Will the Real Joseph Stand Up? Discovering Biblical Discipleship in Everyday Life
Will the Real Joseph Stand Up? Discovering Biblical Discipleship in Everyday Life
The Christmas story we've heard countless times holds a powerful secret about discipleship that often goes unnoticed. While we sing songs asking "Mary, Did You Know?" perhaps we should also be asking "Joseph, Did You Know?" More importantly, we should be asking ourselves: Will the real Mary and Joseph within us—those who surrender fully to God's leading—stand up?
The Fear That Holds Us Back
Two fears dominate human experience: death and speaking in public. Interestingly, these same fears have caused many believers to dismiss two of Christianity's most fundamental callings—the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
The Great Commandment calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, so that we can truly love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot genuinely love our spouse, neighbor, or even our enemy unless we first love God completely. This isn't a suggestion—it's the divine order.
The Great Commission instructs us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. Notice the emphasis: not just showing them by our example, though that matters, but actively teaching them. The Bible is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religious organizations. We cannot fulfill the Great Commission without engaging Scripture together.
Breaking Down the Barriers to Bible Study
Many people shut down when they think about leading Bible study. They imagine curriculum books, teacher's manuals, historical background materials, maps, cultural contexts, and theological terminology. They picture someone who has been trained, who knows all the answers, and who speaks 70-90% of the time while others listen and occasionally ask questions.
But what if Bible study didn't have to look like that at all?
What if Bible study was less about teaching and more about sharing? What if it could be as simple as gathering with one other person—your spouse, a friend, a neighbor, a child—and exploring Scripture together through guided questions?
This is the distinction between a teacher who says "go" and a disciple who says "let's go together." The teacher transfers information; the disciple invites others into a journey of mutual discovery.
The Power of Simple Questions
Imagine a Bible study where everyone has the same simple handout. No separate teacher's guide. No extensive preparation required. Just multiple-choice questions that anyone can answer based on their own experience and understanding.
The leader reads a brief paragraph of introduction—maybe just a few sentences providing historical context. Then come icebreaker questions that help people share their lives: What do you know about your parents' courtship? How did your parents choose your name? What does your name mean?
These questions aren't theological tests. They're invitations to know one another more deeply, to do life together, to discover that the person sitting across from you has a story worth hearing.
Walking in Ancient Shoes
Consider the story of Joseph and Mary from Matthew 1:18-25. In first-century Jewish culture, engagement (betrothal) was legally binding and could only be broken by divorce. When Mary was found to be pregnant, both she and Joseph faced impossible situations.
If you were Mary, what would be your first thought? "No one will believe me, especially Joseph"? "What will people say"? "My parents will kick me out"? Or perhaps, "Surely God knows what He is doing"?
If you were Joseph, what would you think? "There must be some other guy"? "That's it, we're through"? Or maybe, "She never lied to me before—perhaps she's telling the truth"?
These aren't abstract theological questions. They're deeply human moments that connect us across two thousand years to real people facing real crises of faith.
The Three Stages of Discovery
Effective Bible sharing moves through three stages:
Awareness of Ancient Ears: Understanding the historical and cultural context. What did the original hearers experience? What was at stake for them? This grounds us in the reality that Scripture speaks to real human situations.
Blindness Because We're Upset: Recognizing our own blind spots. When we're emotional or troubled, our vision narrows. We need others to help us see clearly, to hear ourselves, to gain perspective. This is why we need community.
Clarity in Humility: Great people are always willing to be little—teachable, correctable, learnable. Leaders are learners. When we approach Scripture together with humble hearts, clarity emerges not through one person's expertise but through the Spirit's work in the community.
Jesus as Emmanuel: God With Us
Jesus was called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." But through the Holy Spirit, God is not just with us—He lives within us. This transforms everything about discipleship.
The question isn't whether Jesus is too divine to be our role model. Rather, His divine nature makes Him the ultimate role model precisely because He promises His Spirit to dwell within us, teaching us things He couldn't fully teach even His disciples when He walked the earth in bodily form.
The Common Denominator
What did Joseph and Mary have in common? What connected Jesus with His disciples? What united all the faithful men and women throughout the Old Testament?
Surrender.
Not a one-time decision, but an ongoing, daily surrender to God's leading. A pure heart isn't one that never sins or never struggles. A pure heart is a surrendered heart that continually prays, "Not my will, but Your will be done."
This is the heart that enables us to fulfill both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. This is the heart that empowers us to love God fully and to make disciples who learn to obey everything Jesus taught.
An Invitation to Begin
You don't need a theology degree to share Scripture with someone. You don't need years of Bible college or extensive training. You need a willing heart, one other person, and a simple guide to walk through Scripture together.
Start with your spouse. Invite a friend. Reach out to a neighbor. Gather with your child or grandchild. Where two or three are gathered, Jesus promises to be present.
The most important thing you can do as a disciple of Jesus Christ is to share His Word with others—not as an expert teaching students, but as fellow travelers discovering truth together.
Will the real Joseph in you stand up? Will the real Mary rise? The King has come, and He dwells within you by His Spirit. The question is whether you'll surrender daily to His leading and invite others to join you on the journey.
