The birth of Jesus shows us that God keeps His promises and nothing is impossible for Him.

1. Luke gives us the story through Mary’s eyes

2. Matthew gives us the story through Joseph’s eyes

ANGLE #1 THE PROBLEM

Matthew 1:18–19 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

“Christmas is not sentimental. It is the story of God breaking in where the world is breaking apart. -Tim Keller

ANGLE #2 THE REVELATION

Matthew 1:20 NLT

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

“Joseph, this is not your crisis — it’s My calling.”“This is not a scandal — it’s a sign.”“This is not chaos — it’s fulfillment.”

ANGLE #3 THE PROPHECY

Matthew 1:22–23 NLT

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Christmas is God proving He is faithful even when it feels like everything is falling apart.

ANGLE #4 THE SIGNIFICANCE

Matthew 1:21 NLT

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Christmas is not good advice; it is good news. It is not about what we do; it is about what God has done.

ANGLE #5 THE IMPOSSIBLE

Luke 1:37 NLT

“…For the word of God will never fail.”

Matthew 1:20–21 NLT

“…the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife…’”

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Luke 2:11 NLT

The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

“Where you see barriers, God sees beginnings.”“Where you see endings, God sees new creation.”“Where you see impossible, God sees Immanuel.”

Angle #6 JOSEPH’S RESPONSE

Matthew 1:24–25 NLT

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Angle #7 OUR LIFE APPLICATION

1. Trust God when life doesn’t make sense.

2. Believe that God’s timing is perfect.

3. Surrender to God’s call even when you don’t have all the details.

4. Remember that God is with you.

ANGLE #8 GOSPEL INVITATION

The heart of Christmas is that God didn’t wait for us to come to Him —He came to us.

Sermon Notes

A LIGHT HAS DAWNED

John 1:1–9 NLT

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

THE WORLD IS DARK

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

“The world is a dark place, and we will never find our way unless Jesus becomes our Light.”

- Tim Keller

THE LIGHT CAME TO US

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God didn’t shout His way into the world. He slipped in quietly, humbly, vulnerably.

Why?

Because God wasn’t coming to crush us — He was coming to rescue us.

CHRISTMAS DEMANDS A RESPONSE

Christmas isn’t sentimental — it’s confrontational.

And that brings us to the three invitations of the Christmas story:

1. RECEIVE THE GIFT WITH HUMILITY

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

2. WALK IN THE LIGHT WITH SURRENDER

John 1:5 NLT

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Will you surrender your darkness to His light?

3. SHARE THE LIGHT WITH GENEROSITY

Generosity is not something we do — it’s something we become.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Response:

1. For those who need light:“Jesus, be my Light. I surrender my darkness.”

2. For those giving toward Legacy:“Jesus, use my gift to shine Your Light into the world.”

3. For our church:“Jesus, help us walk in the Light as You are in the Light.”

Sermon Notes

Let gratitude reshape how we see God, how we see the world, and how we see generosity.

INTRODUCTION – The Story That Wakes Us Up

1. GRATITUDE CHANGES HOW WE SEE THE WORLD

The Battle Between Scarcity and Abundance (Matthew 6)

Matthew 6:22–23 NLT“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

Scarcity says:

• “Protect.”
• “Hold tightly.”
• “What if it runs out?”

Abundance says:

• “God owns it all.”
• “God provides.”
• “I can live openhanded.”

Gratitude shifts our vision.

It teaches us to see the world not through fear, but through faith.

2. GRATITUDE REVEALS WHO GOD REALLY IS

Generosity Begins in the Heart of God

Genesis 1:29 NLT

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.

John 3:16 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by hispoverty he could make you rich.

Generosity isn’t something God does. It is who God is. And gratitude trains us to recognize His generosity in everything.

3. GRATITUDE REMINDS US: GOD OWNS EVERYTHING, WE OWN NOTHING

The Heart of Stewardship (Luke 12)

“Everything we touch belongs to God.” — John Blanchard

Luke 12:42–44 NLT

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his otherhousehold servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

Psalm 24:1 NLT

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. God blesses me with more than I need so I can bless the world around me.

4. GRATITUDE BREAKS GREED — THE QUIET ENEMY OF THE HEART

The Rich Fool & the Danger of More (Luke 12)

Luke 12:13–21 NLT

The antidote Jesus gives…

Luke 11:41 NIV

But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Gratitude doesn’t just inspire giving— Gratitude kills greed.

5. GRATITUDE MAKES US GENEROUS TO THE POOR

The Heart of Jesus & the Witness of the Early Church

Luke 12:33 NLT

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. need.

Why did the Church do this?

• Because gratitude makes you look outward.
• Because generosity is the overflow of a heart touched by grace.

6. GRATITUDE GROWS JOY — THE SECRET OF A HAPPY LIFE

Acts 20:35 — The Happiness Paradox

Acts 20:35 NLT

“…You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Jesus wasn’t giving an obligation. He was giving the pathway to joy.

