Decisions for Christmas Sermon

I opened Matthew 1:18–25 and slowed down on Joseph’s story because our young people matter to God and to me. I owned the fact that I’ve often preached past you, and I made a promise: I will feed the lambs. Joseph faced a real-life crisis—his betrothed is pregnant—and he’s weighing what seems right against what is truly right. He plans a quiet divorce, but God meets him in a dream and gives him truth he didn’t have. That’s the point: decisions aren’t magic; they’re made on data, and the best data is revelation—truth from God that corrects what we assume.

We also dealt honestly with the mystery. We’ve cleaned up this story to make it “digestible,” but it isn’t tidy. Mary wasn’t sinless; Scripture says all have sinned. The text says she was “with child,” not that the Holy Spirit fertilized her egg—because Jesus had to be utterly sinless. However you articulate the miracle, God acted in a way that preserved Christ’s holiness. Why bother with this? Because you can’t make good decisions about Jesus on bad information. If He is who He says He is, then He can carry the weight of your choices.

And I talked to the youth straight. Life be life-ing. You’re making decisions at home, at school, in friendships and relationships. Some you’ll have to make before you fully understand. Like Joseph, get yourself into a place where you can hear God. And because you’re just getting started, go to somebody who’s been there—parents, grandparents, a trusted adult, a counselor. Don’t outsource your wisdom to peers or to a boyfriend or girlfriend. If you’ve already crossed lines, go back and confess, and ask for the wisdom behind the “don’t.” Confession clears your ears; wisdom shapes your next move.

I asked every adult to be the kind of person a young soul can talk to. Live a life that matches your words. And I invited everyone to make three big decisions: receive Jesus, belong to a church and a pastor, and recommit to a faithful rhythm with God. Pray for that one person you can tell anything to. Joseph got wisdom, obeyed, and God kept His promise. That’s the kind of Christmas I’m after—a Christmas for decisions.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Decisions require truth-grounded data. Good decisions are not guesses; they’re responses to what is real, not what merely feels right. Joseph’s plan seemed noble until God gave him the information he didn’t have. You need revelation—Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel—to correct your instincts. Without truth, sincerity can still steer you wrong. [20:04]
• 2. Trust God when logic runs out. The incarnation resists tidy explanations, and that’s by design. When you hit the edge of what you can understand, your next step is obedience, not paralysis. Faith isn’t anti-intellectual; it’s a willingness to act on God’s word when your spreadsheet can’t carry the weight. Joseph walked forward on God’s promise, not his full comprehension. [11:12]
• 3. Seek seasoned counsel, not peers. At the start of life, you need voices with scars, not just opinions. Parents, grandparents, trusted adults, or a counselor can lend you borrowed wisdom so you don’t pay full price for every lesson. You won’t agree with everything, but proximity to wisdom shortens pain and lengthens peace. Choose guides who have stood where you stand. [27:44]
• 4. Confession precedes lasting course correction. When you’ve crossed a line, don’t just “do better”; go back and own it. Confession clears shame, and asking for the “why” behind the boundary gives you tools to resist next time. Most repeated mistakes live where honesty and wisdom were skipped. Humility today is freedom tomorrow. [33:50]
• 5. Love needs formation, not feelings. Teenage “I love you” often names a feeling without knowing the substance. Real love is learned in truth, accountability, and sacrifice, not pressure and secrecy. Don’t let someone define love for you while they’re still learning its alphabet. Wait for wisdom to shape your understanding. [36:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:57] - Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18–25
• [02:34] - Opening Prayer
• [05:00] - Apology and Turning to the Youth
• [07:02] - Title: A Christmas for Decisions
• [07:36] - Coming to America and Choices
• [09:35] - The Weight of Youth Decisions
• [11:12] - The Mystery of the Incarnation
• [12:52] - Why Correct Knowledge Matters
• [15:29] - Was Mary “With Child” or Conceived?
• [17:12] - Betrothal Explained: Joseph’s Context
• [18:31] - Joseph’s Dilemma and Consequences
• [20:04] - Decisions Need Data and Discernment
• [27:44] - Seek Guidance from Those Who Know
• [29:25] - Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Hear Hard Truth
• [33:50] - Confession and Wisdom for Change
• [36:57] - What Love Is (And Isn’t)
• [38:47] - Obedience and God’s Promises
• [40:06] - Pray for a Trusted Confidant
• [44:18] - Adults: Live What You Preach
• [47:21] - Three Decisions: Salvation, Belonging, Rhythm
• [50:42] - A Faithful Regimen with God
• [52:29] - Announcements and Benediction

1. In Matthew 1:19, what was Joseph’s plan before the dream, and how is his character described?
2. In verses 20–21, what new truth does the angel give Joseph, and what specific assignment is Joseph given regarding the child?
3. In verses 22–23, what promise is fulfilled and what does the name “Emmanuel” mean?
4. “You will make a decision and you’re going to need some data to make the right decision.” Name the kinds of “data” that were named (revelation from God’s word, prayer, wise counsel). [20:04]

1. Joseph’s plan to divorce quietly looked kind and reasonable. How does revelation from God (Scripture, prayerful discernment) correct well‑intended plans that “seem right” but may not be truly right? [20:04]
2. The incarnation resists tidy explanations. When understanding runs out, why is obedience the next right step instead of freezing until everything makes sense? What would that look like in real life? [11:12]
3. Joseph got himself into a place where he could hear God. What does it take, practically, to get into that kind of posture today—especially for someone young and still learning how to listen? [25:24]
4. The command to name the child “Jesus… for he will save his people from their sins” centers the decision around who Jesus really is. How does that truth shape the three big life decisions: receiving Jesus, belonging to a church and pastor, and keeping a faithful rhythm with God? [47:21]

1. Think about one decision on your plate right now (home, school, friends, dating, money). What truth‑grounded “data” do you already have (Scripture, prayer insights, wise counsel)? What data is missing, and who will you ask for it this week? Be specific about names and a time. [20:04]
2. Where has your logic hit the edge on something important? What is one concrete act of obedience you can take this week even without full clarity (a call to make, a habit to start/stop, a boundary to set)? [11:12]
3. If you’ve crossed a line recently, what would it look like to go back and confess and then ask for the “why” behind the boundary? Who do you need to talk to, and when will you do it? [33:50]
4. Who are the 1–2 seasoned people you can go to and “tell anything to”? If you don’t have that person yet, what’s your plan to pray for and seek one this week? Name one adult you will approach. [40:06]
5. For parents and adults: what would it take for a young soul to actually confide in you? Identify one mismatch between your words and your life to repent of and change this week. What’s your first step? [45:43]
6. In relationships, how will you let wisdom—not pressure, secrecy, or “I love you” feelings—define love? What boundary needs to be clarified or reset this week, and who needs to hear it from you? [36:57]
7. Where are you with the three big decisions right now: receiving Jesus, belonging to a church and pastor, and recommitting to a faithful rhythm with God? What is your next step this week (reach out, join, schedule time with God), and what day will you do it? [47:21]