The Christmas story we've heard countless times holds a powerful secret about discipleship that often goes unnoticed. While we sing songs asking "Mary, Did You Know?" perhaps we should also be asking "Joseph, Did You Know?" More importantly, we should be asking ourselves: Will the real Mary and Joseph within us—those who surrender fully to God's leading—stand up?
The Fear That Holds Us Back
Two fears dominate human experience: death and speaking in public. Interestingly, these same fears have caused many believers to dismiss two of Christianity's most fundamental callings—the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
The Great Commandment calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, so that we can truly love our neighbors as ourselves. We cannot genuinely love our spouse, neighbor, or even our enemy unless we first love God completely. This isn't a suggestion—it's the divine order.
The Great Commission instructs us to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. Notice the emphasis: not just showing them by our example, though that matters, but actively teaching them. The Bible is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religious organizations. We cannot fulfill the Great Commission without engaging Scripture together.
Breaking Down the Barriers to Bible Study
Many people shut down when they think about leading Bible study. They imagine curriculum books, teacher's manuals, historical background materials, maps, cultural contexts, and theological terminology. They picture someone who has been trained, who knows all the answers, and who speaks 70-90% of the time while others listen and occasionally ask questions.
But what if Bible study didn't have to look like that at all?
What if Bible study was less about teaching and more about sharing? What if it could be as simple as gathering with one other person—your spouse, a friend, a neighbor, a child—and exploring Scripture together through guided questions?
This is the distinction between a teacher who says "go" and a disciple who says "let's go together." The teacher transfers information; the disciple invites others into a journey of mutual discovery.
The Power of Simple Questions
Imagine a Bible study where everyone has the same simple handout. No separate teacher's guide. No extensive preparation required. Just multiple-choice questions that anyone can answer based on their own experience and understanding.
The leader reads a brief paragraph of introduction—maybe just a few sentences providing historical context. Then come icebreaker questions that help people share their lives: What do you know about your parents' courtship? How did your parents choose your name? What does your name mean?
These questions aren't theological tests. They're invitations to know one another more deeply, to do life together, to discover that the person sitting across from you has a story worth hearing.
Walking in Ancient Shoes
Consider the story of Joseph and Mary from Matthew 1:18-25. In first-century Jewish culture, engagement (betrothal) was legally binding and could only be broken by divorce. When Mary was found to be pregnant, both she and Joseph faced impossible situations.
If you were Mary, what would be your first thought? "No one will believe me, especially Joseph"? "What will people say"? "My parents will kick me out"? Or perhaps, "Surely God knows what He is doing"?
If you were Joseph, what would you think? "There must be some other guy"? "That's it, we're through"? Or maybe, "She never lied to me before—perhaps she's telling the truth"?
These aren't abstract theological questions. They're deeply human moments that connect us across two thousand years to real people facing real crises of faith.
The Three Stages of Discovery
Effective Bible sharing moves through three stages:
Awareness of Ancient Ears: Understanding the historical and cultural context. What did the original hearers experience? What was at stake for them? This grounds us in the reality that Scripture speaks to real human situations.
Blindness Because We're Upset: Recognizing our own blind spots. When we're emotional or troubled, our vision narrows. We need others to help us see clearly, to hear ourselves, to gain perspective. This is why we need community.
Clarity in Humility: Great people are always willing to be little—teachable, correctable, learnable. Leaders are learners. When we approach Scripture together with humble hearts, clarity emerges not through one person's expertise but through the Spirit's work in the community.
Jesus as Emmanuel: God With Us
Jesus was called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." But through the Holy Spirit, God is not just with us—He lives within us. This transforms everything about discipleship.
The question isn't whether Jesus is too divine to be our role model. Rather, His divine nature makes Him the ultimate role model precisely because He promises His Spirit to dwell within us, teaching us things He couldn't fully teach even His disciples when He walked the earth in bodily form.
The Common Denominator
What did Joseph and Mary have in common? What connected Jesus with His disciples? What united all the faithful men and women throughout the Old Testament?
Surrender.
Not a one-time decision, but an ongoing, daily surrender to God's leading. A pure heart isn't one that never sins or never struggles. A pure heart is a surrendered heart that continually prays, "Not my will, but Your will be done."
This is the heart that enables us to fulfill both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. This is the heart that empowers us to love God fully and to make disciples who learn to obey everything Jesus taught.
An Invitation to Begin
You don't need a theology degree to share Scripture with someone. You don't need years of Bible college or extensive training. You need a willing heart, one other person, and a simple guide to walk through Scripture together.
Start with your spouse. Invite a friend. Reach out to a neighbor. Gather with your child or grandchild. Where two or three are gathered, Jesus promises to be present.
The most important thing you can do as a disciple of Jesus Christ is to share His Word with others—not as an expert teaching students, but as fellow travelers discovering truth together.
Will the real Joseph in you stand up? Will the real Mary rise? The King has come, and He dwells within you by His Spirit. The question is whether you'll surrender daily to His leading and invite others to join you on the journey.
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