Pastor Matt reminded us that God's promises don't depend on perfect people, they move through broken ones. God, Himself, enters into the garbage heap to seek and to save those who are lost, those who have been used, abused, discarded — those whom the world says have no value.
MY STORY
Describe a time when you were excluded from a group of people you had really hoped would accept you and take you in.
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
Judah was told, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant by immorality. " And Judah said, "Bring her out, and let her be burned. " As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, "By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant. " And she said, "Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff. " Then Judah identified them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah." (Genesis 38:24)
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar ... (Genesis 38: 1-3)
Why did Tamar set up this ruse to fool Judah?
What did Judah mean when he said, "She is more righteous than I?"
According to Pastor Matt, what is the scandalous significance of Tamar being listed in the genealogy of Jesus?
What does God want us to hear? What are some of the more factual takeaways from this passage for you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
Pastor Matt said, "God Himself entered into the dysfunction of the human race to seek and to save those who are lost, those who have been used, those who have been abused, those who have been discarded, those whom the world says have no value."
Who are the poorly-treated and cast-aside people in our culture? Has this sort of thing ever happened to you?
How have you seen God work through those the world considers lowly and humble?
Describe an interaction you may have recently had with such a person.
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and new understanding, how is the Holy Spirit nudging us?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
How has God worked through the imperfections of your family tree? How have you seen Him redeem what your ancestors may have messed up?
How have you experienced God's compassion and mercy when suffering the consequences of your own bad decisions?
Find someone who, for whatever reason, has not been included in any "inner circles" — and find a creative way to convey God's grace to this person.
What does God want ME to do? Based on your answers to these questions, toward what creative actions is the Holy Spirit leading you?
Message Notes
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