Stones Hill Community Church
Prepare Him Room
The weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas is when we take a look at the meaning of Christmas and the Christian teaching that the eternal Son of God became a human being and was born of the virgin Mary in a manger. Matthew and Luke are the two main sources of our accounts of the birth of Jesus. Luke gives you Mary’s perspective of Christmas. Matthew gives you Joseph’s perspective. Welcome.
Locations & Times
Ligonier, IN
151 W Stones Hill Rd, Ligonier, IN 46767, USA
Saturday 2:00 PM
MESSAGE TEXT
Matthew 1:18-25
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INTRODUCTION
Matthew shows you with the genealogy that Jesus is the Son of David. He uses the “fulfilled formula” multiple times in his gospel to show you that Jesus fulfilled 700-year-old prophecies about his birth. And Matthew shows you how Joseph surrendered himself to God’s plan, even though he struggled to understand. Matthew tells us “Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Look at his phenomenal birth” – that’s supposed to get our attention, so that we follow Matthews story all the way to the end – to see the something special that Jesus does for all of us in Jerusalem.
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PROPOSITION
The Gospels are first and foremost a story about Jesus. Jesus is always center stage. Other characters will move on and off the stage and will receive focused attention for specific purposes. But the question we must continually ask throughout every passage of the story is: “What is this passage telling us about Jesus?” Prepare Him room. “Don’t take your eyes off of Him. Anyone who is born under these conditions is really special.”
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OUTLINE
Prepare Him Room. Three things Joseph had to accept and we must accept as well to make room for Jesus:
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First, we have to accept that we’re sinners (1:21).
Second, we have to accept his Lordship (1:21,25).
Third, we have to accept the world’s disdain (1:19).
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CONCLUSION
Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? There may be disdain from the world. You will feel it in your life. Joseph felt it in his life. Joseph let go of fear. He let go of the villagers’ voices and stares. He let go of his doubts and questions. He let go of his own reputation and standing in the community. He let go of his ideas and hopes for what his marriage to Mary could have been. He let go of the law and punishment. With each letting go Joseph emptied himself so that, by God’s grace and mercy, he might become the womb that would protect, nourish, and provide security to Mary and her child. Prepare Him Room.
Matthew 1:18-25
*
INTRODUCTION
Matthew shows you with the genealogy that Jesus is the Son of David. He uses the “fulfilled formula” multiple times in his gospel to show you that Jesus fulfilled 700-year-old prophecies about his birth. And Matthew shows you how Joseph surrendered himself to God’s plan, even though he struggled to understand. Matthew tells us “Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Look at his phenomenal birth” – that’s supposed to get our attention, so that we follow Matthews story all the way to the end – to see the something special that Jesus does for all of us in Jerusalem.
*
PROPOSITION
The Gospels are first and foremost a story about Jesus. Jesus is always center stage. Other characters will move on and off the stage and will receive focused attention for specific purposes. But the question we must continually ask throughout every passage of the story is: “What is this passage telling us about Jesus?” Prepare Him room. “Don’t take your eyes off of Him. Anyone who is born under these conditions is really special.”
*
OUTLINE
Prepare Him Room. Three things Joseph had to accept and we must accept as well to make room for Jesus:
*
First, we have to accept that we’re sinners (1:21).
Second, we have to accept his Lordship (1:21,25).
Third, we have to accept the world’s disdain (1:19).
*
CONCLUSION
Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? There may be disdain from the world. You will feel it in your life. Joseph felt it in his life. Joseph let go of fear. He let go of the villagers’ voices and stares. He let go of his doubts and questions. He let go of his own reputation and standing in the community. He let go of his ideas and hopes for what his marriage to Mary could have been. He let go of the law and punishment. With each letting go Joseph emptied himself so that, by God’s grace and mercy, he might become the womb that would protect, nourish, and provide security to Mary and her child. Prepare Him Room.