Beyond the Weekend

December 22 | Matthew

December 22, 2021

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Read: Matthew 1:18-25
Listen: 
Matthew 1

TODAY’S MESSAGE

The gospel of Matthew is attributed to Matthew, a tax collector called by Jesus to be one of his twelve disciples. Think of what that encounter would’ve been like. A Jewish rabbi would not even talk to a Jew working for the Roman government as a tax collector. Yet Jesus not only starts a conversation with him but invites him into his circle of disciples. Talk about a life-altering interaction.

Matthew wants his readers to see that Jesus is the promised Messiah. He’s the one the Old Testament points toward. He’s God with us (Matthew 1:23). It’s something the religious elite failed to recognize. But it’s not just that Jesus is the Messiah. He’s the Messiah who has brought a new kingdom with him—and it has already started. Jesus’s life, death and resurrection started this kingdom. Matthew helps his readers see that Jesus’s followers bring the reign of God’s kingdom with them as they follow Jesus, obey his teaching and spread his message.

Let’s remember the picture of Jesus in Matthew this Christmas season. Jesus is the Messiah who started a new kingdom. We celebrate that at Christmas. We also have the opportunity to extend the reign of Jesus in the world each day as we follow the way of Jesus and share the good news of his life.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Join Ada Bible Worship as they sing, “Joy to the World.” Let the lyrics soak into you that the King has come. Our job is to prepare room for him in our hearts. May we find joy in the celebration of the arrival of the Messiah.


NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN

Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.

Today’s reading is Revelation 15.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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