The Outlet Community
In the series, Home for the Holidays, we will center around the arrival of our Risen Savior and the glorious implications that result from Jesus coming to Earth. Christmas is also a season of reflection and preparation. In the second part of Home for The Holidays, we are going to "Meet The Family" and understand the significance behind Jesus' family tree and what it means for us today.
The Outlet Community Church (Atlanta, GA) exists to empower, equip, develop, and deploy people to live authentically.
Pastor Vince Thomas, Jr.
Meet The Family, Part 2
Home For The Holidays Series
Matthew 1:1-5 (NLT)
Let's Be Social: @theoutletcc, @vincethomasjr, @ashleysthomas
A common practice of Jewish literature was to be introduced by first establishing your pedigree and genealogy. To a Jew it would be a most impressive matter that the pedigree of Jesus could be traced back to Abraham.
Matthew 1:1-5 NLT
What positive outlook about ourselves and our calling have we abandoned because of tough times?
Our family history gives us insight into our personal destiny.
Ruth 2:1, 19-20 NLT
Family redeemer (Kinsman) Heb. goel, from root meaning to redeem. The goel among the Hebrews was the nearest male blood relation alive.
Certain important obligations devolved upon him toward his next of kin:
- If any one from poverty was unable to redeem his inheritance, it was the duty of the kinsman to redeem it (Lev. 25:25, 28; Ruth 3:9, 12)
- The relative who restores or preserves the full community rights of disadvantaged family members. The concept arises from God’s covenant relationship with Israel and points to the redemption of humanity in Jesus Christ.
Ruth 4:9, 13-17 NLT
Boaz represents the person of Jesus Christ who is a kinsman to us and understands our struggles, and redeems us from sin and the affects of sin.
“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Galatians 4:4-7 NLT
Born Into Dysfunction - God calls us from imperfection
Matthew 1:17-18 NLT
Lessons From Jesus’ Family
Christ’s Family Tree was arranged around 3 important events in Jewish History
1.David - rise to power in the known world - Influence
- We were born for greatness
2. Exile to Babylon - Moments of Shame
- Sin causes us to live beneath our created purpose
3. Jesus Christ - Freedom from the Past and Empowerment towards the future
- Christ is the only answer that rescues us from our human condition
Reflection + Discussion
1.Do you feel disqualified because of your past or from where you have come from?
2. How will knowing that you are a part of God's immediate family change the way you view your prayer time with Him?