7. GRATITUDE GUIDES OUR GENEROSITY — PRACTICAL FRAMEWORK

You need to ask yourself three important questions:

A. The Relationship Question:

B. The Difference Question:

C. The God Question:

8. GRATITUDE SHAPES OUR LEGACY — WATERING WHAT WE’VE PLANTED

1 Corinthians 3:6 NLT

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

Generosity becomes a way to say: “Lord, we thank You for all You’ve done— and we trust You with what’s next.”

CONCLUSION – START WITH GRATITUDE, END WITH GENEROSITY

MORAL RELATIVISM. • Where God is no longer the moral authority • And “right” & “wrong” are whatever we want them to be.

Judges 17:6 “How Bad Can It Get?”Judges 17-21- In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. NLT

MORAL RELATIVISM.• Where God is no longer the moral authority• And “right” & “wrong” are whatever we want them to be.

Proverbs 14:12- There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

Judges 17:1-3

Judges 19:22-28

Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. NLT

Judges 20:26–28 - Then all the Israelites went up to Bethel and wept in the presence of the LORD and fasted until evening. They also brought burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. 27 The Israelites went up seeking direction from the LORD. …28 …(They) asked the LORD, “Should we fight against our relatives from Benjamin again, or should we stop?” The LORD said, “Go! Tomorrow I will hand them over to you.” NLTJudges 21:25 – In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. NLT

How Can We Fight the Influence Moral Relativism in our own lives?

1. Fill your mind with God’s Word daily.

Psalm 119:10-11 - With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ESV

2. Stay committed to Christian community.

Hebrews 10:24–25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. ESV

3. Guard against letting IDOLS into your heart or mind.

Galatians 4:8-9 - Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces] Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? NET

4. Keep your eyes on JESUS.

Hebrews12:2 - Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! MES

C.S. Lewis : “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer.”

Big Idea: We must put our trust in God alone.

Introduction: that God alone is worthy of our ultimate trust.

1. The Cycle of Sin and God’s Faithfulness

Judges 6:1-10

2 Timothy 2:13 NIV - “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Trust in the Lord’s faithfulness

2. Gideon’s Fear and God’s Call

Judges 6:11-24

Trust His presence more than your perception of your weakness.

3. Tearing Down Idols

You can’t trust God fully while clinging to idols.

So, ask yourself: what altars need to be torn down in my life for you to trust God completely?

4. Victory Through God’s Power

Trust that God’s power is greater than your weakness. He can do more with your “300” than you could with 32,000.

5. Gideon’s Failure and Israel’s Fall

Judges 8:22-35

Conclusion: Trust in the Unfailing God

Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 37:4-6 - Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

God is always at work, even in the darkest stories

Judges- The God Who Acts

Judges- one of the R-rated books of the BibleAccounts a long, dark history Israel participated in. Because of compromise and habitual rejection of God. Don’t look away, church, because ancient Israel is a blessing to us.

1 Corinthians 10:1-6

Judges 3- What is expected

• Othniel, Judges and God delivers the King of Mesopotamia to him
• Israel turns away again, so God raises Eglon the King of Moab
• God raises Ehud up, who happens to be left handed. This small detail is what catches the King of Moab off guard, allowing Ehud to seize the opportunity and kill him and deliver Israel
• The Shamgar gets the smallest of mentions

• Othniel, Judges and God delivers the King of Mesopotamia to him
• Israel turns away again, so God raises Eglon the King of Moab
• God raises Ehud up, who happens to be left handed. This small detail is what catches the King of Moab off guard, allowing Ehud to seize the opportunity and kill him and deliver Israel
• The Shamgar gets the smallest of mentions

Job 40:6-14

Being the same yesterday, today, and forever, God breaks any misconception of formulaic pursuit of Him

Judges 4:1-5

• Deborah- the unexpected agent

• Miriam is the last prophetess we know of, but even she served under Moses as a judge
• Deborah is recognized by all of Israel, as she is judging over Israel as Moses did
• In the ancient middle east, this was close to unheard of, certainly not amongst pagan nations
• She isn’t waging war against her oppressor
• She is leading Israel through wisdom

Judges 4:6-8

Judges:9-16

• Now there’s the Judges we know! At least, if the account ended here, but we have more to read

Judges 4:17-24

• Jael- the agent of provision
• Jael and her husband had moved away from their people
• It was a death sentence, yet here they are
• They were considered allies to the Canaanites
• But for reasons unknown, Jael and her husband were not friendly to them

“God subdued on that day Jabin the King of Canaan before the sons of Israel”

In the accounting of the events, the writer of Judges had no question in their mind God did it, because God Acts. This is the main point I believe God is speaking to us through Judges 4: God is always working, in every and any circumstance.

Consider the reading today!

• “the LORD raised up a deliverer”
• “the LORD gave... [the] King of Mesopotamia into his hand.”
• “the LORD strengthened Eglon... against Israel.”
• “the LORD sold them into the hand...”
• “the God of Israel has commanded...”
• “I will give him into your hand”
• “the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.”
• “the LORD routed Sisera...”
• “God subdued...”

Difficulty in this truth, I know, but let's let the Spirit speak to us

God is for you! Not against you! He is not eliminating us, but perfecting us! Through things you wouldn’t expect . Tragedy, pain, suffering. Through things that “resist” God. Through things that seem circumstantialDaily life, encounters, and “chance”. We serve an amazing and loving God who is constantly pursuing His people. Can we recognize it? Can we worship Him for it?

