Anticipation

Anticipation
(Matthew 1 & 2)
Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah

We welcome our guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, and his family here today. Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah is Milton B. Engebretson Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL an author. He received his B.A. in Political Science and History/Sociology from Columbia University; his M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; his Th.M. from Harvard University; his D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is currently in the Th.D. program at Duke University. He serves on the boards of World Vision, Sojourners, the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), Evangelicals 4 Justice and the Catalyst Leadership Center.

 I. Introduction
A time in-between Christmas and New Year’s Day

 II. Context of Matthew 1 and 2
Anticipation
Israel was expecting the Messiah
Jesus defies expectations

 III. The role of genealogy
Unique aspects of Jesus’ genealogy
Jesus’ “tainted” history

 IV. Fulfillment
Could this be God’s plan?
Anticipating God’s fulfillment of His promises

 V. Generational Blessing
God works through history and through multiple generations
African word: Sankofa

 VI. Conclusion
Demonstration of Generational blessing