Sunday, December 22, 2019
Topic: Joseph/Faith
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 [Pew Bible page 703]
Message Summary:
During the season of advent messages have focused on several characters related on some way to the first Christmas—Isaiah as he encouraged Ahaz during an acute time of crisis, Mary as she responded to the news about the child she was about to carry and the shepherds who heard the good news about Jesus’ birth. Join with me on this fourth Sunday in Advent as we direct our attention to Joseph and his dilemma when he discovered that Mary was with child. Was Joseph’s decision to stand by Mary a denial of reality? Did he just sweep all the bad news under the carpet or was the outcome more like an over simplified happy ending to a Hallmark romance movie? In this message we will explore a deeper truth that the Bible reveals about Joseph and show how his love for Mary and for the welfare of the child within her womb parallels the love that Jesus showed for us when he went to the cross.