Advent 2024 - Anticipation

Week 1: “Anticipation” Big Idea: The birth of Christ fulfills the long-anticipated prophecies of the Messiah, bringing hope to a waiting world. Key Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1:18-23 One-Word Theme: Anticipation   The Birth of Jesus the Messiah 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!    She will give birth to a son,and they will call him Immanuel,     which means ‘God is with us.’”