Matthew 1:1-17 - This year for Advent we'll be considering Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus. In this story, we find the key anchor points that help define both the big-picture story of humanity and structures of our individual stories. Just what kind of story are we living in? If Jesus came and is coming again, then it is a story of deep meaning, realism, dignity, and hope. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 1 of the series "Advent According to Matthew"]
Questions for reflection: 1) Do you have a history of celebrating Advent? What has it been like for you? Do you plan to celebrate this year? 2) Do you find yourself bored by genealogies in the Bible? Why do you think that is? 3) What surprising things do we learn through this particular genealogy in Matthew 1? 4) How does the gospel and the Christian worldview make sense of both our experiences of evil and joy? 5) How can the stories of Christmas and the 2nd coming of Christ stir us up to hope in an often hopeless time?
