Discussion Questions:

Re-read Matthew 1:18-24 and the Apostles' Creed.

1. The Apostles' Creed emphasizes Matthew’s claim that Jesus is fully God and fully human- the “Son of God” and the “Son of Man.”

• Why is it important that Jesus be both fully divine and fully human?
• How does this shape the way you understand Jesus as our mediator between God and humanity?

2. The sermon contrasts the incarnation with the idea that Jesus was simply a remarkable human who became divine.

• What difference does it make to your daily life if salvation comes from God to us rather than something we have to accomplish ourselves?
• How do you live as though your acceptance with God depends on your own performance?

3. The incarnation shows that God does not remain distant from human suffering but enters into our physical, messy human experience.

• What difference does it make to know that Jesus has personally experienced human weakness, temptation, suffering, disappointment, betrayal, and loss?
• Is there an area of your life where that truth is especially meaningful right now?

4. The sermon argues that because God took on human flesh, “creation matters” and “bodies matter.” How should belief in the incarnation affect the way we view our own bodies, other people, and the physical world God has made?