Who is Jesus? The King of Kings

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Notes:

Main Point: Jesus, alone, is the King of kings.

1. The Jewish Heart was not Ready (vv.1-3)

2. Forsaking Plausible Deniability (vv. 3-8)

3. How the Magi were Right (vv. 9-11)

4. How Herod was Right (v.12)

Reflection Questions:

1. What does Herod's antagonism against the messiah teach us about mankind? Sin?

2. What do you make of the star phenomena in Matthew 2? What conceptions are challenged by this miracle?

3. How might we benefit from more precisely meditating on Christ's reign as the King of kings this Christmas?

4. What application to our lives today can be made from the reminder that rulers who rage against Christ, like Herod, will be subjected to the King of kings?

Who is Jesus? The Savior of Sinners

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Notes:

1) No good deed unpunished | 18-19

2) No good thing withheld | 20-23 (Ps 84:11)

3) No temptation not common | 24-25 (1 Cor 10:13)

Reflection questions:

1) “Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Atheists believe in the virgin birth of the universe.” - Glen Scrivener. Which miracle has more evidence? What does the miraculous birth of Jesus tell you about God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth?

2) Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus “will save his people from their sins?” Does God promise to save us from our sins? Does God promise to save us from the sins of others on this side of heaven? Are we promised inner renewal, enabling us to be salt and light in a dark world? Or are we promised more than that until Jesus returns?

3) When difficulties happen to you, are you quick to accuse God of “withholding” His goodness? Read the following passages (Ps 84:11; Phil 4:19; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Peter 1:3; Ps 73) and ask how we should view of God’s provision to us?

Who is Jesus? The Son of David

Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon Notes:

1) The Lord is Faithful to His Promises | 1, 6, 11-12, 16-17

2) The Lord is Gracious to the Undeserving | 1-6

3) The Lord is Just to the Wicked | 7-11

4) The Lord is Powerful for the Weak | 12-17

Reflection Questions:

1. What can you learn from a list of names in the Bible? Would you agree that it proves that “God never tires of naming the names of His people”? (Ralph Davis)

2. How can you see God’s grace to characters like Rahab (see Joshua 2); Ruth (See Ruth, especially chapters 2-3); David (see 2 Sam 7, 11-12 and Psalm 51) and others?

3. How can you see God’s justice in this story, which mentions the Exile, or Deportation? How should we respond when we see God’s justice? See Romans 3:23-26. 4. How can you see God’s power for the weak in this story? Joseph was a Son of David (cf Mt. 1:20), but was he a powerful person? Also see Luke 1:46-56, aka, The Magnificat.

My Servant Who Brings Justice

Isaiah 42:1-9

Sermon Notes

1) The Lord’s Servant who is Gentle, 1-3

2) The Lord’s Servant who Brings Justice, 1-4

3) The Lord of History who Empowers His Servant, 5-9 (cf. v1)

Reflection questions:

1. Why is the gentleness of God’s servant good news? Read Isaiah 42:1-3 and Psalm 22:24 (and v.26).

2. Why is it good news that the Lord’s Servant can bring forth justice (Is 42:1, 3, 4)? Can the idols that many Israelites wrongly served do the same? cf. Isaiah 41:28-29; 42:8-9. Do God’s people need such justice? (cf. Psalm 13)

3. Ponder this quote regarding the Lord of History, revealed in vv. 5-9: “Can such a God, who originates, maintains, controls, and directs all things (37:16) forget his people or renege on his promises?” – J. Alec Motyer, The Prophecy of Isaiah, p. 321.

Have Hope

Isaiah 9:1-7

Sermon Notes

1) We're afraid to hope when circumstances are dire

2) We're afraid to hope when we can't control the outcome

3) We're afraid to hope because it might not come true

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you struggled to have hope? What was the situation?

2. In that situation, did you wrestle with hope more because the situation seemed so dire or with the fact that you were helpless to do anything about it?

3. How might you still have hope despite those challenges to the situation you face?

4. What do you wish was different in your life right now? How do you wish it changed? Are you afraid that it might never happen?

The Virgin Shall Conceive: Immanuel

Isaiah 7:1-17

Sermon Notes

1) The Call to Trust, vv. 1-10

2) The Refusal to Trust, vv. 10-13

3) The Consequences of Distrust, vv. 12-17

4) The Comfort amidst Distress, v.14 and Matthew 1

Reflection questions:

1. Why does Isaiah bring his son (Shear-jashub, or “a remnant shall return”) when he speaks to Ahaz? Is the idea of the remnant an encouragement, a discouragement, or a call for realism? Also see Isaiah 6:8-13.

2. Read 2 Kings 16:1-8. What kind of king was Ahaz before this moment in Isaiah 7? How does 2 Kings 16:7-8 help you understand why Ahaz declines God’s offer of a sign (Isaiah 7:10-13)? Where was Ahaz’s trust? Would that trust pay off? See 2 Kings 16:9 and Isaiah 7:17ff.

3. Would it be hard for you to believe that a virgin could get pregnant? Do you think it was hard for Mary and Joseph to believe? (Matthew 1:18-20; Luke 1:26-38, especially vv. 34, 37-38)

My Eyes Have Seen The King

Isaiah 6

Sermon Notes

What did Isaiah see? And what should you see?

1) Seeing the Fullness of God’s Glory, 1-4

2) Seeing the Foul-ness of Man’s Sin, 5

3) Seeing the Forgiveness of God’s Atonement, 6-7

4) Seeing the Forecast for God’s Prophet: Sobering, yet Sure, 8-13

Reflection questions:

1. What are the first words you think of when you think of Christmas? What about sin, forgiveness, and holiness? Should we associate those with Christmas? (See Matthew 1:20-21)

2. How would you describe the scene in Isaiah 6:1-4? How would you have felt if you had been standing there? (Also, ask the same question of Revelation 1:12-18) Do you think Isaiah’s response (Is. 6:5) is understandable?

3. Reflect on (or discuss) the following quotes:

“The more we know of God, the more sinful by comparison we feel ourselves to be.” (Derek Thomas, God Delivers: Isaiah Simply Explained, p.64)

“Until our sin be bitter, Christ will never be sweet.” (Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance, p.63)