Sermons

Why is the virgin birth so important? Matthew 1:18-25

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Small Group Guide:

Open with prayer.

Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?

If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed[b] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

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

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Week 2 – Matthew 1:18-25 – Why is the virgin birth so important? 

Introduction:

Have you ever started reading the Bible and see a detail that seemed strange to be included? This week we’re taking a look at Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, specifically the virgin birth, and talking about why it’s important, and how it affects our lives today. 

 

Message Outline:

 

Why is the virgin birth so important?

1.  It shows us that Jesus is from God

Matt. 1:18, John 1:1, 14, 3:16, Is. 7:14

2. It shows us that Jesus is God

Matt. 1:18, John 1:1, 10:30, 5:18

3. It shows us that Jesus wasn’t “Plan–B”

Matt. 1:23-23, Is. 7:14, Heb. 13:8

So what do we do with this information?

1.  We humbly submit to God

Matt. 1:19, James 4:7, Rom. 8:7, 1 Pet. 5:5, Luke 22:42

2. We soften our hearts towards God

Matt. 1:20-21, Ez. 11:19, 36:26, Jer. 24:7, 1 Cor. 2:14

3. We are faithful to do what God tell us to do

Matt. 1:24-25, Luke 16:10, Heb. 10:23, 1 Cor. 4:2, Ps. 31:23

4. We remember that God is with us

Matt. 1:23, John 1:1-27, Josh. 1:9, Matt. 28:19-20, Ps. 23:1-6

Reflecting on God’s Word

Getting Started

  • Have you ever wondered why God chose to have Jesus born of a virgin? 
  • Have you ever come across Jesus’ virgin birth before in Scripture? What were your thoughts about it? Did you think about it or just move on? 
  • Have you ever heard the virgin birth talked about at church before? What was your understanding of it before this message?  

Diving In 

Read Matthew 1:18-25, paying attention specifically to the details surrounding Jesus’ birth.. By taking a look at this passage, we learn about who Jesus is, that He is from God, He is God, and that He wasn’t “plan-B.” Does that change your understanding about who Jesus is? Why or why not? 

  • By remembering who Jesus is, it changes the way we live our lives. How would remembering what this passage of Scripture tells us about who Jesus is change the way you live your life? What would it change about the way you think, talk, interact with others, spend your time and money, ect.?
  • How can you remember what this passage of Scripture teaches us about who Jesus is? 

Read Matthew 1:18-25, paying attention specifically to the way that Joseph acts. Does anything stand out to you? Does anything that Joseph does surprise you?

  • Read verse 19 again. If you were Joseph in that situation, would you have acted the same way? 
  • Joseph certainly wouldn’t have thought that Mary would have gotten pregnant before they were officially married. That must have been devastating. Do some reflecting on Joseph’s character. What kind of man was he that he “resolved to divorce her quickly?”
  • Have you ever been in a situation like Joseph, where something significant didn’t go the way that you had planned it would? How did you react? How do you think you could have acted in a way that was more honoring to the Lord? 

Read verse 20 again. An angel of the Lord told Joseph what was going on in a dream. If this happened to you, would you have listened? How open are you to the Holy Spirit’s leading in your life? 

  • Keeping in mind your answers from the question above, how can you soften your heart towards the Lord, and be more open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance? 
  • Read 1 John 4:1. What would it look like for you to be more open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, while still doing what 1 John 4:1 tells us to do? 

Read verses :24-25. Joseph could have just ignored what he heard the angel say, and continue with his plan to divorce from Mary. But he didn’t. Joseph was faithful. He did what God led him to do. If you were in Joseph’s situation, and your mind was already made up, would you have been faithful like Joseph was? 

  • Have you ever been in a situation where your mind was completely made up, and you felt like God wanted you to do something different? What did you do? 
  • What would it look like for you to continually be more and more faithful to what God wants you to do? 

Read verse 23. After a long period of not hearing from God, how do you think Jesus being called Immanuel would have come across? 

  • In your everyday life, does it feel like God is with you? 
  • Read John 1:1-27, Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:19-20, and Psalm 23:1-6. It doesn’t always feel like it, but God is always with us, and will never abandon us. How could you remember that better?
  • How does remembering that God is always with you and will never abandon you change your outlook on life? 

Applying the Scripture

What are your biggest takeaways from this passage of God’s Word? 

  • What practical step(s) do you need to implement in your life to apply what God has taught you in this passage of Scripture? 
  • How would applying this affect your life and your relationship with the Lord? 
  • Who can you ask to keep you accountable to applying this to your life?

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Prayer Time:

Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.

Staying Missional:

Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:

Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

What’s next?

Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?