With, Part 1: The Promise of With

Every moment of your life, both good and bad,
has brought you to this moment with God.

Before the birth of Jesus came about, God was with…

Adam (Genesis 3:8)

Enoch (Genesis 5:24)

Noah (Genesis 6:9)

Abraham (Genesis 17:1-5)

Joseph (Genesis 39:2-3, 20)

Joshua (Joshua 1:9)

David (2 Samuel 7:3)

Matthew 1:18–24

^18a This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about…

God is with us in the

¹⁸ His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

God is with us in the and the

¹⁹ 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.

God is with us in the

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 

God is with us in the

²¹ 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.”

God is with us in

²² All this took place to fulfill…

God is with us in the

…what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

God is !

^24a When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him… 

God is with us in the

Small Group Questions

• What do you love about Christmas? What do you not love about Christmas?
• Read Matthew 1:18-25 out loud. What strikes you about the birth of Jesus told from Matthew’s perspective?
• God was with Mary and Joseph in the history, confusion, mystery, scrutiny, fear, salvation, details, and obedience. Which of these can you most relate to in your life right now? Why?
• In 2 Samuel 7:3, the prophet Nathan told David, “Do whatever you have in mind, the Lord is with you.” What has God laid on your heart to do this Christmas? What is standing in the way of that, and how can you overcome any fear to be obedient to God’s call?
• Do you know of anyone who was affected by the flooding? How can you reach out and encourage them right now?
• How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?