Joseph: A Model of Righteousness and Faithful Obedience
Summary
The sermon explores the life and character of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, emphasizing his righteousness and obedience to God's will. The speaker contrasts the unbiased nature of scripture with biased news sources, pointing out that biblical figures are shown with their flaws, which adds to the authenticity of the Bible. Joseph's righteousness is highlighted as a combination of character, attitude, conduct, and word, and his immediate obedience to God's instructions is used as a prime example of faith in action.
The speaker also discusses the importance of investing in faith and taking responsibility for one's actions. They commend adoptive parents for providing loving homes to orphans and encourage the congregation to identify and address any "leaks" in their lives, such as character flaws or relationship issues. The concept of the "marriage Gap" is introduced, referring to unaddressed issues in marriage, and Joseph's response to Mary's pregnancy is presented as a model for addressing such gaps.
Joseph's qualifications to be part of God's redemption story are also examined. Despite having no recorded words, his life and values were highly regarded by God. The speaker warns against the division within the Christian community and urges believers to close the "character Gap" between words and actions.
The sermon includes a call to honor God during Christmas and to surrender to Him, trusting in His righteousness and forgiveness. The speaker prays for guidance in loving one's spouse, parenting children, and walking with God personally.
Joseph's role as a parent is also discussed, with the speaker emphasizing the importance of setting priorities that honor God and raising children to do the same. The challenges Joseph faced in raising Jesus, who was both a child and God, are acknowledged, and Joseph's strong presence in Jesus' life is noted as influential in Jesus' ministry.
The speaker addresses husbands, urging them to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and to make firm commitments in marriage. The importance of acknowledging and repenting for past sins to have spiritual authority in marriage is also emphasized, as is the need to address unaddressed issues and take ownership of one's weaknesses as parents.
The sermon concludes with a reflection on the engagement process of Joseph and Mary, the legal and traditional aspects of marriage at the time, and the dilemma Joseph faced upon learning of Mary's pregnancy. Joseph's decision to quietly release Mary from their engagement, and his subsequent obedience to the angel's command to take Mary as his wife, are highlighted as acts of faith and righteousness.
Key Takeaways:
- The Bible's portrayal of its characters, including their flaws, demonstrates the scripture's authenticity and contrasts with the biased nature of modern news sources. Joseph's life exemplifies righteousness through his actions and immediate obedience to God's will, serving as a model for believers to follow.
- Faith requires active investment and responsibility. Adopting children, addressing personal flaws, and healing relationships are ways to demonstrate faith in action. Believers are encouraged to seek God's guidance and represent Him well in their families and communities.
- The "marriage Gap" and the "character Gap" are challenges that believers must confront. Joseph's handling of Mary's pregnancy provides a blueprint for addressing marital issues, while his silent yet impactful life urges Christians to align their actions with their words to be effective in God's kingdom.
- The role of parents in setting godly priorities and raising children to honor God is crucial. Joseph's dedication to teaching Jesus and his influence on Jesus' ministry underscore the lasting impact of parental guidance and the importance of being a godly example, even in difficult circumstances.
- Spiritual authority in marriage is tied to acknowledging past sins and repenting. Husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loved the church, and to humbly accept the responsibility of leading their homes spiritually, addressing issues, and seeking support when needed.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)
> This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the two legal options Joseph had when he found out Mary was pregnant? ([06:23])
2. How did Joseph respond after the angel appeared to him in a dream? ([07:37])
3. What role did Joseph play in Jesus' early life according to the sermon? ([11:35])
4. How does the sermon describe the "character Gap" and its significance? ([17:02])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Joseph chose to quietly release Mary instead of publicly accusing her? What does this reveal about his character? ([06:23])
2. How does Joseph's immediate obedience to the angel's command serve as an example of faith in action? ([07:37])
3. In what ways did Joseph's actions and character qualify him to be part of God's redemption story, despite having no recorded words in the Bible? ([15:43])
4. How does the concept of the "character Gap" challenge believers to align their actions with their words? ([17:02])
#### Application Questions
1. Joseph's righteousness was shown through his actions and immediate obedience to God's will. Reflect on a time when you felt called to act immediately on God's instructions. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([07:37])
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of addressing personal flaws and healing relationships. Identify a "leak" in your life, such as a character flaw or relationship issue. What steps can you take this week to address it? ([37:01])
3. The "marriage Gap" refers to unaddressed issues in marriage. If you are married, what is one unaddressed issue you can work on with your spouse this week? If you are not married, how can you prepare yourself to address such gaps in future relationships? ([22:13])
4. Joseph's role as a parent was crucial in setting godly priorities and raising Jesus. As a parent or future parent, what specific actions can you take to ensure you are setting a godly example for your children? ([34:00])
5. The sermon calls husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. How can you demonstrate sacrificial love to your spouse or loved ones this week? ([24:16])
6. Reflect on the importance of acknowledging and repenting for past sins to have spiritual authority in marriage. Is there a past sin you need to acknowledge and repent for to move forward in your spiritual journey? ([27:36])
7. Joseph's life exemplified faith through action. What is one area in your life where you can take a step of faith this week, trusting in God's guidance and provision? ([13:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Righteousness Through Obedience
Joseph's example teaches that righteousness is not just about beliefs but is demonstrated through prompt and faithful obedience to God's will. His life challenges believers to align their actions with their faith, showing that true righteousness encompasses character, attitude, conduct, and word. [07:40]
James 2:22 - "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."
