This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin[g] and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah. MATTHEW 1:1-17 NLT
Becoming the disciple Jesus has called me to be…
Starts with a choice to follow God
This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: MATTHEW 1:1 NLT
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him. GENESIS 12:1-4 ESV
Truly choosing to follow Jesus will change who I am
Choose this day whom you will serve. JOSHUA 24:15 NLT
Is supported by spiritual partnerships
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. … And Abram took Sarai his wife, GENESIS 12:4-5 NLT
God will never call you to compromise on your most intimate community
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 CORINTHIANS 15:33 ESV
Jesus does not just call us to become a disciple but has called us to his disciples
Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. MATTHEW 10:1 NLT
Jesus calls us together on purpose, for a purpose
Is secured by the sacrifice of Jesus
Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). MATTHEW 1:6 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 NLT
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 ESV
Is sustained by a belief that God has a plan
Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). MATTHEW 1:11 NLT
All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah. MATTHEW 1:17 NLT
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. JEREMIAH 29:11 ESV
Is focused on building God’s kingdom and not my own
Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. MATTHEW 1:12 NLT
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Find a quiet place that will help you to focus on whatever God may want to say to you. Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, and ask God to calm them. Take some deep breaths, or go for a walk if you think this will help. When you are ready, commit the time to God for His purposes.
What are your thoughts and feelings about being a disciple of Jesus? Have you chosen to follow Him fully, or is something holding you back? If you’ve made this choice, how is your journey going, and who supports your spiritual growth? Reflect on your readiness to follow, learn, and be transformed by Jesus. Imagine how your life could change for the better through faithful commitment, and consider making or renewing these commitments to Him now.
Consider how God will use scripture to guide and shape you along the way. What does your practice of spending time with God in reading the bible look like? What is something you could change to make this practice more of a priority and more meaningful?
As you look at the very first verses in Matthew 1:1-17, what do you find significant in the genealogy of Jesus? As you read through the list of names God used to bring us Jesus, how might he use your name and your story to help bring people to Jesus? How does it encourage you to realize that even Jesus’ genealogy was full of imperfect people? Close your time by asking God to use you, Sandals Church, and His disciples throughout the world to change the lives of people and families according to His good, pleasing, and perfect plan (Romans 12:2).
Discussion Questions
For our Matthew series, we’re offering a couple options for how to discuss the sermon and scripture. Choose option A or B to guide your group’s discussion time.
(A) The R.E.A.L. Bible Study Method:
Read the Passage. Start by reading Matthew 1:1-17 (NLT) out loud.
Explore the Theme. What is the main point or theme of the passage? What does this passage reveal about God and/or humanity?
Ask God. How does this passage apply to our lives today? How might God be encouraging or challenging you?
Live It Out. What prayerful and specific action will you take based on this passage?
(B) Choose a couple of questions from each section below to discuss as a group:
- START HERE: Who is someone in your genealogy that you admire?
- START HERE: What does your habit of reading the bible look like?
- START HERE: If you own a printed bible, what’s the story behind how you got it?
- KEEP GOING: Abram made a choice to follow God, that not only changed his name, but changed his life and blessed generations to come. Have you made the choice to follow God fully? If not, what is holding you back?
- KEEP GOING: How has learning scripture changed your life?
- KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 1:1-17 (NLT). How does it encourage you to realize that even Jesus’ genealogy was full of imperfect people?
- KEEP GOING: The genealogy of Jesus shows us that God had a plan in every generation. What have you seen or believe God is up to in our generation?
- LIVE IT OUT: What is one thing that could help you to follow, learn from, and be changed by Jesus this year?
- LIVE IT OUT: As you read through the list of names God used to bring us Jesus, how might he use your name and your story to help bring people to Jesus?
