What Do You Know, Joe? Lessons From An Earthly Father

What Do You Know Joe? Lessons From an Earthly Father

Matt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15; 2:19-23

June 18, 2006 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction:

A Video from SermonSpice.com

B Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. Matt 1:18-25 (NASB)

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared* to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." Matt 2:13-15 (NASB)

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared* in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." Matt 2:19-23 (NASB)

1 God chose Joseph for Jesus’ father just as carefully as He did for Jesus’ mother (essence of the text in a sentence)

a Great fathers are not born, they’re made (essence of the sermon in a sentence)

b I hope you’ll rededicate your efforts of being a great father to your family (objective)

2 What do you need to become a better father? (Probing question)

C Single parents, don’t despair! Your kids are not beyond hope because Mom/Dad is gone.

1 "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up."

2 The normal pattern is for kids to be raised by a mom & dad.

a Single parents have their responsibilities multiplied. (IL) Pam gone

b Single parents, we salute you, we honor you, & God bless you for your diligence with those kids!

3 Let’s look at three things that Joe knows about being a father (transitional sentence)

4 Pray

I Love your family.

A Start with your wife. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.

1 The Hebrew marriage had two phases: 1) engagement (12 mos.) & 2) ceremony.

a Joseph & Mary were engaged (legal)

aa Walk in the hills, talk, dream, planned wedding.

bb "I’m pregnant" (Joseph doesn’t know who the dad is, but he knows whose it isn’t).

cc By law, ("If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, 24 then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl, because she did not cry out in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. Deut 22:23-24 (NASB)) he could have had her stoned, embarrass her publicly.

b Joseph chose to divorce her quietly (out of town, under the radar of public knowledge).