Untitled Sermon (3)

Matthew 1

Making Your Life Count: A Journey through the Birth and Mission of Christ

Bible Passage: Matthew 1:1–24, Matthew 2:1–23, Matthew 3:1–17

Summary: These passages detail the genealogy and birth of Jesus, the visit of the Magi, and John the Baptist's preparation for Jesus' ministry, emphasizing God's sovereign plan and the fulfillment of prophecy in making our lives matter.

Application: This sermon calls Christians to recognize their roles in God's grand narrative, encouraging individuals to seek their purpose in the context of Christ's mission and to live purposeful lives that reflect His love and grace.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that understanding our identity in Christ and God's overarching plan empowers us to live lives that truly count, encouraging us to align our actions with our faith.

How this passage could point to Christ: The passages highlight Christ's descent from David, His miraculous birth, and His mission initiated by John the Baptist, showing that all Scripture points to Him as the fulfillment of God's promises.

Big Idea: Our lives count when we understand our identity in Christ and actively participate in His mission of redemption and love.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider examining the genealogical context in Matthew 1 and how it emphasizes God's faithfulness. Utilize Logos to explore commentaries on the significance of the Magi's visit in Matthew 2, focusing on themes of revelation and worship. Additionally, look into the role of John the Baptist in Matthew 3, with an eye towards biblical fulfillment and his call to repentance, which can deepen your understanding of how these events shape the narrative of making our lives count.

1. Proclaiming the Promised Lineage

Matthew 1:1-17

Maybe you could emphasize the significance of Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:1-17, illustrating how God uses ordinary people to achieve His extraordinary purposes. This lineage of Christ, full of diverse individuals, points to God's faithfulness and sovereignty, challenging us to see our own lives as part of His redemptive history. This understanding invites us to live intentionally, embracing our role in God's family and mission, assured that, like those before us, our lives can have a profound impact from generation to generation.

2. Pursuing Obedient Faith

Matthew 1:18-24

Perhaps you could explore the miraculous birth of Jesus in Matthew 1:18-24, focusing on the faith and obedience of Joseph in responding to God's call. Joseph's role in Jesus' birth narrative shows us that God entrusts us with significant responsibilities when we are open to His direction. This calls us to live by faith, trusting that our choices and paths, no matter how daunting, contribute to God's larger narrative of salvation. Obedience and trust in God's plan allow our lives to count in His divine scheme.

3. Prioritizing Worship and Revelation

Matthew 2:1-12

You could consider the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12, highlighting their pursuit of truth and worship as a model for making our lives count. The Magi followed a star, journeying far to honor the newborn King, demonstrating that our lives gain significance when they are oriented towards seeking and worshiping Christ above all. Amidst distractions and diversions, prioritizing Christ as the center invites divine purpose and direction in our everyday decisions and actions.

4. Providing Divine Protection

Matthew 2:13-23

Maybe this segment from Matthew 2:13-23 could illustrate the necessity of God's protection and guidance as seen in Joseph's divine directive to flee to Egypt. Amidst danger and uncertainty, God's intervention safeguarded Jesus' early life, showing us that divine protection accompanies us as we walk in God's ways. It encourages believers to trust in God’s providential care, believing that each step in obedience will make their lives count as part of His unfolding redemptive story.

5. Preparing Through Repentance

Matthew 3:1-12

Perhaps examining John the Baptist's message in Matthew 3:1-12 could provoke a challenge toward repentance and readiness for Christ's mission. John's call to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" emphasizes the transformative power of turning toward God and preparing our lives to reflect Jesus' mission of love and redemption. This point invites hearers to continually align their hearts and actions with God's reign, thus making meaningful their contribution to the kingdom.

6. Plunging into Purpose

Matthew 3:13-17

You might reflect on Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17 as pivotal for His ministry and a model for believers. Jesus' baptism signifies God's pleasure and the inauguration of His mission, inviting us to see baptism as affirmation and commissioning in God's unfolding plan. When we identify with Christ through baptism, we affirm our identity and purpose within His mission, reinforcing that our lives count as echoes of His transformative work in the world.