The greatest story ever begins with ... a geneaology?

As we continue moving through the Bible, we finally get to turn to the New Testament, starting with the Gospel of Matthew.  Since we spent the last year reading through the Old Testament, Pastor Rob shows how the Gospel writer Matthew brilliantly weaves together the Old and New Testaments throughout his Gospel, starting with this genealogy of Jesus.

If you don't have the chance to read the whole book:

Matthew 1 - prologue and birth of Jesus; Matthew 2 - Magi; Matthew 5-7 - sermon on the mount; Matthew 18 - humility, sin and forgiveness in the church; Matthew 25 - parables unique to Matthew; Matthew 28 - resurrection and great commission.

Questions for consideration

1)  Are there people in your personal, communal or national family tree who you would not want shared with the world?  

2)  Why do you think Matthew includes them?  Does he succeed in his intention?

3)  Does it unsettle you or comfort you that Jesus' family tree had warts?

4)  How might you respond to someone who said "The God of the Old Testament is angry and mean, whereas Jesus is nice"?  How might Matthew respond?

5)  Is it important to you that Jesus was Jewish?

6)  Matthew's Gospel reminds us that Jesus was clearly invested in the lives of the poor.  Why does our society look down on poor people?

7)  Do you need to be on the margins, at some point in your life, to receive the Gospel?