Welcome to South! We're glad you joined us today! Below you will find some sermon notes and Bible passages, to help you follow along with Pastor Scott's message in a series entitled "Christmas Moments". We hope you will be encouraged by what is taught today.

What do we know about Joseph?

We know that Joseph was a descendant of King David - which fulfills some key prophecies about Jesus found in Jeremiah 23:5 and Isaiah 11:1.
We know that Joseph was a craftsman.
We know that Joseph was the husband of Mary.
We know that Joseph was the earthly father of Jesus, not the biological father.
We know that Joseph was a just and faithful man.

Joseph was an obedient man.

In Luke 2, shortly after their official wedding ceremony, an imperial edict went out from Caesar Augustus that everyone should be registered; making it a moment of obedience for Joseph as he obeyed God, by obeying the government, packing up his nine-months-pregnant wife and making the 75-mile journey, where Mary would eventually give birth to Jesus in a barn-like stall. Another moment of obedience came in Matthew 2, when the angel of the Lord returns to Joseph and instructs him to take his wife and infant son to Egypt, where he wants them to live for an undisclosed period of time. And once again, Joseph responds with obedience to the instruction, packing up his family, traveling some 90 miles, and ultimately living with strangers for up to 2 or 3 years. Finally, in the last part of the second chapter of Matthew, the angel of the Lord returns yet again, and instructs Joseph to trust that it was safe for them to return back to Nazareth - which Joseph responded with obedience.

Obedience Wisdom

1. Obedience is [sometimes] costly.
2. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
3. You don't have to understand immediately to obey immediately.
4. Obedience is our responsibility. The outcome is God's responsibility.