Upside Down Christmas: Matthew 1:1-17
The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.—Matthew 1:1-17
So, what is an Upside-Down Christmas? It is both revolution and revelation. God is shaking the world like a snow globe to bring light and beauty to those who dwell in darkness. It is a reversal of everything that sin brings as natural to us. It is giving to receive, losing to gain, and dying to live.
Today marks the beginning of Advent. For many, the occasion has been lost to the commercialization of Christmas, but in essence, it is foremost a time of fulfilled expectancy. In Jesus, we converge man’s longing with God’s eternal love. During His ministry, He said He came to seek and to save that which was lost. As bearers of the imago Dei, the very image of God, man intrinsically understood his connection to the eternal, but his soul was darkened by the sin in which he sequestered himself.
So, what is an Upside-Down Christmas? It is both revolution and revelation. God is shaking the world like a snow globe to bring light and beauty to those who dwell in darkness. It is a reversal of everything that sin brings as natural to us. It is giving to receive, losing to gain, and dying to live.
Today marks the beginning of Advent. For many, the occasion has been lost to the commercialization of Christmas, but in essence, it is foremost a time of fulfilled expectancy. In Jesus, we converge man’s longing with God’s eternal love. During His ministry, He said He came to seek and to save that which was lost. As bearers of the imago Dei, the very image of God, man intrinsically understood his connection to the eternal, but his soul was darkened by the sin in which he sequestered himself.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your favorite Christmas memory? What made it special?
2. The Christmas story challenges our expectations of power and status. How can we embrace God’s upside-down kingdom, where the lowly are lifted, and the mighty are brought down?
3. In what ways does the Christmas story turn our world upside down? How does it challenge our assumptions about what it means to be successful, happy, and fulfilled?
4. How can we live out the principles of the upside-down kingdom in our own lives? What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves, to seek justice for the oppressed, and to forgive those who have wronged us?
5. The birth of Jesus in a manger is a powerful reminder of God’s humility and willingness to enter our broken world. How can we cultivate humility in our own lives?
6. Jesus came as a servant, not a king. How can we follow in his footsteps and serve others, especially those who are marginalized and forgotten?
7. How does the upside-down nature of Jesus’ life and ministry challenge our desires for power, prestige, and control?
8. How can we challenge the materialistic values that often dominate the Christmas season and focus instead on the true meaning of the holiday?
9. What role can we play in bringing about a more just and equitable world, in line with the upside-down message of the Christmas story?
10. The Christmas story offers hope to a despair-filled world. What does the promise of Christ’s birth mean for us today?
11. How can we find hope amidst the challenges and uncertainties of our own lives?
12. How can we share the hope of the Christmas story with others, especially those struggling with doubt, fear, or loss?
2. The Christmas story challenges our expectations of power and status. How can we embrace God’s upside-down kingdom, where the lowly are lifted, and the mighty are brought down?
3. In what ways does the Christmas story turn our world upside down? How does it challenge our assumptions about what it means to be successful, happy, and fulfilled?
4. How can we live out the principles of the upside-down kingdom in our own lives? What does it look like to love our neighbor as ourselves, to seek justice for the oppressed, and to forgive those who have wronged us?
5. The birth of Jesus in a manger is a powerful reminder of God’s humility and willingness to enter our broken world. How can we cultivate humility in our own lives?
6. Jesus came as a servant, not a king. How can we follow in his footsteps and serve others, especially those who are marginalized and forgotten?
7. How does the upside-down nature of Jesus’ life and ministry challenge our desires for power, prestige, and control?
8. How can we challenge the materialistic values that often dominate the Christmas season and focus instead on the true meaning of the holiday?
9. What role can we play in bringing about a more just and equitable world, in line with the upside-down message of the Christmas story?
10. The Christmas story offers hope to a despair-filled world. What does the promise of Christ’s birth mean for us today?
11. How can we find hope amidst the challenges and uncertainties of our own lives?
12. How can we share the hope of the Christmas story with others, especially those struggling with doubt, fear, or loss?
Posted in Sermon Notes