Discussion Questions

Discuss the story in small groups using the following questions. {10–15 minutes}

1. What’s the name of the first book in the Bible? How does the Gospel of Matthew begin? By beginning the story of Jesus’s birth with a genealogy (which is from the same Greek word as genesis), what do you think Matthew is trying to say about the birth of Jesus?
   Takeaway

   The birth of Jesus gives a new beginning to the world God created.
2. Who were some of the people named in Jesus’s family tree (or “genealogy”)? Did those people always follow God perfectly? If they were sinners, and Jesus came from their family, how could he be born without sin?
   Takeaway

   Jesus is fully human—but without sin.
3. What was Joseph told to name Jesus? Why? How can we be saved from our sin?
   Takeaway

   Jesus was born to save his people from their sin.

Memory Verse