Heaven on Earth: Because

Sunday, December 01, 2024
Heaven on Earth
Sunday Morning

Heaven on Earth: Because

How is God going to make it all right? How is he going to redeem all the suffering and loss of this world . . . and in your own life? We need more than a silver-lining outlook on life. Much, much more. We need an unbreakable, unquenchable hope. Jesus is the only hope strong enough to overcome the heartache of this world. The birth of Jesus is when heaven kisses earth. Christmas changes everything!

Locations & Times

First Baptist Church Seminole Tx

202 SW Ave B, Seminole, TX 79360, USA

Sunday 5:00 AM

Advent Devotional

Advent Devotional

Read Plan

Welcome to First Baptist. This page is where you will find the sermon notes and more information about what is happening at FBC.

Stay connected:
www.fbcseminole.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FirstSeminole
Twitter: @Seminolefbc
Instagram: @fbcseminolekids
@fbcseminole_youth

We meet Sundays:
9:00 am Worship
10:30 am Worship
Connect Groups throughout the week.

Generosity Through Giving

We want to thank those of you who give faithfully and systematically to our church. We hope you know how important your giving is to what God is doing at FBC Seminole, in our community, and across the planet through the different ministries we are able to partner with through your financial generosity. We've fixed plumbing, remodeled kitchens, replaced shingles, celebrated our teachers, and made  a difference in a host of other opportunities. Your generosity matters. We offer Financial Peace University on a consistent basis for those who need financial help.  It's a financial management system that allows multitudes to eliminate debt and live in freedom. Text the amount you want to give to 84321.

https://fbcseminole.org/give

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Matthew 1:1-25 NIV

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of AbrahamAbraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothersJudah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of RamRam the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of SalmonSalmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesseand Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wifeSolomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of AsaAsa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of UzziahUzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of HezekiahHezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiahand Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of ZerubbabelZerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of AzorAzor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of ElihudElihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacoband Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Christmas surprises us as the God we didn't expect shows up in relentless ways we were unable to anticipate:

(1) God surprises in the How

(2) God surprises in the Where

(3) God surprises in the Who

Christianity's most important feature is not a set of principles that Jesus taught to us, but something Jesus is about to do for us.

The gospel isn’t primarily good advice to emulate, but a person to
follow.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
“We never have followed the advice of the great teachers. Why are we likely to begin now? Why are we more likely to follow Christ than any of the others? Because He is the best moral teacher? But that makes it even less likely that we shall follow Him. If we cannot take the elementary lessons, is it likely we are going to take the most advanced ones? If Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance. There has been no lack of good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more will make no difference." (156)
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God surprises in the Where
God taxes the entire world to move two people 90 miles. He's the unseen story behind every story.

The surprises of your life aren't absent from His presence.

God surprises in the Who
These names are included in the lines of a genealogy that leads to Jesus so you can know your name can be included in the line that leads from Jesus Christ.

In between the Great Commission and the Great Multitude is the Great Pursuit.
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Discussion Questions

1. How does a genealogy demonstrate insights that are essential to Christianity?

2. Do you think there's any significance in 3 sets of 14 names?

3. What does the historical nature of Christianity tell you about the mission of Jesus? How does this make the gospel good news instead of good advice?

4. React to this statement: God taxes the whole world to move two people 90 miles. How should this encourage you?

5. Can you look back and see where God was the unseen author writing your story? How did Jesus demonstrate that in the surprises of your life you weren't absent from His presence?

6. Read Deuteronomy 7:6-7. Why did God choose Israel? You?

7. How do the names included in the lines of a genealogy that leads to Jesus mean you can be included in the line that leads from Jesus?

8. Explain how that in between the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and the Great Multitude (Revelation 7:9) is the Great Pursuit (Acts 1:8).

What claim from the sermon most challenged you?

What claim most comforted you?

Scripture: Matthew 1: 1-25