Old Goshenhoppen Reformed Church - Biblical • Confessional • Historic • Reformed

A sermon which takes time to consider why Matthew at the start of his gospel (1:17) wants to remind the read of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and Judah – by using Jeremiah 32. Attached is a PDF sermon aid document.

Sermon Guide Matthew 2:13-25What did the ancient historians (the non biblical ones) call Herod in their histories?

What did the Rome empire officially title him a few years into his reign?

Only the Christian histories talk about Herod’s infant Bethlehem slaughter,but did the Jewish and Roman histories of him imply he was a peaceful king?

The first point of the sermon is that Jesus’ coming creates what? Is this idea found only in the new testament? What instrument of man does Jesus liken himself to in Matthew chapter 10 in verse 34?Outside of Jesus’ family, who likely knew the most about who Jesus was, until he began His ministry at 30?Herod had become like a new what (think the book of Exodus), in his refusal to give the Messiah glory?

When we try and compartmentalize our lives and refuse to surrender certain things to Jesus, we fail to what? What are the three postures we can have at any moment towards Jesus?What verse of scripture can we find the apostle Paul talking about the internal conflict Jesus creates in us? The painting at the front of the bulletin helps display how those faithful to Jesus will be what in this life?

How many times does an angelic messenger appear to Joseph in the first 2 chapters of his gospel?In Joseph and Mary’s being faithful to the messengers will it make life easy for them?Is it reasonable for us as Christians to try and expect to always fit in, in this world?But as illustrated by the doctor, our message must always have two ingredients within it. What are they?

After Herod who was the next person we know Roman officials called King of the Jews? And a centurion who had been apart of giving the title, later would call this man what?

If you would like to have a sermon guide, as you listen feel free to download the PDF file.

 Sermon Text: Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:22-23(pg. 1420)

 Sermon Title:   “The Gift of God for Outcasts”

First, that, Jesus, the Son of God, has most certainly come into the world.

Second, I want us to appreciate HOW he comes…

And then lastly… we need to all ask ourselves how have we actually responded to the coming of Jesus.

SERMON– “The First Seasons Greetings”

           Passage: Luke 1:39-56, Matthew 1 :18-25

Worship From Generation to Generation [Luke 1:39-45]New Songs of Praise [Luke 1:46-56]Merciful and meek [Matthew 1:18-25]

  A sermon guide is available to download

A Sermon Outline

Title:What child is this? Seeking a word fulfilled.

Passage:Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-40 

A fearful beginningA reason to hopeSeeking assurance

Sermon supplemental worksheet for Matthew 1:18 & Luke 2:28-40

What length of time does Matthew skip over in his jump from 1:18 to verse 19?

3 of the 4 gospels show evidence that the writers knew about other what, as they wrote?

What do both Matthew and Luke make clear that no one was ready for at the start of their gospels?

Pastor pointed out that this text in many ways shows a great reversal of what previous encounter with a woman and an ‘angel’?

Does Luke suggest Mary’s first emotions were courage and bravery when encountering the angel, or a degree of skeptism and fear?

Are all kinds of fear the same?

God has given not just Mary, but all of us many great ________. 

In Romans 8:19-20, why has God made the things often frustrating in this world? So we have?

If God had not created Grace immediately after Adam sinned, Adam would have what?

Being a Christian doesn’t mean we’ll avoid life’s storms, but we see what on the horizon?

Mary travels how great a distance in order to find greater assurance in what God has said?

Where can we go to find deeper assurance in the things of God?

When the song greensleeves was redeemed, instead of adultery, what did it now talk about?

A Sermon Outline

Sermon Worksheet from Matthew 1:1,6,17 & 2 Samuel 7 1-16

This period of history the passage covers is considered to be the what of Israel’s Old Testament History?

David’s plan had been inspired just after he built for himself a? & How does the prophet Nathan like the plan?

The Ark of the Covenant (the tabernacle of God’s presence) was found in what, at this time in history?

Was there anything overtly wrong or sinful about David’s plan?

God gives two reasons for why He doesn’t use David’s plan… the first was/implies what?

What is the second reason God doesn’t want to use David’s plan (so people do not get confused about what)?

When God said He would establish David’s house forever there are two ways it could be read, as a bloodline promise or as a singular son promise. How did most of Israel understand it during David and Solomon’s days?

If you didn’t understand it in the above way, Israel would often consider you a what? (example Jeremiah)

What verse in today’s passage proves, that the majority of Israel got the understanding wrong?

For a King to be flogged and to be punished by the rod of men, it would seem at first He had lost all what?

