December 5, 2021
Pastor Philip Harike

Sermon Notes

Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

1. Great Anticipation

2. Hope Found in His Name

Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”

3. Courage to Embrace

Matthew 1:24-25
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Emmanuel gives us the courage to embrace the calling Christ has on our lives.

Next Steps

• I put my trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior for the first time today.
• I will share the Hope found in Emmanuel with _ this week.
• I commit to walk in obedience to what the Lord is leading me to do.

Deep Dive

1. Read Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-24. How is Mary and Joseph’s perspective of the birth of Christ different from one another? How are they the same?
2. Matthew begins and ends with a promise that Christ will be with us. (1:23 and 28:20) How does that give you confidence to walk by faith?
3. Reflect on the birth of Jesus, who can you share the hope of Jesus with?

Springboard

1. Read Romans 6:5-11, what is Paul telling us about the relationship of sin, death, and Christ?
2. Does the person in Christ still deal with sin? Why?
3. How does the Spirit and the Flesh compare/contrast? Read Galatians 5:19-25