Sermon: Matthew 1:1–17 – Waiting on God’s Perfect Timing

Sermon Overview

What does it mean to truly wait on God’s perfect timing? In this powerful message, Pastor Jim unpacks Matthew’s genealogy not as a dry list of names, but as a masterful revelation of God’s patient, purposeful plan across forty-two generations. Drawing a compelling parallel between our modern rush through warranty paperwork and our tendency to skim biblical genealogies, he reveals how this careful listing of Christ’s ancestry demonstrates God’s unhurried sovereignty.

Through stories of kings and sinners, faithful servants and broken people, the genealogy shows how God worked through centuries to bring the Messiah at exactly the right moment. Pastor Jim challenges us to resist our culture’s frantic pace, especially during Advent, by embracing three key practices: honoring Sabbath rest, choosing simplicity in our devotions, and anchoring ourselves in Scripture memorization.

His message culminates in the profound truth that while the world speeds up in December, Christians are called to slow down and rest in the Prince of Peace who has come and will come again. This counter-cultural approach to waiting shapes us into people who trust God’s perfect timing rather than our rushed agendas.

Scripture: Matthew 1:1–17

Discussion Questions

1. Understanding Genealogies

• Why do you think Matthew begins his Gospel with a genealogy, and what does this tell us about the nature of God’s promises?
• How does the genealogy in Matthew 1 demonstrate God’s faithfulness and sovereignty throughout history?

2. The Role of Imperfect People

• What significance do the flawed and sinful individuals in Jesus’ genealogy have in the context of God’s redemptive plan?
• How does the inclusion of women like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba in the genealogy highlight the nature of God’s grace?

3. God’s Timing and Providence

• How does the sermon illustrate the importance of waiting on God’s perfect timing?
• In what ways can we see God’s providence in the unfolding of biblical history, as described in the sermon?

4. The Concept of Sabbath and Rest

• How does the sermon connect the idea of Sabbath rest with the genealogy of Jesus and the Advent season?
• What practical steps can we take to incorporate Sabbath rest and simplicity into our lives, especially during busy seasons?

5. Advent and Waiting

• How does the sermon encourage us to approach the Advent season differently from the hurried pace of the world?
• What does it mean to “wait our way into Christmas” rather than “hurry our way into Christmas,” and how can this perspective change our experience of the season?

6. Application of Scripture

• How can memorizing Scripture, as suggested in the sermon, help anchor us in Christ’s peace during times of hurry and stress?
• What role does Scripture play in helping us slow down and focus on God’s promises?

7. Personal Reflection

• Reflect on a time when you experienced God’s perfect timing in your life. How did it shape your understanding of His sovereignty?
• How can the themes of this sermon—such as patience, rest, and trust in God’s timing—be applied to your current life circumstances?