God With Us!
Will the Real Joseph and Mary Stand Up? Embracing Surrender and Discipleship.
Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Resources

Title: Will the Real Joseph and Mary Stand Up? Embracing Surrender and Discipleship

Sermon Summary: This sermon challenges believers to embody the surrendered hearts of Joseph and Mary by embracing both the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Pastor Greg addresses the common fear of teaching the Bible that prevents many Christians from making disciples. He introduces a simplified approach to Bible study that removes barriers—using multiple-choice questions and shared leadership rather than requiring extensive theological training. The core message emphasizes that true discipleship requires ongoing surrender to God's leading, just as Joseph and Mary demonstrated when they accepted God's unexpected plan. The sermon calls every believer to engage in relational Bible study, not as trained teachers, but as fellow learners who discover God's word together. The ultimate goal is moving beyond merely living out faith to actively teaching others everything Christ commanded, which can only happen through humble, surrendered hearts willing to study Scripture together.

Key Points:
  • The two greatest fears—death and public speaking—have caused Christians to dismiss the Great Commandment (loving God fully) and the Great Commission (making disciples by teaching)
  • Traditional curriculum-based Bible studies require trained teachers who do 70-90% of the talking, which intimidates most believers
  • The proposed Bible study model uses multiple-choice questions, shared leadership, and requires minimal preparation (20-30 minutes)
  • Everyone can lead this type of study regardless of theological training—it's about facilitating discovery, not lecturing
  • The common denominator among Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the disciples, and Old Testament faithful was surrender to God's will
  • A pure heart is a surrendered heart that prays "not my will, but Your will be done"
  • Bible study should include awareness of historical context, personal sharing that breaks down barriers, and clarity sought in humility
  • Introverts need permission to elaborate ("Why?"), while extroverts need gentle redirection to allow others to share
  • The difference between a teacher and a disciple: teachers say "go" while disciples say "let's go together"
  • Every believer is called to make disciples by teaching others—this is not optional but commanded


5-Day Devotional: The Heart of Surrender

Day 1: Awareness of God's Presence
Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

Devotional: Joseph faced an impossible situation—his betrothed was pregnant, and he knew the child wasn't his. Yet in his confusion and pain, God met him with clarity. Like Joseph, we often encounter circumstances that blind us with emotion and uncertainty. The first step toward surrender is awareness—recognizing God's presence even when life makes no sense. Today, pause and acknowledge where God might be speaking into your confusion. What situation has you tunnel-visioned? God doesn't require you to understand everything; He simply asks you to notice He's there. Great people are always willing to be little—teachable, correctable, and aware that Emmanuel means "God with us," not just historically, but right now in your circumstances.

Day 2: Blind Spots and Humility
Reading: Proverbs 3:5-8

Devotional: "We're blind because we're upset." When emotions run high, our perspective narrows dangerously. Joseph could have acted rashly, publicly shaming Mary and ending their betrothal. Instead, he planned to divorce her quietly—a merciful response even in his pain. But God interrupted with truth. Our blind spots often emerge precisely when we're most certain we see clearly. Humility means admitting, "I don't have the full picture." It means pausing before reacting, creating space for God's perspective to break through. What are you upset about today? Where might your emotional tunnel vision be blocking God's wider view? Surrender begins when we acknowledge our limited sight and invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate what we cannot see alone.

Day 3: Clarity Through Christ Our Model
Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Devotional: Jesus' divine nature doesn't disqualify Him as our role model—it makes Him the ultimate example of surrender. He who was God chose to become human, vulnerable, and obedient unto death. This is our pattern: a pure heart is a surrendered heart. It's not perfection God seeks, but willingness—"Yes, Lord, not my will but Yours." Like the preacher who said "no" twice before finally surrendering at age 27, we often resist God's invitations. Yet He faithfully returns, night after night, presence after presence, asking for our yes. Today, consider where Jesus is modeling something specific for your life. His divine nature within you through the Holy Spirit means you have supernatural power to follow His example. What is He asking you to surrender?

Day 4: The Great Commission Begins Small
Reading: Matthew 28:18-20

Devotional: Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." This isn't about curriculum expertise or public speaking prowess—it's about sharing what you're discovering with one other person. The greatest fear holding us back is thinking we need to be experts. But discipleship happens in humble conversation, multiple-choice questions, and simply saying "why?" to draw out each other's stories. Start with your spouse, a friend, or a neighbor. Read Scripture together. Ask questions. Share honestly. The Holy Spirit does the teaching; you simply facilitate the conversation. Who is one person God might be calling you to invite into this journey? Surrender your fear of inadequacy and trust that two or three gathered in His name is enough.

Day 5: Living Surrendered
Reading: Romans 12:1-2

Devotional: Paul urges us to offer our bodies as "living sacrifices"—daily, ongoing surrender. This was Mary's response: "Let it be to me according to your word." This was Joseph's obedience: he took Mary as his wife despite the cost. This is Jesus' prayer: "Not my will, but yours be done." A pure heart isn't sinless perfection; it's a surrendered posture that says "yes, Lord" even when the path is unclear. Today, where is God's Spirit prompting you toward obedience? What small yes is He asking for? Remember, God hardly ever leaves the minds of those who've truly surrendered. He becomes the constant companion, the watchman guiding your steps. Will you roll over again, or will tonight be your third night—your moment of full surrender to the King who dwells within you?
Reflection Question for the Week: What is the one area of your life where God is asking for your complete surrender right now?

