📖Sunday Recap

This week we opened our Bibles to Matthew 1 and stepped into a passage most of us usually skip the genealogy of Jesus. It may look like a long list of names, but Matthew uses those names to announce something huge Jesus is the promised King. By tracing Jesus back through Abraham, and David, Matthew shows that Jesus perfectly fulfills everything God said the Messiah would be. Every promise God made finds its completion in Him. The genealogy also reminds us that Jesus came through a deeply human and deeply flawed family line. Abraham lied. Jacob deceived. David took. The list includes outsiders like Rahab and Ruth, and stories marked by brokenness like Tamar and Bathsheba. Matthew is not hiding any of it. He is showing that God writes His story through imperfect people. Jesus did not come from a perfect family. He came for broken families. He brings redemption where sin has left a mark, and He gives a new identity to those who trust in Him. We also saw that God’s timing is always perfect. Matthew’s genealogy covers more than two thousand years of waiting, wandering, questions, and silence. Yet God was moving the entire time. From Abraham to David, from David to the exile, and from the exile to Christ, every generation was part of God’s plan to bring Jesus at just the right time. Even when God felt silent, He was not absent. Even when the story seemed slow, He was at work. This passage invites us to trust God completely. Jesus proves that God keeps every promise. His genealogy shows that no past is too messy for God to redeem. And the long story leading to His birth reminds us that God’s timing is perfect even when it feels slow. So where is God asking you to trust Him this week in His promises, in His grace over your story, or in His timing If He can weave two thousand years of history to bring Christ, He can certainly work faithfully in your life today.

Happening This Week

Sunday

Congregational Meeting — December 14 We’ll hold a brief congregational meeting immediately following the morning worship service on December 14. All members 16 years and older are encouraged to attend. Sample ballots are available in the back of the sanctuary. Thrive Christmas Program — December 14 Join us on Sunday, December 14 at 5:30 p.m. for our Thrive Christmas Program. It’s a great chance to celebrate together and support our kids. Cookies will be served after the program.

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar

Men's Breakfast - December 20 @ 7amChristmas Eve Candlelight Service - 12/24 @ 6pm

🙏 Prayer Requests

Please be praying for:

Family of Charles Perry Dan Johnson - upcoming procedure Kevin Schilt - upcoming procedure Harper Newport - Surgery recovery Jeff Cralle - Recovery Keaton Schuh - Pregnancy Gavin McDowell - Cancer Family of Shirley Fisher Angie Hayes - Health issues Merel Finn Jr. - Cancer treatments Cherry Anderson - surgery recovery Jennifer Skodinski - surgery recovery Dale Weber - cancer Ginger Boewe - strength Jeff Scott - broken hand Joey Parisher -deployment

If you have a prayer request, contact church office at 618-456-8563 or fill out a card on Sunday.

See you Sunday!