lessons from mary and joseph

Christianity is not for the weak. She seemed scared and confused as to why an angel would be visiting her – could you blame her? Listen to our FREE podcast! This proves that Mary wasn’t a perpetual virgin as larger churches would teach us. And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. In our last study, we took a look at how like Joseph and Mary we should have respect for the purpose, process and timing of God. When Mary’s pregnancy was discovered, Joseph, being a just man—one who was also kind and gave detailed attention to the observance of the law of God, not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly (Matthew 1:19).He was not willing to call down the wrath of the courts upon his betrothed, and he decided to deal with it from a spirit of compassion. We should trust what God is doing in our lives, even if it doesn’t make sense to us. © 2021 Lake Stevens Assembly of God – All Right Reserved March 15 A Defining Moment March 8 Missions Sunday Missions Sunday It is wholly illogical, yet altogether holy that the parenting formula for Jesus is the same parenting formula needed for every child. However, we read her response in Scripture. Their trust in God has been on display for centuries of people to read about in the Bible. “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. But there is more to this story than a multi-colored coat. It is fundamental to know that Mary is the earthly mother of Jesus, and that Joseph is Mary’s husband. When I say “go,” the blindfolded partner will listen as they are guided by their partner’s directions. May our faith endure every situation and cause us to surrender to God. He was a man of compassion and was going to find a way to quietly separate from Mary. This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. There are many lessons we can learn from Mary's life, but I want to share just ten today. Joseph fathered at least four sons and two daughters (Matthew 13:55-56). Mary and Joseph said “yes” to a huge responsibility. In a society where adultery and harlotry come with a high price, it would have been easier for Joseph just to put away Mary. May we keep our hearts ready for what God is calling us to do. Joseph’s faithfulness to the word of the Lord opened his heart to God’s plans. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house … SAY: In this passage, we read that Mary is visited by an angel, and what a sight that must have been! As Christmas nears, and we ready our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we can find encouragement from the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. From the time they were married, Joseph and Mary were always shown together in the Bible. Reply. But there are other prominent persons involved in the Christmas account, and in this message we aim to learn some lessons from the lives of Joseph and Mary. But verse 24 tells us “When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife.” When many other people would have said “no.” Joseph said “yes.” He chose to be obedient to God. The mind of God for sex is for it to be exercised only in marriage. ... Mary and Joseph were hand-picked by God to raise, protect and teach Jesus throughout His childhood. Joseph's life has important lessons for readers of all ages, and is particularly poignant in times of trouble. “The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. Download this free Sunday School lesson on the Birth of Jesus that focuses on Mary and Joseph. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”. The Church has consistently taught the perpetual virginity of Mary which means their union was never consummated. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. All rights reserved. In the time Mary lived she was probably illiterate, but she had heard the Word of God and kept it hidden in her heart. Perhaps you view your own status as similar to Mary’s. We may not yet know what this Christmas season will bring, but we can still worship our Lord and Savior, and find joy and hope in remembering the birth of Jesus. The other person will go to the finish line. And he called his name Jesus. By taking Mary as his wife and naming the child Jesus (the name given to him in the dream), Joseph was … Perhaps you can hardly imagine what it must have been like for them to learn of Mary’s pregnancy, to have angelic beings visit them with indescribable news, and to then live each day in the reality of being parents to the child who was born in such miraculous circumstances. Mary knew God's Word. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The trust this young couple displayed in what God was doing in their lives can be a difficult thing for our minds to comprehend. James Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bibleclarifies Joseph’s lineage: “Every Jew kept a record of his lineage, and was proud if he could claim royal or priestly descent; Joseph was ‘a son of David’ (Matthew 1:20Matthew 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the … Consider the implications of Mary and Joseph as the earthly parents and guardians of Jesus. