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Matthew Chapter 1: 1-17

7/5/2007

Matthew Chapter 1:1-17

CSI Jerusalem

  Introduction: 

CSI has become one of the most popular TV shows of the day. CSI has three shows: CSI New York, CSI Miami, and CSI Las Vegas. Each show has a certain flavor to it which makes it appealing to a broader audience.

In Matthew chapter 1:1-17 we see a list of names beginning with Abraham and ending with Jesus. Matthew was aiming his version of the gospel at a Jewish audience. Lists (genealogies) were very important to them to have some type of proof about a person. Back then, they didn’t have DNA machines to use to identify people so one of the best methods was a person’s lineage.

 The Point: 

1) To get students thinking about how to defend their faith. 2) Give God more glory for His plan to save mankind.

 Hook: 

Here are a couple options:

1)      Decorate gathering place as a crime scene. You can even use one of the CSI shows for some examples of what to have. After you have set up the crime scene and you students show up, begin asking them questions:

a.       How many of you have seen one of the CSI shows?

b.      What are some of the methods that they use to help identify the victim? (If they say their ID or drivers license then prod a little more by saying, What if the victim isn’t recognizable?

c.       Ok, now let’s go back in time 2000 years ago. What methods would be used to help identify someone back then? Let them answer and then go to transition # 1.

2)      On a PowerPoint or media shout program, create a list of names that wouldn’t be recognizable to the students. Show the slide and ask them, what’s so important about this list? You may get some answers but probably a lot of blank stares too. Next, show them a list with their names in it and also throw in some of their parent’s names and grandparents names and if you can get it – great grandparents names. Ask them what is important about this list. You will probably get students that say, hey that’s my family. Go to transition # 2.

Transition # 1: Tonight we are going to take a look at a method that they used to help identify someone 2000 years ago.

Transition # 2: Now let’s take a look at a list 2000 years ago and see if you recognize any of the names on this list.

 Book: 

Read Matthew 1:1-17 (Have a couple students read it – encourage them to really try and murder those names because some of them are pretty hard to pronounce)

 Look: 

After the passage has been read say, some of these names you may recognize (hopefully Jesus) but there are probably many that you don’t.

However, if you were Jew 2000 years ago, this list would be very important to you. Why? Because the family tree helped Jews identify who the person was. Names meant everything back then; especially because they (Jews) were looking forward to the Messiah coming.

2000 years ago a murder took place. A man by the name of Jesus was crucified. This Jesus claimed to be the very Messiah that the Jews were looking for, but they didn’t seem to see the proof.

This list of names that you see in chapter 1:1-17 was and is very important as Matthew traces Jesus back to good ol Father Abraham (who had many sons and many sons had Father Abraham…).

Matthew was building his CSI case to prove that Jesus was in fact the long awaited Messiah that they were looking for. Matthew nails that Jesus came from Father Abraham and King David which was prophesied.

What’s really cool is that Jesus had a royal lineage from both Mary and Joseph.

 Took: 

So why is this important? What do I want you to take from this?

I want you take the following things:

1)      Learn how to defend your faith. The big word is called apologetics. What if someone were to ask you why do you believe in Jesus? What would you tell them? What type of evidence could you present? I recommend a great book by Josh McDowell called, More than a Carpenter. (If you can have enough of these available for the students so that they can take them)

2)      Appreciate God more! Thank Him that he came up with this marvelous plan to save us! Think about how although the Jews at the time rejected Him, he has this list of names so that if a Jew were to read them and consider them, it could be enough to help them believe that Jesus is in fact their Messiah.

Matthew Chapter 1: 1-17