December 15, 2024
Assigned Scripture
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a] quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,[c]
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Group Response
Following the weekly gathering, you’re invited to respond to the service by engaging in group discussion.
An angel appeared to Joseph, because (though he didn’t carry the life of God within him) he had a load-bearing role to play in Jesus’ life. The angel’s call to Joseph – to adopt the promise of God – offers us countless gifts in the inheritance of faith: from the way we interpret Scripture, to the way we see our lives in light of other people’s callings. This sermon will explore some of the inheritance Joseph left us through Jesus, and make space for us to overhear Joseph’s invitation as one we might accept, too.
Discussion Questions
- As in Joseph’s story: the first words we use when we enter a conversation matter. What are 1-3 of your favorite ways to start conversations?
- Joseph’s “yes” led him to a lifetime of misunderstanding by his community; when have you misunderstood someone else’s compassion or obedience
- When have you been misunderstood for being faithful, and how did you navigate that?
- Joseph’s best work was done by being a supporting character; who (specifically) has God called you to take a back seat to? To give your life away so they can shine?
- Joseph was the first person in the New Testament to read the Bible correctly: through the lens of the loving character of God. How does this shape the way you interpret Scripture? How have you seen people misuse the Bible as a lever for heaping shame on others?
- The angel told Joseph: “Don’t be afraid.” What would you do if you weren’t afraid?