David and Abraham, along with their sons are both connected to which Mountain?

The mountain in Abraham’s day was located in Salem meaning Peace, David renames the region to what?

Jeru means what?

How is Abraham’s son Isaac tied to the Mount? & How was David’s son Solomon tied to the Mount?

Which Mount does the truest Son of Abraham and David make a satisfactory temple offering on?

A Sermon Outline And Room For Notes

1 – The setting in of darkened doubts [v1-8]

Sermon Aid – November 25th Matthew 1:1-2,17 and Genesis 15:1-18

When God changed Abram’s name (which meant high father) to Abraham, what did the new name mean?

Pastor pointed out that Genesis 14, seemed to be a high point of Abraham’s life, but what does Genesis 15 actually show us?

What’s something that Abraham did, that is fairly normal in our day, but actually came at great risk and cost in his own life?

In Genesis 15v1, does God come in a vision because He first was asked to come?

What does God have Abraham try and count in order to try and calm Abraham’s doubts?

After Abraham expresses his first doubt of having any descendants, then he has doubts about a second thing. If there would be enough ___________ for that many descendants?

What’s are the kinds of things God asks Abraham to bring Him, that seems odd to us, but would have been very normal in Abraham’s day? (So much so that Abraham already knows what to do with them without God telling him)

Who would never take the riskier end of the deal in Abraham’s day when it came to a contract?

What group of people is God being compassionate to, and patient with for a period of 400 years before Abraham’s decedents get the land they were promised, (this time before the exodus).

What’s a theophany?

What would have been a question Abraham likely asked himself after Genesis 15, that we now know how?

Pastor mentioned how other covenants in biblical history will get tied into this covenant promise of Genesis 15. He mentioned as examples the honoring of the Law, that (WHO) will eventually receive at Sinai? And the Kingly covenant promise that (WHO) receives when he rules over Israel?

A Sermon Outline And Room For Notes

Matthew 1:1-17 Sermon Worksheet [answers can be covered downstairs after worship].

When it came to what a Jew was worried about, which two people did a Messiah need to be related to?

Matthew’s job was a what? And that means he was good with (hint think about the 4th book of scripture)?

These 42 generations say what about how God works in time, and God’s answering of prayers?

All 4 of the women in the genealogy before it gets to Mary were all associated with what kind of sin?

It’s likely all four of the women who are listed, were also not what (ethnically)?

Were the men any less guilty of sin? Even the ‘best of men’ like Abraham and David?

Is everyone on the list a believer?

How about the writer of this text Matthew, is he without excuse?

Is Matthew’s genealogy one where he seems concerned with providing a full highly specific family tree?

The 3 divisions of 14 would be a helpful way to summarize the rise and fall of Jewish history but even more than that. When an ancient Jew, saw the number 14, who would they think of?

How many groups of 7, are found in this genealogy, and Jesus is the start of what group?

What two things would a Jew have linked that number to (one found in Genesis, the other in Leviticus)?

Each 7th year Jews had to forgive all what? And free all of whom?

Each 49th year (so 7 groups of 7 years), each Jew not only had to do the above, but also had to return what?

So Jesus is the fullness of what day?

In our God we have a Father who has nurtured His people [v1-4],

Secondly in knowing God’s our Father, we must look to how His children often respond to His love, and how we are often found to be children determined to leave the Father [v4-8],

and then thirdly in our foolish determination to leave God, we will see how God the Father responds, and we’ll discover is that God is a Father who draws in the scattered [v9-11].

Sermon Worksheet: Hosea 11 –

3. Besides Jesus and His disciples, what’s the earliest reference to a Jew praying to God as their Father?

4. Hosea 11:1 is a verse that will be quoted in the Gospel of ____________________?

6. What’s the dilemma God points out, He’s been dealing with in verses 2-4 in regards to His people?

7. So God is going to respond with what kind of love?

8. While the verses 1-4 of Hosea 11 make clear God has tenderly loved His people as a Father, what were His children still determined to do?

9. Instead of (the Northern Kingdom) Israel ending its cold war with Judah, and restoring the 12 tribe nation to the delight of God, what nations will the North ally with instead who will lead them to slavery yet again?

10. How can we live ‘Thy will be done’ as a foolish child? How can we live ‘Thy will be done’ as a faithful child?

11. Can God, a perfect Father, ever truly give up on His adoptive child? YES or NO

13. What was the cost of the first promised land? & What is the cost of the better and second promised land?

14. Pastor Kevin cites a common Christian memory verse, what was it? And which person of the Trinity [Father, Son, or Holy Spirit] does it actually emphasize?