Hidden Christmas | A Messy Family Tree | Pastor Jamie Kemp

READ:  Matthew 1:1-17

In Matthew 1, the genealogy of Jesus is more than a long list of names - it’s an announcement that Christmas is God stepping into real, messy human history.  Jesus enters a broken family line filled with failures, outsiders, and complicated stories so He can redeem broken people.

1. Jesus has a family with failures, not perfect faith.

Abraham lied, Isaac repeated his father’s sins, Jacob deceived, Jush sold his brother into slavery, David committed adultery and murder.  Jesus doesn’t come from a line of perfect believers but from deeply flawed people.  This reveals the hidden truth of Christmas:  our failures don’t push us out of God’s story - they’re why Jesus came.

2.  Jesus has a family from all nations, not just one ethnic group.

Matthew breaks ancient genealogical rules by including “outsiders”:  Rahab (Canaanite), Ruth (Moabite), and Bathsheba (connected to a Hittite).  This shows that there are no people groups left out of Christmas.  The mission of Jesus is global, and His family is multiethnic.

3.  Jesus has a family whose stories point to the true family of God.

Human families fail, disappoint, and cannot save.  But Matthew begins his Gospel by proclaiming hope:  Jesus came into a broken family so He could bring us into God’s family.

Your identity is not defined by your earthly family - it is defined by your Heavenly Father.  Through faith in Christ (John 1:12), we become children of God, part of a new family shaped by grace.

The genealogy reminds us that God is always writing His story - even through messy people and unexpected generations.  If we give Him “editorial control,” He will write a redemptive story through our lives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How does knowing that Jesus’ family includes major mistakes and dysfunction change the way you view your own family story?
2. In a world that pressures us to build a perfect social media persona or resume, how doe the fact that Jesus’ ancestry included failures and sinners make you feel about your own past or present struggles?
3. What is one “generational curse”, limiting belief, or negative narrative from your family background that you feel has defined you?  How does being invited into God’s family (John 1:12) challenge that old definition and shape your identity moving forward?
4. As a young adult facing exams, career stress, or social pressure, what is the biggest thing currently “hiding” the truth of Christmas for you?  HOw can you intentionally seek out the “Hidden Hope” of Christmas this year?
5. If God has full “editorial control” of your life story, what is one area - a relationship, a future plan, or current weakness - that you are finding difficult to surrender to His authorship?