Discovery Church - Nondenominational Church in Hickory North Carolina
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Sermon Based
​Devotions

Thursday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Provision

12/31/2020

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Today's Reading:
Matthew 2:19–23 (NIV)
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Consider This:
  • ​What kind of “man” was Joseph?
  • What does he do that impresses you?
  • What do you think Jesus learned from His father Joseph?
  • What can you learn from Joseph? 
Treasure Application:
  • Joseph served others by raising and protecting the savior of the world.  What forms of healing did Joseph’s service pave the way for?
  • Do you think the relationship between Joseph and Jesus supported and encouraged Jesus when He was being mistreated by others?
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Wednesday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Provision

12/30/2020

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Today's Reading:
Matthew 2:19–23 (NIV)
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Consider This:
  • ​How does putting your trust in God help you take care of His business?
  • Can you take care of God’s business without trusting Him?
  • Should you trust God if you are not walking with God?
  • What I mean is can you trust that you will be protected or provided for if you are not walking with God?
  • How much do you trust God?
  • How can you learn to trust Him more?
Treasure Application:
  • ​Do you think that the experience of fleeing and trying to return home drove Joseph to grow closer to God in prayer?
  • Did Joseph see God at work more clearly in his future or in his past?
  • Thinking of your own past, where did God do some of His greatest work in your life?
  • How was prayer part of that?
  • Who was doing the praying?
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Tuesday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Provision

12/29/2020

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Today's Reading:
Matthew 2:19–23 (NIV)
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Consider This:
  • ​What business is Joseph supposed to be taking care of?
  • How about Mary? What business do you think God wants you to take care of?
  • How much time do you spend taking care of God’s business?
  • How much time do you spend taking care of your business?
  • Is there a difference between the two?
Treasure Application:
  • ​In this passage, what was Joseph learning that allowed him to find freedom?
  • In this case, what type of freedom were Joseph and his family gaining?
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Monday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Provision

12/28/2020

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Today's Reading:
Matthew 2:19–23 (NIV)
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Consider This:
  • Do you consider it your responsibility to take care of God’s business?
  • If so, is this a privilege we are given or a burden we should bear?
  • How do you think Mary and Joseph feel in this passage of scripture?
  • Does anything surprise you about how the story is playing out?
  • Would you have been confused if you had been Joseph or Mary?
  • Does God have a purpose for everything that happens in this story? 
Treasure Application:
  • Joseph obeyed God.  Did this make his life easy?
  • Did Joseph’s obedience display his love of God?
  • What is the difference between accepting God’s invitation to follow Him and a command to obey Him?
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Friday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Opposition

12/25/2020

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Today's Reading:
​Matthew 2:13-18 (NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”
Consider This:
  • ​What are the consequences if Joseph doesn’t listen to God?
  • Why is it important to appropriately weigh the risks in our lives?
  • What happens when we think things are more dangerous than they are?
  • What happens when we think things are less dangerous than they are?
  • How does risk affect our fears?
  • Do you evaluate the risks in your life accurately?
Treasure Application:
  • ​Contrast how Joseph and Herod loved others.  Do you think Joseph was able to discover joy in Jesus?  Do you think Herod was able to discover joy in Jesus?
  • Describe how Joseph may have discovered joy yet not necessarily been happy about everything related loving and caring for Jesus.
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Thursday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Opposition

12/24/2020

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Today's Reading:
​Matthew 2:13-14 (NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,
Consider This:
  • ​God is working in this situation. Identify all the ways God has to work in order for the prophesies to be filled?
  • How long does it take God to work?
  • What mistake do most people make when it comes to God’s timing?
Treasure Application:
  • ​Mary and Joseph served Jesus and through Him every person.  How has their service and sacrifice impacted healing in your life?
  • Have you ever served Jesus in a way that unexpectedly made a way for others to experience healing?
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Wednesday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Opposition

12/23/2020

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Today's Reading:
​Matthew 2:13 (NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Consider This:
  • ​What does Joseph prioritize in his life?
  • What could he have prioritized?  List at least 5 other priorities.
  • Why is it important for us to prioritize the important things in our lives?
  • What was the priority in Jesus’ life?
Treasure Application:
  • ​Sometimes God allows us to experience challenges.  If we pray for the challenges to end or go away could be robbing ourselves of the opportunity to see God at work?
  • Have you ever prayed for something and seen God deal with the situation, but in a very different way than you were praying for?
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Tuesday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Opposition

12/22/2020

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Today's Reading:
​Matthew 2:13-18 (NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”
Consider This:
  • ​What do you find significant about these verses of scripture?
  • What stands out to you?
  • Does anything confuse you?
  • How would you feel if you were Joseph? Or Mary?
  • Does anything surprise you about God?
Treasure Application:
  • ​What did the angel of the Lord teach Joseph that allowed him to find and maintain physical freedom?
  • Herod went on a murderous rampage when he learned he had been outwitted by the Magi.  What false beliefs did Herod have that kept him in bondage?
0 Comments

Monday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Opposition

12/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Today's Reading:
​Matthew 2:13-18 (NIV)
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.“Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”
Consider This:
  • ​How well do you handle opposition?
  • Do you have a strategy?
  • What kinds of opposition have you faced in your life?
  • Where was God during your time of opposition?
Treasure Application:
  • ​Mary and Joseph essentially invited Jesus into their lives.  How did this show their love for God?
  • Did this love come with a cost?
  • Has your love for God ever cost you something?
  • Was it worth the price you paid?
0 Comments

Friday: Unexpected Arrival - Unexpected Place

12/18/2020

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Today' Reading
Matthew 2:1-6
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Consider This:
  • ​​The Magi worshipped the baby king when they arrived. How did they worship Him?
  • How do you worship God?
  • Does your worship look anything like what the wisemen did?
  • What is involved in worship?
  • Why do you think God wants us to worship Him?
  • What does worship do for you?
Treasure Application:
  • ​​How were the different people in this event loving each other?
  • How did they find joy from that love?
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  • Home
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        • Belize Missions
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    • HELP WITH COVID-19
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