Reflection: How can you practice immediate obedience to God in your daily life, and what might be preventing you from doing so?
Day 2: Faith as Active Investment
Faith is not passive; it requires active engagement and responsibility. Addressing personal flaws, healing relationships, and providing for those in need, such as through adoption, are tangible expressions of living out one's faith. This active investment is a testament to a believer's commitment to God's calling. [07:40]
James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can actively invest in your faith this week, and how can you take responsibility for your actions in these areas?
Day 3: Bridging the Character Gap
The life of Joseph exemplifies the importance of integrity, where one's actions and words are in harmony. The "character Gap" is a challenge for many, but by following Joseph's silent yet impactful example, believers can strive to close this gap and live authentically in God's kingdom. [07:40]
1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: Identify one area where your actions may not align with your words. What steps can you take to bridge this "character Gap"?
Day 4: Parental Influence and Godly Priorities
Joseph's role as a parent to Jesus highlights the significance of setting godly priorities and teaching children to honor God. His influence on Jesus' ministry demonstrates the lasting impact of parental guidance and the importance of being a godly example, even in challenging circumstances. [07:40]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Reflection: As a parent or mentor, how can you more intentionally set priorities that honor God and influence the younger generation?
Day 5: Spiritual Authority Through Repentance
Acknowledging and repenting for past sins is essential for spiritual authority in marriage and family. Joseph's sacrificial love for Mary and his willingness to lead his family despite challenges sets a standard for husbands to love their wives and take ownership of their spiritual roles. [07:40]
Ephesians 5:25-26 - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word."
Reflection: What are some unaddressed issues in your marriage or family that you need to take ownership of, and how can you seek God's guidance in these areas?
Quotes
"Investing today in faith, we're saying I'm going to pray for you, I'm going to provide for you, I'm going to set a great example for you because I believe God has given me you to raise for Him. You're not my child only; you're God's child first." [37:01] (Download)
"Identify a leak in your life. If your character is suffering, if your marriage is suffering, if your parenting is suffering, you need to identify where it is leaking, where you are running on low, and ask God to heal that." [37:40] (Download)
"The Bible is not biased because even good personalities in the Bibles, if they had flaws, they would be exposed. Think about starting from Adam, Moses, Abraham, Samson, David, every one of them had weaknesses and the Bible talks about those weaknesses, not just covering them up." [18:56] (Download)
"Faith does, faith speaks, faith moves, and when the Lord calls you on something, you would say, of course, if I heard, if I saw a vision, a dream. Joseph just saw a dream; we have written word of God. It's not just a dream that you woke up and you think what was it, no, it's written down, the word came in flesh and spoke to us and it's written to us." [20:55] (Download)
"How did Jesus love us? Completely, fully, overlooking our mistakes, our past, our shortcomings. He says, 'I love you,' and 'I'm going to give my life for you.' And scripture says, husband, when you get married, that's how you need to love your wife." [25:00] (Download)
"In marriage, you don't say, 'Hey, let's give this a try,' meaning what? No, you say, 'You can count on me.' The words you say are literal - in weakness, in strength, money, no money, bad times, good times, you can count on me." [25:40] (Download)
"Let's close the parenting gap; let's deal with our own problems. If you were abused or neglected during your own childhood, your kids are not at fault. Seek healing... be the one who says it stops with me." [32:11] (Download)
"The character Gap is caused by the difference between what we say and what we do. Joseph closed that Gap. Tell your neighbor close the gap and now tell your other neighbor close the gap so you can hear it too." [17:41] (Download)
"Joseph said, 'I don't know the outcome, but in faith, I will work out God's plan.' Do you realize that Joseph never lived to see Jesus start his ministry... but he invested in Jesus everything he could to prepare him for life and Ministry." [36:28] (Download)
"Joseph was quick to listen when he heard from the Lord and he was obedient; he followed through. We don't see the Lord telling him again, reminding him, asking him again, but he was quick to listen." [21:37] (Download)
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