Joseph
Group Icebreaker
What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?
Message Questions
Read Matthew 1:18-25
When God gives us directions that don’t make sense, it can be tempting to walk the other way. But it’s in these moments that we are challenged to take the first step of faith, trusting that God knows what He is doing. In Matthew chapter 1 we see Joseph go against the cultural norm of staying with Mary based on the word he receives from the angel God sends. He responds with a ‘yes’ to what God is asking of him…
Put yourself in the shoes of Joseph….what do you think his first thoughts were when the angel appeared to him telling him this news?
Do you think Joseph struggled to trust what the angel was saying to him?
How do you think people perceived Joseph for staying with Mary? Do you think they believed that an angel of the Lord spoke to him?
In his message, Matt said that ‘“faith is trusting God with our words and our actions.” Joseph stepped up and did just this! He had the faith to believe what God was saying to him but he also followed through with his actions. Just like how God was guiding Joseph, He is also guiding you through steps of trusting that God knows the way. That He see’s the plans and purposes through circumstances in your story!
Why do you think it can be hard to believe that God is greater than what we are facing?
How do you respond when it feels like God “doesn’t know the way”?
What are some ways you have had to practice actions of faith and how did it grow your trust in God?
Scripture is filled with reminders that God is always present in our troubles or time of need. Take time reading the scriptures below as encouragement of how God works through our mess.
Nahum 1:7
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 43:2
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:6-7
Proverbs 3:5-6
weekly Challenge
Be honest with yourself and God this week on areas in your life where you need to trust God more. Trusting that He will guide you and already knows the best possible path ahead for you. Even if He asks something of you that doesn’t really make sense. Consider sharing the ways you are struggling to trust God with a trusted friend so you can be held accountable or encouraged.
Prayer
Take time to share prayer requests & close out your time in prayer asking for God to help us in our time of doubts and the unknowns.