Young Life Campaigners 12-15-05
The Christmas Account: PART I
v List what you know (or think you know) about the birth of Jesus:
- - - -
v We probably all have some misconceptions about the birth of Jesus. We definitely all can sit back and think about how incredible the event was.
v The Bible says in Timothy that “all Scripture is God-breathed.” However, every book of the Bible was also written by men that lived in a specific place at a specific time. By understanding this, we can better understand what’s going on in the Bible.
MATTHEW 1:18 – 2:23
· When did the Magi visit Jesus?
· What are Magi?
· What did the “manger” look like?
Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the first few books of “Matthew” for the purpose of showing the Jews of the 1st century A.D. that Jesus was the promised “messiah” of the Old Testament.
HOW DID HE DO THIS?
I. Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1 shows that Jesus is descended from Abraham and David)
II. Miraculous birth of Jesus
· While the nature of the star has been debated, what remains clear is the supernatural timing of the event.
· The Magi’s gifts financed the escape of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus
· God uses angels to announce things; dreams to communicate
v Each event is marked by the leading of God:
(1) By a dream that directs it and
(2) By a word from Scripture which, unexpectedly, proves prophetic
III. Old Testament Prophecies fulfilled (Matthew quotes the O.T. 53 times!)
· 1:22-23, 2:5, 2:15, 2:18, 2:23
PERSONAL APPLICATION:
The entire sequence of events is evidently guided and directed by God, and we are reminded that God never removes His hand from His son.
This should encourage us:
è We are children of this same God!
è He will not remove His hand from you or me!
Young Life Campaigners 12-15-05
The Christmas Account: PART I
v List what you know (or think you know) about the birth of Jesus:
- - - -
v We probably all have some misconceptions about the birth of Jesus. We definitely all can sit back and think about how incredible the event was.
v The Bible says in Timothy that “all Scripture is God-breathed.” However, every book of the Bible was also written by men that lived in a specific place at a specific time. By understanding this, we can better understand what’s going on in the Bible.
MATTHEW 1:18 – 2:23
· When did the Magi visit Jesus?
· What are Magi?
· What did the “manger” look like?
Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, wrote the first few books of “Matthew” for the purpose of showing the Jews of the 1st century A.D. that Jesus was the promised “messiah” of the Old Testament.
HOW DID HE DO THIS?
I. Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1 shows that Jesus is descended from Abraham and David)
II. Miraculous birth of Jesus
· While the nature of the star has been debated, what remains clear is the supernatural timing of the event.
· The Magi’s gifts financed the escape of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus
· God uses angels to announce things; dreams to communicate
v Each event is marked by the leading of God:
(1) By a dream that directs it and
(2) By a word from Scripture which, unexpectedly, proves prophetic
III. Old Testament Prophecies fulfilled (Matthew quotes the O.T. 53 times!)
· 1:22-23, 2:5, 2:15, 2:18, 2:23
PERSONAL APPLICATION:
The entire sequence of events is evidently guided and directed by God, and we are reminded that God never removes His hand from His son.
This should encourage us:
è We are children of this same God!
è He will not remove His hand from you or me!