The Gospel of Matthew & The Politics of Christmas

You are Invited!

This is Session 2 following Class Session 1 from December 17. You can review Session 1 here. 

We’re all learning, laughing and thinking together. If you’d like to come, you’re in! It will be a gift to have you.

• Two Wednesdays, December 17, 2025 & January 7, 2026 1:00-2:30 PM
• New Life Lutheran Church—2100 Spruce St. Florence, OR

What will Class be like?

The Christmas Story in the Gospel of Matthew is found in Matthew’s first two chapters. Chapter 1 is a genealogy, but it’s a really interesting one!! Chapter 1 also tells about the birth of Jesus. Chapter 2 is about the Wisemen and King Herod. (This is where things really get dicey!)

In the first class on Wednesday, December 17 we will:

• Introduce ourselves.
• Talk about the Online Quiz some of us took. (As in “the answers” and “what did people say?”)
• We’ll look at Matthew’s unique genealogy. (What the heck is he doing here, and why?!)
• Then, we’ll focus in on Matthew 1:18-25. As time allows we will discuss how Matthew’s Christmas Story is different than what we read in the Gospel of Luke – and why.
  • Somewhere in the midst of all this we’ll take a break.
  • Feel free to bring you own Bible if you wish. We will also have Bible available.
  • There will also be handouts, PPT slides to see, etc.

In the second class on Wednesday, January 7 we will:

• Re-introduce ourselves as needed.
• Review the first session, what we learned, and what we’ve been thinking about over Christmas, etc.
• Then we’ll launch into Matthew chapter 2!
  • Who were the Wisemen?
  • What was King Herod’s problem?!
  • King Herod, the Wisemen, and Mary, Joseph & Jesus – all had critical decisions to make. What can we learn from them?
  • And ‘wrap up’ – of course!

There will be “lecture/presentation” components to the class, but plenty of time will be given for discussion, questions and everybody’s thoughts. We will go as fast or as slow as we all want to.