Small Group Guide: "Will the Real Joseph Please Stand Up?"

Based on Matthew 1:18-25

Opening Prayer (2 minutes)

Begin by inviting God's presence into your time together and asking the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and reveal areas where surrender is needed.

Icebreaker Questions (10 minutes)

Choose 1-2 of these to help your group connect:

  1. What do you know about your parents' courtship story? How did they meet? What challenges did they face?
  2. What does your name mean? Did your parents have a special reason for choosing it?
  3. Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to have been Mary or Joseph? What emotions do you think they experienced?

Key Takeaways from the Sermon (5 minutes)
Review these main points together:

  • The Common Denominator: Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the disciples, and all faithful believers shared one thing in common—surrender to God's will

  • The Two Great "Dot Coms":
    • The Great Commandment: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
    • The Great Commission: Go and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded

  • A Pure Heart = A Surrendered Heart: It's not just about forgiveness; it's about saying "Yes, Lord, not my will but Your will be done"

  • Everyone Can Make Disciples: You don't need to be a trained teacher—just be willing to share and learn together

Discussion Questions (30-40 minutes)
Section 1: Understanding Surrender

  1. The sermon emphasized that surrender is the common thread among all faithful believers. What does "surrender" mean to you personally? How is it different from simply believing in God?
  2. Pastor Greg shared that he said "no" to God twice before finally surrendering at age 27. Have you ever experienced a time when you knew God was calling you to something, but you resisted? What happened?
  3. Read Matthew 1:18-25 together. What do you notice about Joseph's response to an incredibly difficult situation? What can we learn from his example of surrender?

Section 2: The Fear Factor

  1. The sermon mentioned that the two greatest fears people have are death and speaking in public, and these fears cause us to dismiss the Great Commandment and Great Commission. Do you agree? What fears hold you back from sharing your faith or leading others spiritually?
  2. How does the idea that "Bible sharing" (not formal Bible teaching) is accessible to everyone change your perspective? Does this lower the barrier for you?

Section 3: Being "Blinded by Being Upset"

  1. If you had been Mary, discovering you were pregnant through the Holy Spirit, what would be the first thing to pop into your mind?
    • No one will believe me, especially Joseph
    • What will people say?
    • My parents will kick me out
    • Surely God knows what He is doing
  2. Why did you choose that answer?
  3. If you had been Joseph, Mary's fiancé, what would be the first thing to come into your mind?
    • There must be some other guy
    • That's it, we're through
    • She never lied to me before; maybe she's telling the truth
    • Surely God must know what He is doing
  4. Share your reasoning.
  5. How do our emotions and circumstances sometimes blind us to what God is doing? Can you share an example from your own life?

Section 4: Role Models and Following Jesus

  1. When you were growing up, who was the most significant role model in your life? (Parent, relative, teacher, coach, pastor, sports figure, etc.) Why?
  2. Jesus was called Emmanuel—God with us. How do you feel about viewing Jesus as a role model?
    • His divine nature makes Him too different from me
    • His divine nature makes Him the ultimate role model
    • He is Savior, not a role model
  3. Explain your choice.
  4. When did Jesus become a warm person to you, more than just a name? What happened to make that shift?
  5. In all honesty, what difference does following Jesus make in your everyday life? (A great deal, quite a bit, some, not a whole lot, none) Be honest—this is a safe space.

Practical Applications (15 minutes)
Personal Reflection
Take 2-3 minutes of silence for each person to consider:

  • What area of my life is God calling me to surrender right now?
  • What would it look like for me to say "Yes, Lord" in this specific area this week?

Group Challenge
Choose one of these action steps to commit to:
  1. Start a simple Bible sharing time with one other person (spouse, friend, child, neighbor) using the approach described in the sermon—no formal teaching required, just sharing and discovering together
  2. Practice daily surrender by praying each morning: "Yes, Lord, not my will but Your will be done today" and journaling what happens
  3. Identify your "Joseph moment"—a situation where you need to trust God even though circumstances don't make sense—and choose one step of obedience
  4. Reach out to someone you've been avoiding or struggling with and practice surrender by seeking reconciliation
Accountability
  • Who will you share your commitment with?
  • How will you check in with each other this week?

Prayer Time (10 minutes)

Use the simple prayer format from the sermon:
  1. Go around the circle and have each person share one specific prayer request
  2. After each request, the leader (or anyone) says: "Lord, in Your mercy..."
  3. Everyone responds: "Hear our prayer."
  4. Close with a prayer of surrender, inviting anyone who wants to pray this prayer aloud:
    "Lord Jesus, I surrender to You. Not my will, but Your will be done in my life. Give me the courage to follow where You lead and the humility to learn from others. Help me to be a disciple who makes disciples. Amen."

For Next Week
  • Read Matthew 2:1-12 (the visit of the wise men)
  • Reflect on this question: Where have you seen God show up unexpectedly in your life, like He did for Mary and Joseph?
  • Try one of the practical applications you committed to and be ready to share your experience

Leader Notes
  • Remember, you don't need to have all the answers—this is about sharing and discovering together
  • If someone shares something vulnerable, thank them for their honesty and ask if the group can pray for them
  • Keep the discussion moving, but don't rush deep moments
  • Your primary role is to ask "Why?" when needed and make space for everyone to share
  • Model vulnerability by sharing your own struggles with surrender

Closing Thought: "Great people are always willing to be little—teachable, correctable, learners. Leaders are learners."

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