The Perfect Substitute and Example The sermon centers on the divine providence and eternal faithfulness of God, revealed through the genealogical record of Jesus Christ in Matthew's Gospel, which establishes His rightful lineage as both the promised Messiah and the Son of God. It emphasizes that Jesus' virgin birth, legal adoption through Joseph, and inclusion of morally flawed ancestors—including Rahab, Ruth, Tamar, and Bathsheba—demonstrate God's grace surpassing human failure and sin. The message unfolds with a call to follow Christ as both our substitute, who fulfilled righteousness and overcame temptation in the wilderness, and our example, whose daily dependence on the Father, obedience, and trust in Scripture equip believers to face life's trials. Drawing from Isaiah 50 and Zephaniah 3, it underscores the necessity of seeking God first each day, allowing His voice to shape our words, actions, and responses, so that our lives reflect His glory and become instruments of His redemptive work in a broken world. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a transformed life rooted in daily communion with God, where every trial, testimony, and act of service becomes an offering of worship and a witness to His enduring mercy and power. Matthew 1–4; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 50:4–7; Revelation 12:11; Zephaniah 3:7 Fresh Mercies, Faithful Gardener Church, aren't you glad His mercies are fresh and new every morning? Not just yesterday. Not just last Sunday. But right now. They are available all day, every day, because His mercy is forever. Amen. And I love that picture we were just talking about — being replanted. Isn't it good to know God doesn't discard us? He transplants us. He pru
