Matthew 1:1-17
Genesis 2:4
Genesis 3:15
Genesis 5:1
Genesis 12:3
Genesis 22:17-18
2 Samuel 7:11-14
2 Corinthians 1:20
“Slow DOWN this SEASON so we don’t MESS UP its REASON.”
“In our series, Simple Christmas, we are encouraging, challenging, and inviting people to make room for the most important gift—the most important gift being Jesus.”
“God can be trusted. He is trustworthy. God is the hero you can trust. What He starts, He finishes. What He begins, He ends.”
“It is in Jesus, God is making all things new. He is righting every wrong. He is freeing the captives.”
“Sin affected every area of life and thus the salvation that Jesus brings will affect every area of life—starting with our relationship with God.”
“Jesus is the Old Testament equivalent to Joshua (Yeshua) which means “YWHW Saves.”
In Matthew 1:1-17, Matthew gives us the genealogy or family tree of Jesus Christ. We see, through Matthew's detailed description, that Jesus is directly descended from Abraham and King David. This lineage makes Jesus the heir to the throne of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s promises to the Jewish people through the Old Testament. It is also interesting to note how Matthew ties the story in Matthew 1 all the way back to the book of origins—Genesis.
It is important, in the first chapters of Genesis, to see the genealogy of Adam which introduces the story of creation and the fall of mankind. In contrast in Matthew 1:1-17, we see the genealogy of Jesus which introduces the story of New Creation—-a story of redemption and restoration. God throughout history was weaving the storyline and events to bring about His promises and plans for His people and for us. As 2 Corinthians 1:20 states, “ For all the promises of God find their yes in Christ.”
But there is even more to be seen in the passage Matthew 1:1-17. Matthew used the number seven prominently in this passage. The number seven and its derivatives in Hebrew culture was known to be a number that represented fullness or completeness. God culminated His creation on the seventh day. The Sabbath was celebrated every seventh day. Every seventh year in Old Testament times was to be a sabbatical year when the land was given a time to rest. In the fiftieth year, after every seven times seven years or forty nine years, was to be designated as a year of Jubilee which was dedicated to rest, restoration of property and the freeing of people from debt, servitude, and slavery.
N.T. Wright wrote, “Matthew makes it clear beyond dispute, to anyone thinking Jewishly in that period, that the moment had come with Jesus. Instead of years, he does it with generations, the generations of Israel's entire history from Abraham to the present. All the generations to that point were fourteen times three, that is six sevens—with Jesus we get the seventh seven. His is the jubilee in person. He is the one who will rescue Israel from its long continued nightmare.”(How God Became King, 71).
While in our current day, we don’t celebrate a “year of jubilee,” think about how wonderful it is that through Jesus Christ, God has made all things new. During this time of Christmas celebration, how could each of us bring joy to someone outside of our normal routine? Prayerfully be aware of those God places in your path this week who might need you to step in to bring them a moment of jubilee— a moment of joy, renewal, and celebration!
Slow DOWN this SEASON so we don’t MESS UP its REASON.
5 Reasons we should slow down this season so we don’t mess up its reasons:
a. Matthew is tying in the story of Jesus to the book of Genesis.
b. The genealogy of Adam introduces the story of creation and fall.
c. The genealogy of Jesus introduces the story of the new Creation, redemption, and restoration.
a. God's sovereignty orchestrates the events of history to bring about His promises and plans.
a. Genealogies like Matthew 1 read like a resume to show the lineage of a person.
b. Jesus, the King, came to identify with us.
a. Matthew shows how Jesus has come to reset, renew, and redeem.
a. Jesus came to reconcile mankind to God, to one another, and to the world.
The coming of Jesus, the coming of the King to save sinners is about:
5 Practical Steps to take this Christmas season that will help us slow down and not mess up its reason:
During this week, think about ways to slow down and simplify the upcoming Christmas season in order to not mess up its reason. Use the five practical steps in the What Not to Miss Section of this study for ways to slow down your life. Look for ways to put into practice one of these steps each day this week. For example, who might you be able to invite to Christmas Eve Worship Services? Also, take a look at Northland’s website to learn more about ways to serve and bring joy and celebration to others with opportunities like Christmas House or Giving Tuesday.
Lord, we thank you that you have given us this wonderful Christmas season. But with all the wonderfulness of the Christmas season, we also acknowledge that at this time of year life speeds up at a staggering pace. As we have learned this week, as things speed up and we don’t slow down, we can really mess up. We can say hurtful words to those we love, we can get cranky because we have lost out on rest, we can become demanding thinking of ourselves and our agendas and to do lists. Open our eyes so that we can see and apply practical steps to intentionally simplify Christmas. Help us and give us wisdom so we can slow down and not miss the most important gift of the season—which is Jesus Christ.
— N. T. Wright, How God Became King.
— Albert Wolters, Creation Regained.
— Hope Bolinger, What Was the Year of Jubilee?
Simple Christmas: Making Room for the Most Important Gift
The Christmas season is upon us. Many, if not most, see the Christmas season as the song says, “the most wonderful time of the year.” While it may be the most wonderful time, Christmas isn’t known as a time people slow down but rather speed up—especially in American culture. We have shopping to do and parties to attend. In addition, many are finishing up a year of work and projects. Furthermore, many deal with the strong emotions the Christmas season brings—either missing a family member who has passed or dealing with family drama. Therefore, the Christmas season is anything but simple for the masses.
In our series, Simple Christmas, we are encouraging, challenging, and inviting people to make room for the most important gift.
Simple Christmas: Making Room for the Most Important Gift
The Christmas season is upon us. Many, if not most, see the Christmas season as the song says, “the most wonderful time of the year.” While it may be the most wonderful time, Christmas isn’t known as a time people slow down but rather speed up—especially in American culture. We have shopping to do and parties to attend. In addition, many are finishing up a year of work and projects. Furthermore, many deal with the strong emotions the Christmas season brings—either missing a family member who has passed or dealing with family drama. Therefore, the Christmas season is anything but simple for the masses.
In our series, Simple Christmas, we are encouraging, challenging, and inviting people to make room for the most important gift. The most important gift ever given to humanity was Jesus. Jesus was and is God’s gift to the world. The Christmas season marks the time where Christians celebrate the incarnation—when God became man and dwelt among us. With all the busyness of work, play, and family, we want to carve out five weeks to challenge us with why, what, and how saints long ago made room for the most important gift—and thus exemplify for us today how we, too, can have a simple Christmas.
» December 3-4
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS | Simple Word | Lead Pastor Josh Laxton
» December 10-11
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS | Simplifying a Complicated Life | Lead Pastor Josh Laxton
» December 3-4
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS | Simple Word | Lead Pastor Josh Laxton
» December 10-11
SIMPLE CHRISTMAS | Simplifying a Complicated Life | Lead Pastor Josh Laxton
Join us on November 29 where we will be raising money for our Lifehope Childcare, who has been providing free childcare in our community since 2015.
December 23 & 24 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Join us as Pastor Josh teaches us about the simplicity of Christmas! Children's Church is available for all ages. You can also serve at one service and attend another. There's something for everyone!