Sermon Audio & Review

God longs to do supernatural things through simple people serving their Savior together.

What kind of man would God the Father choose to be the earthly father of His Kingly Son? Simple descriptions from Matthew 1 reveal the noble character of Joseph, who would otherwise be an obscure character in history. From his example, we can learn the nobility of simple service in our local church. Our chief end is not self-promotion but to give glory to God. The best thing we could ever hear is for our Savior to say that we glorified Him and allowed Him to work through us for eternal purposes. Anything else is only a temporary achievement and ultimately failure.

Joseph was Sincere and Devout

Many things can be safely assumed from what little Matthew tells us of Joseph. First, he was deeply familiar with Old Testament Scriptures. This can be seen in how he accepted the angel’s message without question. He understood, accepted, and obeyed. Because Joseph knew the Scripture, he knew His Savior well. He knew the prophecies about His coming, that He would come in David’s lineage, and was familiar with the meaning of His names. Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.” Christ is the title of “the Anointed One” or the Messiah. Immanuel means “God with us.”

Joseph was Reasonable and Resolute

Accepting and obeying the angel’s message did not make Joseph’s life easy. He had to take a back seat to the coming Savior. Multiple hardships entered his life from social, religious, and political realms. His life was thrown into disarray as he was shunned by friends and leaders and became a refugee in Egypt. We understand from his absence at Jesus’ death that Joseph had already entered eternity by that time. Not much is known about him, but Joseph is remembered simply for serving His Savior.

Application Points

• What are you known for? Are you a self-promoter, or a God-glorifier? Think about your behavior with others, over social media, at work and home and church. How can you imitate Joseph’s simple humility?
• Are you devoted to God? Do you know His Word and your Savior well? How can you know Jesus better this week?
• As we enter Christmas week, don’t get caught up in the busyness, stress, or commercial selfishness. Our aim is to glorify our Savior. Follow Joseph’s example in simply serving Christ and those around you.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:18, Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8 – Prophecies of the Messiah that Joseph would be familiar with.

A Quote to Ponder

Jesus Christ is the only Jew who lived that can actually trace his lineage back to David, because all Jewish birth records were destroyed by the Romans in the siege of AD 70.

A Hymn to Encourage: “May the Lord Find Us Faithful”

God has not given us the spirit of fear,
But has given us the strength to obey.
With power and sound mind, with love, the unfailing kind,
O be not ashamed of His way.

May the Lord find us faithful,
May His Word be our banner held high.
May the Lord find us faithful
Every day, thought we live, though we die.

No man that seeketh after things of this life,
Is a soldier who passes the test.
Be faithful, be working, be running, be serving,
Be searching His Word for His best.

May the Lord find us faithful,
May His Word be our banner held high.
May the Lord find us faithful
Every day, thought we live, though we die.

Living or dying, may honor be Thine,
From this wretched life, You loved and forgave.
A life that is on fire, be only our heart’s desire.
Be faithful from now till the grave.

May the Lord find us faithful,
May His Word be our banner held high.
May the Lord find us faithful
Every day, thought we live, though we die.