South County Church
Promises in the Mess
Locations & Times
South County High School (Entrance 15)
Friday 10:00 AM
Christmas Isn’t Canceled
Promises in the Mess
Intro: What are some of the messes in your world?
Big Idea: God is with us in our mess.
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 NLT – 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
When do God’s promises appear?
a. In the Normal Grind of Life
i. David was in the fields watching the sheep and goats. 1 Samuel 16:11
ii. Peter and Andrew were fishing. Matthew 4:18-19
b. As you Follow the Lord Faithfully
i. Matthew 1:19 NLT – 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
ii. Genesis 15:6 NLT – 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
iii. Proverbs 15:29 NLT – 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
iv. Proverbs 24:16 HCSB – 16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
c. As you seek confirmation on His direction even in the midst of uncertainty
i. Proverbs 16:9 NLT – 9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
ii. Luke 1:31 NLT – 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
iii. Luke 1:34-35 NLT – 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
iv. Matthew 1:20-23 NLT – 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
v. John 16:13 NLT – 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.
A few additional Promises in the mess you can count on…
a. Psalm 37:4-5 NLT – 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
b. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT – 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
What are the promises that God wants to declare to you today?
a. Immanuel – God is with you in your mess!
b. God declares His promises over you before they ever come to pass.
i. Matthew 1:18 NLT – This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.
ii. Ephesians 2:10 NIV – 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
iii. Jeremiah 1:5 NIV – 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Next Steps
- Read & Reflect: Matthew 1:18-25
- Evaluate: What are the promises God is trying to reveal to me in this season?
- Action: Move forward knowing that God is with you in the mess.
Promises in the Mess
Intro: What are some of the messes in your world?
Big Idea: God is with us in our mess.
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 NLT – 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
When do God’s promises appear?
a. In the Normal Grind of Life
i. David was in the fields watching the sheep and goats. 1 Samuel 16:11
ii. Peter and Andrew were fishing. Matthew 4:18-19
b. As you Follow the Lord Faithfully
i. Matthew 1:19 NLT – 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
ii. Genesis 15:6 NLT – 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
iii. Proverbs 15:29 NLT – 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
iv. Proverbs 24:16 HCSB – 16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
c. As you seek confirmation on His direction even in the midst of uncertainty
i. Proverbs 16:9 NLT – 9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
ii. Luke 1:31 NLT – 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
iii. Luke 1:34-35 NLT – 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
iv. Matthew 1:20-23 NLT – 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
v. John 16:13 NLT – 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.
A few additional Promises in the mess you can count on…
a. Psalm 37:4-5 NLT – 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
b. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT – 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
What are the promises that God wants to declare to you today?
a. Immanuel – God is with you in your mess!
b. God declares His promises over you before they ever come to pass.
i. Matthew 1:18 NLT – This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.
ii. Ephesians 2:10 NIV – 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
iii. Jeremiah 1:5 NIV – 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Next Steps
- Read & Reflect: Matthew 1:18-25
- Evaluate: What are the promises God is trying to reveal to me in this season?
- Action: Move forward knowing that God is with you in the mess.