Examen: Practice reflection & listening

Surrender: Practice Humility & PeacePraise: Practice Joy & Testimony

Key Takeaway

To avoid getting stuck in a cycle of sin, keep your eyes fixed on the cross.

Judges 2:10-19 - Today's Big Idea - Israel's cycle of sin is a bad habit that Jesus died to end.Key Takeaway - To avoid getting stuck in a cycle of sin, keep your eyes fixed on the cross.

1. The Shape of the Cycle

Picture Israel's pattern like this:

• Israel starts by serving God faithfully
• Like a slow leak in a tire, they begin to drift into sin and idolatry
• They become enslaved to the very people they were supposed to drive out
• After suffering under oppression, they finally cry out to God for help
• God responds with mercy and raises up a judge to deliver them
• The judge leads them to freedom and spiritual renewal... until they don't

2. When Compromise Creates a Crisis

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel."

(Judges 2:10 NIV)

Key Truth: Half-hearted devotion produces children who don't know God.

3. Sin Is Never Private

"Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors..." (Judges 2:11-13 NIV)

4. The Anger of Love

"In his anger against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them..." (Judges 2:14-15 NIV)

5. The Mystery of the Judge

"Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders."

(Judges 2:16 NIV)

Quote from Dale Ralph Davis: "The One who 'gave them into the hand of the

plunderers' also 'saved them from the hand of the plunderers'; the hand that is against them is nevertheless mysteriously for them. Here is the fundamental miracle of the Bible: that the God who rightly casts us down should—without reason—stoop to lift us up."

6. Breaking Free from Our Cycles

Jesus Christ is the Judge who never dies. He's the Deliverer who doesn't just rescue us from the consequences of our sin—He destroys the power of sin itself.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV)

7. Fixing Our Eyes on the Cross

Will we keep running in circles, or will we fix our eyes on the One who broke thecycle forever?

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. What does the cycle of sin in Judges teach us about human nature and our tendency to forget God's faithfulness?

2. The text says "another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor

what he had done for Israel." How can we ensure that the next generation knows God? What practical steps can we take?

3. How does compromise in our spiritual lives lead to crisis? Can you share an example from your own life or observation?

4. The sermon mentions that "sin is never private." How do our personal choices affect those around us, especially our families?

5. How do we reconcile God's anger with His love? What does this passage teach us about God's character?

6. Dale Ralph Davis describes God as the One who "rightly casts us down" yet "stoops to lift us up." How have you experienced this paradox in your own faith journey?

7. How is Jesus different from the judges in the Old Testament? Why is it significant that He is "the Judge who never dies"?

Sermon Notes

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

This morning we begin our journey through the book of Judges—a mirror held up to both ancient Israel and our modern world. Judges describes a time of chaos, violence, political disorder, and moral confusion. It was a time when, as the final verse says, “There was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Sound familiar?

The book exposes what happens when people abandon truth and live by personal preference instead of God’s direction.

As we study Judges, we’ll see a repeating pattern of compromise—how God’s people drifted from obedience to rebellion, from blessing to bondage, from repentance to renewal. And in seeing their pattern, we’ll be challenged to recognize our own tendencies and to rediscover what it means to live under God’s rule, not our own.

Backdrop:

Israel has just lost Joshua. They’re leaderless, standing at the edge of the Promised Land, with the opportunity to live out God’s promises. But without strong leadership and faithful obedience, they begin to compromise—and that’s where the story begins. Israel shows us a pattern of life that leads to compromise with the world. And if we can recognize that pattern, we can avoid repeating their mistakes.

Look at their response in…

Judges 1:3–4 NIV

The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them. When Judah attacked, the Lord gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.

THE TURNING POINT: ENCOUNTERING RESISTANCE

This is exactly what happens to Israel in…

Judges 1:19–20 NIV

The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron. As Moses had promised, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.

Judges 1:21 NIV

The Benjamites, however, did not drive out the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

Judges 1:27 NIV

But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land.

Judges 1:29 NIV

Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them.

THE CONFRONTATION: GOD'S QUESTION

In chapter 2, God sends an angel to confront them. And the angel asks a devastating question…

Judges 2:1–2 NIV

The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this?

“I can't do it.”

“You won't do it.”

THE PATTERN: TWO BIG LOSSES

First, we lose sight of what matters most.

Second, we lose our distinction.

"God wanted Israel to take the entire land of Canaan, but instead they only cleared out some areas and they learned to live with idols in their midst. In other words, they neither wholly rejected God nor wholly accepted him. This halfway discipleship and compromise is depicted by the book of Judges as an impossible, unstable compound. God wants all of our lives, not

just part." Timothy Keller

THE HOPE: GOD'S UNCHANGING COVENANT

God is a God of grace.

Look at what the angel declares about the character of God in verse 1:

Judges 2:1 NIV

Are you in the enthusiasm phase?

Are you in the resistance phase?

Are you in the compromise phase?

God wants all of your life, not just part.