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ! As we read Mary’s response to what was to come, we get a better understanding of her deep faithfulness. Like Mary and Joseph, we can remain faithful to God, even if we do not know what the end of the journey will hold or what the big picture is. These were further pieces of evidence that he died early. No question: The reserved, unobtrusive Joseph tends to hover in the background in our retellings of Christ’s birth. Use this youth group lesson to teach students that Mary and Joseph placed all their trust in God, and we should do the same. The printable lesson plan below includes coloring pages, activities, game, and craft ideas. “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” God’s Word declares that Joseph was “a prosperous man.” This was at a time in his life when He was serving as a slave! You really had to trust your partner as you listened to them navigate you through the minefield. Joseph, in a very young age, lost everything. SUSAN YANO says. It is fundamental to know that Mary is the earthly mother of Jesus, and that Joseph is Mary’s husband. Joseph wasn’t mentioned during the wedding in Cana and even during the crucifixion of Christ. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. And rightfully so… I mean it is all about Him. We will make mistakes, just as Mary and Joseph likely made mistakes (since Jesus was the only perfect person in … And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. Once you have decided, the blindfolded person will stand on the starting line. There are so many Christmas lessons on Jesus. 4 Lessons We Can Learn From Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. Joseph knows that Mary is a good woman and that she has a fine reputation. Lesson no. 4 Inspiring Lessons from Mary and Joseph's Faithfulness. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. 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.’ … When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:19-21, 24). Mary and Joseph said “yes” to a huge responsibility. Here are five life lessons … He laid aside his own physical desires in the interests of Mary’s condition, and followed to the letter the commands of the archangel Gabriel. Mary and Joseph held God’s promise as hope. God will still do mighty things in us and through us this Christmas season because of our faithfulness. Joseph does not want her to be stoned to death or to be disgraced publicly; hence, he makes up his mind to divorce her secretly. But, just like in our lives, God knew exactly what was going to happen. Although they are key players in the life of Christ, it can still be easy to skip over details of who they were and what they did after the birth of the Messiah. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’” ( Luke 1:30-31 ). This lesson explores Mary and Joseph, the stepparents of Jesus. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a man pledged to be married to Jesus' mother, Mary. She had and exemplary attitude of servanthood in the face of a crazy word from an Angel! After the game, award prizes and have students return to their seats. Although we may never see the full picture of what God has planned, we can trust that God knows exactly what He is doing. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 Mary was set to be married to Joseph when the angel of the Lord came to tell her of the news that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son. The angel explained to her that the Holy Spirit was going place the baby in her. “Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Joseph could have all the reasons to do what is right in his own eyes and just forget God’s way of life. This spotlighting of Mary occurs later when Mary clearly struggled with what her son was both doing and saying and … Detours: Lessons From Joseph. It is wholly illogical, yet altogether holy that the parenting formula for Jesus is the same parenting formula needed for every child. Character focus: Mary and Joseph, the earthly mother and father of Jesus. Though this year has felt hard for each of us in unique ways, may we trust that God is still doing great things for us and bring worshipful hearts before him. Like Mary, we can pause in the uncertainty and praise the Lord for his goodness and mercy. 3: There’s no excuse that’s good enough to break God’s commandments. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. Liked this lesson? It is a way of life that demands lots of courage and faith! “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:38). Fourth, Mary was the Lord’s Servant. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. I would like for you to decide which of you on your team will be blindfolded for the game. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Mary had an immediate response of obedience. Here are a few positive lessons about marriage we can see from the Biblical accounts of Joseph and Mary’s story: 1. At this point, an angel came to him in a dream. Though Mary and Joseph’s circumstances were not ideal, God still chose them because of their faithfulness. And not only that, but God remained with Joseph in that prison. He was faithful to the Jewish faith and he was a carpenter, as the scriptures proclaim. For example: Red paper for “candy canes” and green paper for “landmines.”, Have leaders stand on the sides of the minefield serve as “judges.”, Say: Today, we are going to play a game called, “Candy Cane Landmines.”. Now, it’s easy for us to read this biblical account and think, “of course they should have trusted God” – because we know the end of the story. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”, And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”, And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Mary and Joseph are key components in bringing the Christmas story to life. Though Mary and Joseph’s circumstances were not ideal, God still chose them because of their faithfulness. