Podcast Summary
Episode Overview
Podcast: Lakepointe Church with Josh Howerton
Episode: Joy That Lasts | Glad Tidings We Bring | Pastor Mike Breaux
Date: December 14, 2025
In this special Christmas episode, Pastor Mike Breaux dives into the story of the shepherds from Luke 2, focussing on the angelic announcement and the theme of joy that lasts. He explores four powerful "two-word" phrases from the Christmas story—Fear Not, Good News, Great Joy, All People—and unpacks how these words capture the transformative, inclusive message of Jesus’ birth. Pastor Mike brings lively storytelling, empathy, and poetic language, highlighting how God's love meets the everyday fears, worries, and longings of real people.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Short Messages: "Two-Word Phrases" (05:10–08:10)
- Pastor Mike notes how sometimes just two words can change your life: “thank you,” “I’m sorry,” “forgive me,” “you passed,” “we’re broke.”
- Memorable Quotes:
- “Sometimes just two words can like change everything about your entire life.” [06:35, Mike Breaux]
The Four Key Phrases from the Angel’s Announcement (08:45–53:00):
- Fear Not
- Good News
- Great Joy
- All People
2. “Fear Not”: God’s Consistent Reassurance (08:50–18:36)
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Shepherds’ terror at the angelic appearance: Emphasizes that angels in the Bible are intimidating, not cute, and almost always begin with “fear not.”
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Examples in Scripture:
- Abraham, Gideon, Daniel, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph—all receive “fear not” from angels.
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Insight: Fear is always met with a word of favor or promise from God.
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“Courage comes from living your life in the hands of God.” [17:33, Mike Breaux]
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Quote:
- “God doesn’t ignore our fear. God doesn’t chastise us for our fear. He overcomes our fear with hope.” [16:39, Mike Breaux]
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Scripture References:
- 1 Peter 5:7—"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
- 1 John 4:18—"Perfect love casts out fear."
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Application:
- Jesus’ most common command is some form of “fear not,” emphasizing his care for our anxiety.
3. “Good News”: More Than We Hoped For (18:38–30:02)
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The Christmas story marks the moment when the promise of a coming savior becomes reality—a person, not just a prophecy.
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God comes down as “Emmanuel—God with us.” Story of Chuck Colson and the boy named Emmanuel powerfully illustrates this truth.
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Quote & Story:
- “Mommy, Mommy. God is with us. God is with us.” [Chuck Colson story, 24:57]
- “That’s the good news that changes everything for people.” [26:43, Mike Breaux]
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Contrast with cultural desires: We’re all after more at Christmas, but “the more that we’re after is all wrapped up in less.”
- Jesus came not only to give life but to take away shame, insecurity, failures, and strongholds—so we can be free.
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Quote:
- “If the Son sets you free, man, you shall be free indeed. And that is good news.” [28:03, Mike Breaux]
4. “Great Joy”: Joy That Endures (30:03–40:05)
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Joy is a result of gratitude, not merely happiness from circumstances.
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Personal Story: Mike shares about officiating his granddaughter's wedding and the deep, lasting joy rooted in family and God’s faithfulness.
- “It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” [35:51, Mike Breaux]
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“The joy the angel was talking about here is not a temporary kind of euphoria, but a real, rock solid, eternal life holds you together through the hard times of life.” [36:28]
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Scripture Reference:
- Nehemiah—"The joy of the Lord is your strength."
- This kind of joy is not rooted in changing circumstances but in “the unchanging character of the living God.”
5. “All People”: Good News for Everyone, Especially the Overlooked (40:10–55:50)
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Social context: Shepherds were marginalized and considered “unclean.”
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Mike details the hard, gritty life of shepherds, reminding listeners that the first Christmas announcement wasn’t made to the elite, but to those on the margins.
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Quote:
- “God looks out heaven’s window and says, start with them. Yeah, let’s start with them. I want them to be the very first to hear the good news.” [45:24]
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Jesus’ coming flips expectations: He is good news not for the perfect, but for real, broken people with baggage.
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Powerful Image:
- The shepherds who raised sacrificial lambs hear of “a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths”—a poetic foreshadowing that Jesus is “the perfect sacrifice.”
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Quote:
- “Nobody’s too small, nobody’s too dirty, nobody’s too broken, nobody’s too forgotten, nobody’s too far gone. This is good news for all people.” [47:10]
6. Poem & Final Reflection (55:51–END)
- Mike shares a beautiful poetic reflection (inspired in part by Randy Alcorn):
"To look out heaven’s window at a dark and dismal earth.
What man once lost was found again. And hope was given birth.
In a smelly barn, a baby born held by teenage hands.
God showed up in just his way to fulfill his plan." [57:30-58:00]
- Jesus is depicted as everything we need—strength, rest, healing, forgiveness, savior.
“He is all. All knowing, almighty, all loving, all worthy, all righteous, all beauty, all truth, all grace. All swaddled small.” [59:10]
- The invitation closes with a prayer, calling listeners to accept this good news and receive lasting joy by choosing Jesus as Lord.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Courage & Fear:
- “Courage comes from living your life in the hands of God.” [17:33]
- On God’s Desire to Be With Us:
- “God with us. That’s the good news that changes everything for people.” [26:43]
- On Joy:
- “It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” [35:51]
- On Inclusion:
- “Nobody’s too small, nobody’s too dirty, nobody’s too broken, nobody’s too forgotten, nobody’s too far gone.” [47:10]
- On Jesus’ Identity:
- “He is the shepherd of the wandering. He’s the healer to the hurting. He’s the forgiver of all sinners. He’s the Savior of the world.” [59:02]
Important Timestamps
- 05:10: Discussion of the impact of "two-word phrases"
- 08:50: First two-word phrase: “Fear Not”
- 16:39: God’s approach to our fears
- 18:38: Good news for a waiting world
- 24:57: Chuck Colson and the boy named Emmanuel
- 28:03: The freedom Jesus brings
- 30:03: Story of granddaughter’s wedding and lasting joy
- 35:51: "It’s not joy that makes us grateful..."
- 40:10: Social status and significance of the shepherds
- 45:24: God’s heart for the overlooked
- 47:10: The good news is for all people
- 57:30: Poetic reflection on the Christmas story
- 59:02: The many facets of who Jesus is
Tone & Style
Pastor Mike’s style is warm, story-driven, humorous, and deeply empathetic. He mixes personal anecdotes, cultural references, poetic language, and biblically grounded teaching to connect with listeners both emotionally and spiritually. His message is one of hope, inclusion, and unwavering joy rooted not in circumstances, but in Christ’s presence.
Quick Recap: The Christmas Message in Four Two-Word Phrases
- Fear Not: God enters our fear with love and assurance.
- Good News: Jesus, Emmanuel, is God with us.
- Great Joy: Real joy arises from gratitude and knowing we are forgiven and loved.
- All People: The gift is for everyone—especially the forgotten and ordinary.
Listen for the echo of angels: “Peace on earth and hope to all who will call this baby Lord.”