This week, as we continue with our Advent series, Characters of Christmas, we’ll look at some “Surprising Characters.”   

Have you ever stopped to consider the genealogy of Jesus, which is found in Matthew 1:1-17?  It’s a part of Scripture that we often skip over.  

Don’t worry – we won’t be talking about every name in the genealogy, but we will look at several of them, because they have direct bearing on the reason for why Jesus came and the nature of His ministry.   

What about Abraham and David, both of whom are mentioned in the first verse of Matthew?  What about the five women mentioned in the genealogy?  What can we learn from all of them about what kind of Savior Jesus is?  Looking at the family tree of Jesus, what does it mean that He has invited us to be a part of His family?   

I am very excited about this message.  I don’t think you’ll ever look at the opening of Matthew the same way again.  Come prayed up and bring a friend! 

Speaking of inviting friends, be inviting people to meet you on Christmas Eve for 5:00pm worship at FBC.  This service will be Candlelight, and beautiful, and will contain a clear presentation of the gospel.  We will be done in well under an hour, so that people can get to family gatherings.  Please dress casually.  

Our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is ongoing.  Our goal is $60,000 – and we are only about $23,000 from making it as I write.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit will prompt you to help us in an extraordinary way, to get the good news of the Savior to the nations. 

I’ll see you on Sunday, with a Bible in my hand.  

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,  

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.