Hope of Christmas: An Origin Story
December 11, 2022
Pastor Alan Smith
Sermon Notes
I. Anticipated Hope
Matthew 1:1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
A. A Promise to Abraham
Genesis 12:3
…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
B. Lion of Judah
Genesis 49:9-10
Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
C. A Rising star
Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
D. One Like Moses
Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.
E. A Throne Forever
2 Samuel 7:12
I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
F. Virgin Birth
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
G. To the Nations
Isaiah 11:10
In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
H. Out of Bethlehem
Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
II. Revealed Hope
Matthew 2:1-6
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
III. A Cause to Hope
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Hebrews 10:23-24
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The hope revealed through Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to carry that hope to the world every day.
Next Steps
- Today, I want to make Jesus my Lord and Savior. I want this Hope.
- I have been living in fear. But today, I will begin to live in the Hope I have in Jesus.
- I will carry Hope to my family, workplace, and community.
Deep Dive
- Consider the first few years of Jesus and his family (Matthew 1-2). What can we learn about trust and dependence on the work of God?
- How do social and political realities impact what God is doing? What evidence do you see from Jesus’ origin story?
Springboards
- How would you describe authentic joy? How is that different than happiness?
- How do your circumstances, good or bad, affect your ability to praise and worship God?
- If your life today were a song, describe the mood and tone of it.
