Not-So-Quiet-Time: Matthew 1-2 (Christmas)
At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 11/30
Day 1: Matthew 1:1-16
This list paints a picture of how God worked out his loving plan over the course of history. Though some of these families were more faithful than others, God never stopped working in the lives of his people. The shape of history is determined by the perfect faithfulness of God, not people. We are called to trust Him and live for Him, following examples like Abraham rather than Rehoboam. But thank God that our hope is in his goodness, not our own.
Day 2: Matthew 1:17
Matthew’s genealogy covers about 2000 years. That is a long time. And his story travels from Ur to Canaan and then to Egypt, back to Canaan, then to Babylon and back again. That is a lot of kingdoms. And the list includes celebrities like Solomon and those who we haven’t heard about like Matthan. God orchestrates all times, places, and people to save. How does it encourage you to know that God is still perfectly working out his plans today?
Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25
Our God never fails. He “will save his people from their sins” (1:21). He never fails. This gives us confidence to follow Him through hard times, just like Joseph. Obeying God in marrying Mary and taking Jesus as his own son would cost Joseph. But after God spoke to him, “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (1:24). Those who trust in the goodness and power of God are free to follow wherever he leads. Ask God to help you to follow him with every part of your life even when it’s hard.
Day 4: Matthew 2:1-6
The wise men were wise because they were ready and willing to honor the true King. Herod wanted to honor himself. He did not follow the Lord, but he was willing to use Scripture to get what he wanted. Like Herod, we miss out if we know the Bible without the desire to worship the Lord. How can you tell if you are seeking to really honor Christ with your life?
Day 5: Matthew 2:7-12
The star led the wise men like a shepherd leading sheep. But God led the star. In Matthew 1, we saw that God works through families, nations, kings, and time. Here we see that He controls the stars and nature. When things seem out of control in our lives, we can remember that nothing is out of control for Him. Ask Him to help you remember that He is in control.
Catechism Connection: WSC 20-21
Our God has a plan to “save his people from their sins” through Jesus Christ: “The only redeemer of God’s chosen ones is the Lord Jesus Christ” (WSC 21). This has been his plan from the beginning: “Out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, God chose some for everlasting life, and he entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of their state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvation by a redeemer” (WSC 20).
Day 1: Matthew 1:1-16
This list paints a picture of how God worked out his loving plan over the course of history. Though some of these families were more faithful than others, God never stopped working in the lives of his people. The shape of history is determined by the perfect faithfulness of God, not people. We are called to trust Him and live for Him, following examples like Abraham rather than Rehoboam. But thank God that our hope is in his goodness, not our own.
Day 2: Matthew 1:17
Matthew’s genealogy covers about 2000 years. That is a long time. And his story travels from Ur to Canaan and then to Egypt, back to Canaan, then to Babylon and back again. That is a lot of kingdoms. And the list includes celebrities like Solomon and those who we haven’t heard about like Matthan. God orchestrates all times, places, and people to save. How does it encourage you to know that God is still perfectly working out his plans today?
Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25
Our God never fails. He “will save his people from their sins” (1:21). He never fails. This gives us confidence to follow Him through hard times, just like Joseph. Obeying God in marrying Mary and taking Jesus as his own son would cost Joseph. But after God spoke to him, “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (1:24). Those who trust in the goodness and power of God are free to follow wherever he leads. Ask God to help you to follow him with every part of your life even when it’s hard.
Day 4: Matthew 2:1-6
The wise men were wise because they were ready and willing to honor the true King. Herod wanted to honor himself. He did not follow the Lord, but he was willing to use Scripture to get what he wanted. Like Herod, we miss out if we know the Bible without the desire to worship the Lord. How can you tell if you are seeking to really honor Christ with your life?
Day 5: Matthew 2:7-12
The star led the wise men like a shepherd leading sheep. But God led the star. In Matthew 1, we saw that God works through families, nations, kings, and time. Here we see that He controls the stars and nature. When things seem out of control in our lives, we can remember that nothing is out of control for Him. Ask Him to help you remember that He is in control.
Catechism Connection: WSC 20-21
Our God has a plan to “save his people from their sins” through Jesus Christ: “The only redeemer of God’s chosen ones is the Lord Jesus Christ” (WSC 21). This has been his plan from the beginning: “Out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, God chose some for everlasting life, and he entered into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of their state of sin and misery and to bring them into a state of salvation by a redeemer” (WSC 20).
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