Angel Encounters: You want me to do what?
Matthew 1:18-25
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out – what God did in and through you (Phil. 2:13) Celebrate and thank God for those together and pray with those who experienced some “Lows” this week, for God’s encouragement for them.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
We are launching into a new series looking at the angel encounters during Christmas Season of Jesus’ birth"! Last week, we looked at Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, and this week at Joseph’s visit…
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Talk about a time that a crisis or decision you faced was so great, you just wanted to wake up from the nightmare… but then the way you faced it started to redefine who you are.
Read Matthew 1:18-25
o As Pastor Scott said, "Our true character is revealed when people hurt us." What did Joseph reveal in his response to Mary's pregnancy? (Proverbs 10:12 and 17:9, 1 Peter 4:8,)
o What does Scripture teach us about what our first response should be? (Proverbs 10:19 and 17:27 and 29:20)
o As we take time to consider our response in prayer when we are hurting, how does God respond? (Psalm 147:3, Isaiah 26:3 and 48:6)
o Joseph, even before he heard the angel's explanation, considered Mary's needs as he was thinking about his response - in what ways does God's Word command this response? (Philippians 2:3-5, James 2:13, Luke 6:36,)
o Equally, Joseph was probably tempted to be angry as his original dreams for his life were shattered, through no fault of his own. How does God's Word help us at such times? (James 1:20, Ephesians 4:26-27, Proverbs 16:32,)
o Some would continue to believe that Joseph fathered Jesus - Luke 4:22 - how should we respond when people unjustly condemn us? (2 Peter 2:20-23, Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 6:27-36,)
o Joseph's prompt and complete obedience to God's guidance is our example. How does Scripture warn us that delay or incomplete obedience is unacceptable to God? (1 Samuel 15:18-23, Hebrews 3:13-15 and 4:6-7,)
Respond:
Scott closed the message this weekend with a call to remember, "God is with you.” Spend some time in prayer together entrusting what you cannot control to God, and entrusting yourself to Him as Emmanuel, a Name of God which means “God with us”.
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