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. They waited for 30 years to see the promised son of God begin ministry. But, still confused Mary asked the angel, how can this be? This year, each of us has faced plenty of unpredictability with fear and anxiety rising. She was put into a situation that must have felt scary and overwhelming. This illustration will help kids remember Joseph’s great character. They were charged with bringing the son of God into the world. At the end of the game, you will get a candy cane for each paper you pick up that says “candy cane.”. It then tells about the angel who appears to Joseph in a dream, to reassure him about God's plan for their lives. “Mary and Joseph” Advent Sunday School Lesson on Matthew 2 Heroes of the Christmas Story (Celebrated and Lesser -Known) Sunday School Lesson on Mary and Joseph There are a lot of great truths to take from the story of Jesus’ birth. December 08, 2015. Often, when we think of the Christmas story, we gloss over Mary… And can you imagine that three-day wait when they held onto faith that their Messiah-Son would be … But just as Mary and Joseph were faithful to God, we are also called to be faithful. A Forgotten Christmas Lesson When the Christmas story is told, we hear mostly about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary could have responded in a number of different ways. In short, Joseph acted as a very loving father to his young and vulnerable son. It’s part of our new series “Heroes of the Christmas Story” (Celebrated and Lesser-Known) that shares the Biblical story of Christmas. Having received the most radical news of her life up until that moment, being told that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son, Mary’s faithfulness helps her rise to the occasion and she completely surrenders to the word of God. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. We can praise him for continuing to use us to further his kingdom. And the virgin’s name was Mary. For behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name’” (Luke 1:46-49). Julie Hildebrand. Joseph and Mary had completed the arduous trek to Bethlehem, and the ordeal of childbirth in a stable was now history. Mary’s faith motivated her to worship the Lord in the unknown. “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. Though your circumstances may not be ideal this Christmas, as a believer you are still part of furthering God’s kingdom. Joseph, however, refrains from physically consummating the marriage until after the birth of Jesus. very helpful thanks and God bless you. Here one can see again Joseph’s deep devotion to God. But Joseph gets his due in the Gospel passage Matthew 1:18-24. Salem Media Group. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. As we parent our children – His children – let us focus first on Him. Their faithfulness was a channel through which God accomplished something bigger than the both of them. Given the long journey and Mary being pregnant, it’s possible for Joseph to have borrowed a donkey for Mary to ride on, but the Bible never says Mary rode on a donkey or any other animal, and the fact that Joseph, Mary and Jesus remained in Bethlehem for up to two years (see Slaughter of the Innocents) makes such a loan unlikely. Facts about Mary and Joseph 2: the importance of Mary. When Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus to be consecrated in the temple, it is to Mary that Simeon gives his solemn prophecy (Luke 2:34–35). If you step on a landmine, your partner must come, get you, and take you back to the starting line so you can start over again. The angel continues by telling Mary that she is going to have a son and to name him ‘Jesus.’. Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. We can abandon our agendas and instead follow God’s perfect path this Christmas season and into the new year. Looking for youth group lessons or Bible lessons for kids? Mary is an important figure in Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and Oriental Orthodox. Shop our selection of youth & children’s ministry curriculum: Find a space to use – this could be the space you meet in, a gym, or even outside. Mary and Joseph are key components in bringing the Christmas story to life. Just like Mary and Joseph, it is our faithfulness – not our status, or wealth, or reputation – that gives us favor with God. There are going to be moments in your life when you have to trust others, and there might be times when people let you down. When Joseph and Mary take the infant, Jesus, to be presented at the temple, they meet a man named Simeon. Both Joseph and Mary had to go, because both of them were descended from King David, and they had to go to Bethlehem, David’s city. If outside, use orange cones to designate a “start” and a “finish.”, Between the starting line and finish line, spread out scrap pieces of paper that say “landmines” and “candy canes.”. Mary was devoted to God and had a wonderful relationship with Him. The angel of God appeared to Joseph two more times, and those appearances reveal another element of trust in the nativity story—Mary’s trust in Joseph. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. Consider the implications of Mary and Joseph as the earthly parents and guardians of Jesus. May God grant that same peace and strength for those of us who remain faithful to him. God bless you. 3: It takes courage and faith to obey God. He was betrayed by his brothers; sold to slavery; imprisoned after resisting the seduction of Potiphar’s wife; and forgotten by the chief butler after interpreting his dreams. