This past Sunday, Pastor Jeremiah Niengor preached a message entitled “This Is Not How I Planned It.” Pastor Jeremiah walked us through Matthew 1:18 –25, showing how the trouble in Joseph’s story reflects the disruptions we face when God’s faithfulness collides with our plans. He reminded us that grace often doesn’t arrive as comfort, but as interruption—and that what looks like a problem may actually be God’s work of redemption. Through Joseph’s obedient response, we were invited to surrender control, seek discernment in confusing seasons, and say yes to God even before we fully understand, trusting that He is forming Christ in us.

✍️ Notes
The trouble in the text → The trouble in our world
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary​ was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they
came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:18 -19 (NIV)​
​
⭑ What do you do when God’s faithfulness disrupts your plans completely?​

The grace in​ the text →​ The grace we don’t expect​

But after he had considered this,​ an angel of the Lord appeared to him in​ a dream and said, “Joseph son of David,​
do not be afraid to​ take Mary home as​ your wife, because​ what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.​ Matthew 1:20 (NIV)​

⭑ Grace doesn’t arrive as comfort.​ It arrives as interruption.​

⭑ What are you quietly walking away from that God might be using to form Christ in you?​

The claim of​ the text →​ The claim on us​

21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” ​22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will
call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:21 -23 (NIV)​

⭑ The Human Response​

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not
consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

⭑ Where is God working in a way that looks like a problem but is actually redemption?​

⭑ Where are you planning a quiet exit from the place God is forming​ Christ in you?​

Prayer Points:​
1) Surrender – God, help me release control where You are interrupting me.​
2) Discernment – Help me see Your work in what feels confusing or painful.​
3) Obedience – Give me courage to say yes before I understand

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