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Following Jesus – The Promised CHILD! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the December 8, 2024 sermon, “Following Jesus: The Promised CHILD!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Matthew 1:18-23

“’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 be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us.’”
Matthew 1:21-22 (NIV)

As one called by Jesus to “Come, follow me”, Matthew gives us great teaching on what it looks like to live life following Jesus.  As Matthew’s gospel begins, we find the promise of the Christ which teaches us that following Jesus includes knowing the promised . . .

  • Conception:  Matthew 1:18

    • Following Jesus recognizes the Spirit’s involvement in His promised conception and understands that we share in the nature of Jesus when our new birth is also conceived by the Holy Spirit.  

  • Honor:  Matthew 1:19

    • Following Jesus understands the promised honor that would be bestowed upon Jesus even when the world would not understand His origin.  We share in the promised honor when we look beyond the appearances of what might be and see the reality of what is.  

  • Intention:  Matthew 1:20

    • Following Jesus calls for a grasp of the promised intention of this child being born to save His people from their sin.  We live with this promised intention when we look at every person with the intention of God that all would come to repentance and be saved.

  • Love:  Matthew 1:21

    • Following Jesus leads us to know the promised love that God has for mankind as shown through the giving of His Son.  We grow in becoming like Christ when we both accept this promised love and then share this same love with all people.

  • Dwelling:  Matthew 1:22-23

    • Following Jesus is possible because of God becoming a child and dwelling among us.  We learn how to grow in Christ because of God through His Spirit dwelling within us.

Today, how will you experience the promised CHILD?