Looking at the birth of Jesus through the eyes and experience of Joseph.
Matthew 1:18-25
SERMON OUTLINE
“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’” (Matthew 1:20)
Joseph the Upright (Matthew 1:18-19)
- righteous – “faithful to the law”
- merciful
Joseph the Dreamer (Matthew 1:20-23)
- dreams of Joseph (1:20-21; 2:13; 2:19; 2:22)
- Joseph listens to God
Joseph the Obedient (Matthew 1:24-25)
- hearing the angelic message
- responding directly to what was spoken (1:20 & 1:24; 2:13 & 2:14; 2:20 & 2:21)
Joseph the Adoptive Father (Matthew 1:25)
- The importance of taking Mary home
- The importance of naming Jesus
- “The Son of David”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Who has served as a mentor in your life in some way? What did they do and how did that impact you or your life direction?
- This week we continue our series, “Family Tree,” by looking at Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25. Begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you through His Word, and then read that passage aloud.
- Matthew focuses largely on the role of Joseph in Jesus’ birth and early years. If you were Joseph, how would you have responded to the events of verse 18?
- What do you discover about Joseph and his character from verse 19?
- Why do you think it might be important for the story of Christianity that Joseph was an upright man who adhered to God’s law?
- Joseph is disturbed from his thoughtful reflection about what to do with an angelic visitor in a dream. What does the angel specifically tell Joseph to do?
- Joseph has several dreams and angelic appearances throughout the first two chapters of Matthew (see 1:20-21; 2:13; 2:19; 2:22). Read through these dream messages and consider this question: why would God speak to Joseph in this sort of way?
- What do you notice about Joseph’s response to the angelic dream in verses 24-25?
- Why do you think it was important for Joseph to adopt Jesus and also name Him?
- How might Joseph be a model of relationship with God and discipleship for us?
- What is one thing God is speaking to you through this study on Joseph from Matthew 1? If you’re on your own, write that down and pray over that this week. If you are with a small group, share your answers with one another before closing in prayer.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize the angel’s words to Joseph in Matthew 1:20-21
- Consider reading about Joseph in all of the New Testament accounts of him:
- Matthew 1:16, 18-25; 2:9-12, 13-23; 13:55
- Mark 6:1-3
- Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-52; 2:1-12; 3:23; 4:22
- John 1:45; 6:41-42