Hope Harvest (Part 1: The Genealogy)

Introduction

Attention:

Raise your hand if you have a pretty decent idea of your families ancestry (AKA where your ancestor came from)

The Celts

“I’m Irish”

Proof (Ancestry.com)

Jesus proves who He is through His ancestry

Hope Harvest

The Hope of Christmas

Jesus is the harvest of hope

Seems boring, but...

Need:

You need this genealogy in your life

You need hope

Losing sight of who Christ is

Doubt

Difficult things at school, home, work, etc.

“Jesus, are you really there? Jesus, are you really who you say you are?”

An opportunity to regain hope

An opportunity to allow Jesus to prove Himself as true

Body

The Big Idea:

Christ’s character gives us hope.

The Big Question

How does Christ’s character give us hope?

He is faithful (1:1-6a)

Matthew 1:1

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Explanation:

Q. What three things do we learn about Jesus from this verse alone?

(1) He is the Messiah

(2) He is a descendant of David

(3) He is a descendent of Abraham

Providing messianic evidence

The connection to David and Abraham

The connection to Genesis: “the record of the ancestors”

1st of three sections

14 each

This one: Abraham

Matthew 1:2-6

Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

Explanation:

Don’t get overwhelmed

The most important: begins with Abraham, ends with David (also, note Tamar. Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba)

Tracing the line of Christ through Abraham

Q. What makes Abraham important?

Covenant: “Bless all the nations”

Messianic expectations

Jesus blesses all the nations

Jesus is the hope of Israel

God is faithful to Abraham (and us()

Illustration:

My dad’s unfaithfulness?

Christ’s proven faithfulness

Application:

Are you actively aware of God’s faithfulness in your life?

Or is it difficult to see?

The unfaithfulness of others

Christmas: Jesus has been proven to be faithful!

Focus on Christ’s faithfulness; have hope

Transition Statement:

Christ isn’t just a faithful person; He is a faithful King.

The Big Idea:

Christ’s character gives us hope.

The Big Question

How does Christ’s character give us hope?

He is faithful (1:1-6a)

He is King (1:6-11)

Matthew 1:6-11

Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).

Explanation:

David

Q. What is the range of this section of the genealogy?

From David to the Babylonian exile.

In the OT, first messianic family is Abraham’s; the last one is David

Q. What is it that makes David important?

David’s kingship emphasized “King David!”

David’s Kingship gave Israel hope

Jesus’ kingship gives us hope

Jesus’ street cred

Jesus is the ultimate King

Christmas: a time to remember that Christ is our King;

AKA, He has authority!

Not just a baby; the royal heir of David

Not earned; true in infancy and in eternity past

The King gives us hope

Jesus is worth giving the keys of your life to.

Illustration:

Giving keys is hard

Sam Nelson: “Your car is speedy!”

Hope Harvest: worth giving keys to

Application:

Who has the keys?

Growing independence, “I’m the king”

Remember Christ as King

Submit to His authority

First time

Or return

Jesus’ authority gives us hope

Give your keys to the proven royal King, Jesus!

Transition Statement:

Jesus isn’t an angry King; he’s a gracious one.

The Big Idea:

Christ’s character gives us hope.

The Big Question

How does Christ’s character give us hope?

He is faithful (1:1-6a)

He is King (1:6-11)

3. He is gracious (1:12-17)

Matthew 1:12-17

After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

Explanation:

Two main ways we see grace

Q. Where does this section trace the lineage through?

From the Babylonian Exile

A HUGE turning point in the history of Israel

Christ picks up the pieces

Four unusual women from the first section: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Solomon’s mother (whom we know is Bathsheba)

Q. What do these four women have in common?

Questionable in some way: “Tamar and Rahab were prostitutes, Ruth was a foreigner, a Moabitess (Ruth 1:4), and Bathsheba committed adultery.“

Jesus’ sketchy family history

Not just a God above us; a God among us

God’s grace gives us hope

Illustration:

Have you ever received a trophy that you didn’t deserve?

Upward

Looking upon God’s gracious blessings

Application:

In what ways do you need grace?

Guilt?

Jesus = God’s proven grace

Christmas break, a season of rest

Feel the hope that results from His proven immeasurable grace!

Conclusion

Visualization

Jesus’ genealogy = who Jesus is = a harvest of hope

Reiteration

Reflect on Jesus’ work in Scripture

Reflect on Jesus’ work in your own life

Make this Christmas a time of remembrance; a time of regained confidence, and a time of reflecting upon who Jesus is and what He has done

Daily time in remembrance

Pray

Lesson Overview:

Text: Matthew 1:1-17.

The Big Idea:

Christ’s character gives us hope.

The Big Question

How does Christ’s character give us hope?

He is faithful (1:1-6a)

He is King (1:6-11)

3. He is gracious (1:12-17)

Small Group Questions:

What are you most excited for this Christmas?

Have you ever read/thought too much about this passage of Scripture?

What stuck out to you the most about tonight’s passage?

How does the birth of Jesus give you hope?

How is it that you need to experience Christ’s faithfulness and graciousness this season?

What is one specific way you commit to applying this message to your life this week?