Passage: Matthew 1:18-25
Summary
For Paul following Jesus meant suffering, sacrifice, and persecution. It meant living with unanswered questions; dying in many ways as a loser. To actually go all the way with Jesus you have to have a strong grasp on why he’s worth it.
This is what you see in Matthew 1–2. Matthew shows you, right out of the gate, how difficult it is to follow Jesus and how Jesus’ first followers found the motivation to do so.
Sermon Questions
- What does betrothal actually mean and why is that idea important to understand in this passage?
- Are you as Joseph willing to believe the impossible and risk everything on it? Why or why not?
- We are called to be willing to die and to accept the idea that we have to deny ourself. How did Joseph have to deny himself? How are you being called to deny yourself?
- How have you been inconvenienced in order to follow Jesus? Are you willing to embrace inconvenience? Why or why not?
- What would have happened had Joseph not chosen the route he chose? What if he’d chosen the easy route—not believed the angel; divorced Mary and cast her aside; married a different girl. How would that choice have affected everything?