Bethlehem, though you are small out of you something big is going to come. In Matthew Chapter 1, Matthew is writing to the Jews trying to prove Jesus is the Messiah, the King. This wouldn’t be some aristocratic, untouchable, blue blood Messiah. This would be God sending a Savior who would identify with the people, the common blue collar people.
The New Testament opens up with a sketchy list of people who all come from the same family, the Jewish lineage that promised the Messiah. It begins with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It includes David who we can identify with because he messed up, royally. Oddly, it lists three women. Tamar - a battered wife who, Rahab, the harlot, prostitute, and Bathsheba - the wife of Uriah, the woman who committed adultery with King David, of whom it would be said about Jesus who is the Root of Jesse, the father of David.
Why long lists of names in the Bible? People matter to God, He makes a promise/covenant to someone, and not matter how crooked the people may be, we see that God is faithful.
Big things or good things or, better yet, great things and people come from broken families. All great things start small. You have to be filled with Holy Spirit inspiration and sight to be able to see potential in all situations. God sees differently than we do. He works in sketchy ways, more sketchy than your ways and my ways. But, He is effective in His sketchiness.
9.08.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: Trust The Science
9.02.24 Pastor Don Munn: You Are Chosen
8.25.24 Missions Sunday: Chuck Quinley
8.18.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: The Spiritual Gifts In Order In The Church
8.11.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: Being A Peculiar People
08.04.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: Fully Equipped By The Holy Spirit
07.28.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: The Weapon Of The Word
07.21.24 Seth Gruber
07.14.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: Living in an Old Testament Story With New Testament Equipment
07.07.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: The Centrality Of Jesus
06.30.24 Pastor Don Munn: Overcoming Weariness - Staying Strong
06.23.24 Restoration Youth Mission Trip To Uganda
06.16.24 Pastor Chuck Ramsey: Father's Day: The Our Father Factor
06.02.24 Pastor Arvil Ogle: When Life Doesn't Make Sense... Let's Make Sure We Do What Does
06.09.24 Brian Porzio: Burn The Wood
05.26.24 What In The World Is Happening?
05.19.24 Order Week 12: Order in the Church
05.12.24 Mother's Day: The Secret Sauce of Motherhood
05.05.24 Reaching the Nations: Vahid and Golsa Norouzi
04.21.24 Banks Ramsey: Empowered to Witness
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