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). As we approach the Christmas season, we especially remember the coming of Jesus as God in human flesh (the Incarnation of Christ). For the blindfolded person, this game will require a certain amount of trust in your partner to help you navigate away from the mines and other people. Parenting Lessons from Mary and Joseph Faith. Even when we do not know the outcome of the path God has us on, we can trust him. The birthplace of Jesus was located in Bethlehem. She would name him Jesus, and he would be the Son of the Most High. May we all find ways to hold onto our faith in God and cling to him in every situation. We can completely surrender to God as the year comes to an end, and allow him to lead us and guide our steps as we look for peace and joy this Christmas. It was a journey of about 90 miles, and even though we always see her on a donkey, we have no way of knowing if that was really true. God knows exactly what He is doing in our lives, even if it is hard for us to understand. Joseph was a good man, though, and he married Mary and took care of Jesus. It says, 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. He gave him favor with the chief jailer and Joseph was actually put in charge of all the other prisoners! He would use Joseph’s imprisonment to ultimately shape his life as well as the lives of the entire nation of Israel. She could have denied that God would use her, or she could have thought she was going crazy. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’” (Luke 1:30-31). The biblical account of Jesus’ birth was miraculous and intense, indeed, but when we take a closer look at the Gospels, we find that it was the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph that played a key role in these spectacular events coming to pass. God gave Joseph peace and strength to follow this new plan. It was Mary’s faithfulness that gave her favor with God. When Joseph learned about Mary expecting a baby, it was quite a surprise since they were not yet married. Joseph could have justified leaving Mary, but he trusted in what God was doing. And he loves her dearly. In all reality, Christmas may not seem as bright and cheery this year, but we would be wise to acknowledge that neither were significant aspects of the very first Christmas. A Forgotten Christmas Lesson When the Christmas story is told, we hear mostly about Mary, the mother of Jesus. God uses the Marys of the world, seemingly regular folks like you and I living in rough conditions, to accomplish his big, good, and perfect will. The first pair to cross the finish line will receive a special prize. If you step on a candy cane paper, your partner will instruct you to pick it up, and you will continue to walk across to your partner. Those believe that the Mother of God or mother of Jesus is Mary. Shop our selection of youth & children’s ministry curriculum: 24 Pieces of scrap paper that say “landmine”, 24 Pieces of scrap paper that say “candy canes”. Lesson no. #2 Joseph and Mary maintained sexual purity. As a result, God chose her for this crucial part of his plan: Jesus coming to save the world. What's most fascinating is that Joseph, father of Jesus, faced a choice when he learned that Mary was pregnant, so let's start our lessons there. Mary and Joseph were betrothed when the magical birth of Jesus happened. Lesson no. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.Matthew 1:18. And also the story of Joseph gave us lesson to control our tongue for some vital information about our life. The Old Testament story of Joseph is a favorite in Sunday School classrooms. The angel told Joseph that God had placed His Son inside of Mary and Joseph needed to remain with Mary. Joseph trusted God and took Mary as his wife. Say: Joseph was faced with a similar situation that required an unusual amount of trust in God. Click to Tweet Ten Lessons God's Word has taught me through the life of Mary: 1. 4th Lesson from the Synoptic Gospels St. Joseph and Blessed Virgin Mary - A Biblical and Ecclesial Perspectives Biblical readings for the lesson - Genesis 37-50; 1 Sam 2:1-10; Mt 1-2; Luke 1-2 Just as Joseph trusted God, we too can trust God this Christmas season and follow his leading. If you go to Matthew 1:18-25, you can read about how Mary was pledged to marry Joseph, but before this, Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Most of the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus focus on Mary and how she responded to what God had called her to. SUGANDHARATNAM says. She trusted that God was going to use her to bring the Messiah in the flesh, to this world. What's most fascinating is that Joseph, father of Jesus, faced a choice when he learned that Mary was pregnant, so let's start our lessons there. Mary was not prominent, she lived in a small town, and certainly she never expected to take part in something that would change the whole course of humanity. However, we can learn a lot from the lives of Mary and Joseph. In this small group study Dr. Tony Evans uses the epic faith, life, and career of Joseph to teach that God is more interested in your development than your arrival. She put her trust in God even though she didn’t know all of the details. She was a young virgin betrothed to Joseph and was suddenly found to be with child. God had promised this righteous man that he'd live to see the Messiah, and because the Spirit prompts him, Simeon appears in time to hold Jesus. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. Joseph could have justified leaving Mary, but he trusted in what God was doing. Joseph had fallen for Mary and could not wait to be married to her. But verse 24 tells us “When Joseph woke up, he did just as an angel from God commanded and took Mary as his wife.” When many other people would have said “no.” Joseph said “yes.” He chose to be obedient to God. Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the Father in the spirit, his Only Begotten in …
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