Conversation Starters

╬  Think about your own heritage and family tree. Some of your relatives may be followers of Jesus, while others may be far from the Lord. Take a minute to thank God for those who came before you as examples of godliness. Now, take a minute to pray for those in your family tree who are far from God today. Would the Lord invite you to commit to praying for them daily during this Advent season?

╬ Matthew’s list of 42 generations is a fascinating study. Imagine for a moment the life experiences of the people listed. Hopes and disappointments, joys and suffering, faith and doubts combine to into extraordinary lives that make it into the listed ancestry of Jesus. Just like us, these lives are lived faithfully, and sometimes unfaithfully, before the God of mercy and love. Rehearse your own ancestry. Can you see God at work in the ups and downs of your own story? Give thanks for God’s great mercy and love.