, trust God's orchestration, step forward in obedience, and offer the good news to all people—wherever and whoever you are.