COMPANION RESOURCES
Lesson for Dec. 13, 2020: Fulfilled through Love (Matthew 1:18-25; 22:34-40)
“The Second Choice” by David Faust (Lesson Application)
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Study Questions for Groups
By Michael C. Mack
1. What from this past week would you like to thank God for?
2. In what way did you bear fruit over the last week?
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 1:18-25 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions.
Ask the third person to retell the story as if telling it to a group of high school students.
Then ask two readers (the same two or two others) to read Matthew 22:34-40 one after the other.
Ask a third person to briefly retell this story.
3. What connections do you see between these two stories?
4. Let’s dig more deeply into the passages.
• What character traits do you see in Joseph?
• Put yourself in Joseph’s sandals. How would you describe his situation and the choices he needed to make?
• In what ways did Joseph help fulfill ancient prophecies?
• What role does obedience play in this story?
• What did Joseph and the experts in the law (Pharisees and Sadducees) have in common?
• How were they different?
• In what ways do all the Law and Prophets hang on the two commandments Jesus gave?
5. What do you learn about God’s sovereignty (his control over everything) from these passages?
6. What do you learn about people?
7. What do you learn from Joseph about obeying God and the results of doing so?
8. The name “Jesus” comes from the Hebrew word Yeshua (or Joshua), which means “the Lord saves.” He is also known as Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” As Christmas approaches, how will you share those messages with the people God puts around you?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
10. Since God is indeed with us, what would you like to tell him—and us—about the challenges you may face this week?
For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 2:1-15. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
Author: Michael C. Mack
Michael C. Mack is editor of Christian Standard. He has served in churches in Ohio, Indiana, Idaho, and Kentucky. He has written more than 25 books and discussion guides as well as hundreds of magazine, newspaper, and web-based articles.
