2. I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our
Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,

4. • Arianism : Jesus was the greatest of God’s creation
• Adoptionism : Jesus was adopted @ His baptism
• Metaphoric-ism : the incarnation = just a metaphor

5. • God’s only Son, our Lord
• conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin
• God breaking the traumatic silence
~ 400 years after Malachi, 600 years after Isaiah

6. • ‘homoousis’
~ same substance, co-eternal with the Father
• Lord ~ He’s Creator, Savior.
~ even in His birth (conception)
• the Messiah
~ Anointed One, Deliverer, Ruler

7. Matthew 1:1-25; Luke 3:23-37

8. • God’s sign (Isa 7:14) ~ miraculous conception
• a scandalized beginning for Mary & Joseph
• the salvation offered by God is supernatural

9. • an awesome genesis (pedigree) : David, Abraham
• goes back via the line of Solomon & Nathan
• includes 4 Gentile women & heroes of faith

10. • a son of Abraham ~ father of Israel (Gen 12,17)
• a son of David ~ messianic title (ruler of nation)
• a son of Adam ~ promise of crushing Satan (Gen 3)
~ representing all humanity

11. Luke 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-12; John 1:1-14

12. • the unsterile manger
• the unprepared Chief Priests & Scribes
• the hostile neighbourhood

13. • the outcast & lowly shepherds
• the outside & pagan magi
~ gold for a king, frankinsense for a God, myrrh for the dead
• the absent Jewish community

14. • entering the neighborhood, walking in our shoes
• shining amidst the ugly, devouring darkness
• unwavering in Truth, overflowing in Grace

15. Matthew 2:13-23; 3:13-4:11

16. • an Idumean’s plot ~ Herod threatened
• becoming an Egyptian refugee
• returning to the backwaters of Nazareth

17. • God’s declaration of fatherhood
• Jesus’ Bar Mitzvah (“My Beloved Son”)
• Jesus’ credentials (sonship, approved, loved)

18. • misleading insinuations ~ “If you are …”
• hijacking power ~ calling to popular messianics
• thwarted tempter ~ the Son of God kept faithful

19. 1. Examine your own ideas about JESUS &
His TOTAL SONSHIP, His MIRACULOUS
CONCEPTION. What is your response?

21. 1. What is your response to God, Who disregards
SCANDALS & ABSURDITIES to come in His own
way?
2. The Messiah has MOVED INTO OUR DARK
NEIGHBORHOOD. What grace & truth does He
speak into your situation?