Signs and Faithfulness

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “How have you felt when something you planned is completely changed?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Matthew 1:18-25.

How was Jesus conceived? [“Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18b).]

What was Joseph’s initial decision when he became aware of his future wife’s pregnancy? [“Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19).]

The Preaching Notes for December 21 state, “So, Joseph, we are supposed to hear, lived a life of obedience to the law. But the law says it was his duty to expose Mary and the sin she committed to the community, so she could be punished, driven out, stoned to death…But he chose not to.”

• Why do you think Joseph decided not to expose Mary?
• Have you ever broken “obedience” to show mercy toward someone else? If not, would you consider it? Why yes, or why not?

Joseph’s plan A was to marry Mary, but her pregnancy caused him to change to plan B, and break the engagement quietly. However, God told Joseph via a dream about plan C, which was “plan A redefined; plan A resurrected, ascended, intensified.” (Preaching Notes for December 21.)

• What do you do when your initial plans are changed by what seems to be divine intervention?
• Do you trust God’s intervention, or have you tried to dismiss “quietly” the acts of God in your life?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Loving God, help us see your divine interventions in our lives, and guide us in fulfilling your new plan. Lead us to be instruments of mercy in a world full of injustices. Amen!

Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz serves as the senior pastor at Agape Memorial United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. She is a local pastor in The United Methodist Church (UMC) with a master of divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a bachelor of computer engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Rosedanny is passionate about racial justice, finding new ways to connect with the community, promoting unity and diversity, and working toward creating a multicultural space for all to worship the God of all. You can learn more about Rosedanny and her ministry through her blog, More Faith (morefaithblog.com).