The Christmas Family Tree

In this series, we're digging through the Bible to understand the family tree of baby Jesus!

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PursueGOD is a new kind of discipleship curriculum for an increasingly complicated world. We use podcasts on a variety of topics to offer no-nonsense answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pick a series from our homepage. There's plenty to choose from!
  2. Each series contains multiple lessons. Click on the numbered tabs to open each lesson.
  3. Start by listening to the podcast on your own, before you meet as a group. Take notes as needed, and listen again if it helps. Consider starting a discipleship journal to track what you're learning.
  4. Meet as a group to talk through what you learned from the podcast. Each lesson includes shownotes, talking points, and discussion questions. Click on the # tab to explore additional topics.
  5. Listen to the podcast above for more helpful tips or check out one of our many training series.

 

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The Christmas Family Tree: The Part We Usually Skip

Most people love Luke 2 at Christmas—the angels, the shepherds, the manger scene. But few of us slow down for Matthew 1, the chapter that looks like the “skip intro” button of the New Testament. Genealogies feel like the part you breeze through on your Bible-in-a-year plan. Yet Matthew opens the story of Jesus with a family tree on purpose—not to bore us, but to prepare us for what Christmas is really about.

Matthew organizes Jesus’ genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations (Matthew 1:1–17). It’s not intended to be exhaustive; it’s designed to make a theological point. Jesus is the promised Son of David, the fulfillment of God’s long-awaited plan. But Matthew also includes something shocking for ancient readers: five women—and three of them appear in the very first section of the genealogy.

In the first century, writers didn’t include women in genealogies, and certainly not women with complicated, painful, or morally messy backstories. But Matthew breaks the rules to highlight a truth at the heart of Christmas: God invites outsiders, sinners, strugglers, and the unexpected into His family. These women tell us what kind of Savior Jesus really is—and what kind of grace He brings.

TAMAR — The God Who Sees the Hidden Story

Matthew 1:3 (NLT): “Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).”

Tamar’s story in Genesis 38 is one of the most uncomfortable chapters in the Bible. She marries into Judah’s family, but tragedy and injustice quickly follow. Her first husband dies. The second refuses to fulfill his duty to give her a child. Judah promises his youngest son to her “later,” but he never intends to keep his word.

Tamar is left childless, powerless, and trapped in a culture where bearing children was the only path to honor, security, and a future. Judah fails her completely, and out of desperation she takes matters into her own hands—posing as a prostitute to confront Judah’s neglect. When Judah discovers what happened, he responds with a shocking confession:

Genesis 38:26 (NLT): “She is more righteous than I am.”

This isn’t a story celebrating deception—it’s a story exposing Judah’s injustice. Tamar is the wronged one, and yet God sees her, steps into her story, and brings redemption through the birth of Perez—a direct ancestor of Jesus.

The lesson of Tamar:
God steps into the stories we try to hide.
He doesn’t turn away from the messy parts of our past—He redeems them. Tamar reminds us that God moves toward the abandoned and overlooked with purpose and compassion.

RAHAB — The Faith That Comes Before the Cleanup

Matthew 1:5 (NLT): “Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).”

Rahab enters Scripture suddenly in Joshua 2, described openly as a prostitute living in Jericho. She checks all the “wrong” boxes: a Canaanite, an outcast, a woman shaped by a godless culture. Yet when the Israelite spies arrive, something unexpected happens. She hides them, protects them, and then speaks one of the strongest confessions of faith in the entire Old Testament:

Joshua 2:9,11 (NLT):
“I know the LORD has given you this land… For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”

Rahab chooses faith before she has a chance to “fix” her life. She trusts God long before she understands His law or His covenant. And God responds by rescuing her—and grafting her into the very family line of the Messiah.

The lesson of Rahab:
Faith comes before we clean up our lives.
God meets us where we are, not where we think we must be. Rahab’s story declares that grace reaches into unlikely places and transforms unlikely people.

RUTH — The Call to Leave Moab Behind

Matthew 1:5 (NLT): “Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).”

Ruth’s story begins with heartbreak. She loses her husband in Moab and follows her mother-in-law Naomi back to Israel, choosing loyalty to Naomi and devotion to God:

Ruth 1:16 (NLT):
“Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.”

Ruth is a widow, poor, and a foreigner from Moab—a nation born through incest (Genesis 19) and excluded from Israel’s assembly for ten generations (Deuteronomy 23:3). Every cultural barrier is stacked against her.

Yet Ruth steps forward in humble, persistent faith. God brings Boaz into her life, provides for her future, and places her in the royal line—she becomes the great-grandmother of King David.

The lesson of Ruth:
To follow God, you have to leave Moab.
We all have a “Moab”—a place of old identity or broken patterns that God calls us to walk away from. Ruth shows that God honors courageous steps of faith, even when the journey feels costly.

Why These Women Matter for Christmas

In Jesus’ day, your genealogy was your resume. You highlighted kings, heroes, and honorable ancestors. But Matthew includes:

  • A woman wronged and abandoned

  • A prostitute from a pagan city

  • A foreign widow from a forbidden nation

Why?
Because the Christmas story is not about polished people—it’s about a faithful God inviting outsiders into His family.

This is the gospel: no matter your past, your failures, or your background, there is a place for you in the family tree of God. Jesus didn’t come for the impressive—He came for the willing. He came for Tamar, Rahab, Ruth… and He came for you.

Talking Points:
  • Matthew includes three women—Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth—to show that God invites outsiders and the unexpected into His story. Matthew 1:1–6.
  • Tamar’s story reveals that God steps into the hidden and painful parts of our lives, bringing justice and redemption. Genesis 38:26.
  • Rahab shows that faith comes before we clean up our lives. Her confession of God’s greatness came long before she understood covenant obedience. Joshua 2:9,11.
  • Ruth illustrates that following God requires leaving our old identity behind. Her decision to follow Naomi and trust God changed her future forever. Ruth 1:16.
  • The Christmas story is not about polished people—it’s about a faithful God who brings outsiders into His family. Matthew 1:3–6.

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Why do you think Matthew intentionally included these three women when most ancient genealogies avoided stories like theirs?
  3. Tamar’s story is filled with pain and injustice. Where have you seen God step into a part of your story you once tried to hide?
  4. Rahab believed before she behaved. How does her example challenge the way we view spiritual growth and transformation?
  5. What does “leaving Moab” look like in your own life? What old identity or pattern is God calling you away from?
  6. How does the inclusion of Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth change the way you understand the Christmas story?
  7. Who in your life might feel like an “outsider,” and how can you reflect God’s heart by inviting them in?

Click for Student Edition

STUDENT EDITION — The Christmas Family Tree

Intro

When Christmas comes around, we usually think of shepherds, angels, and the manger scene. But the Bible starts the Christmas story with something we mostly skip: a long list of names. It looks like the “skip intro” button on Netflix. But those names matter—and a few of them tell us something HUGE about God’s heart.

Matthew includes the names of three women—Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. Their stories aren’t neat, easy, or “church-perfect.” They’re messy, complicated, and surprising. And that’s exactly why they’re in Jesus’ family tree. Today we’re going to learn what their stories show us about God—and what that means for us.

Icebreaker: “Guess the Family Tree”

Setup:
Create three envelopes. Inside each one, place clues about a famous person’s background (athlete, musician, or influencer). One envelope should contain clues that sound messy or unexpected.

How to Play:

  1. Students pick an envelope and read the clues aloud.

  2. Everyone guesses who the person might be.

  3. Reveal the answer and talk about how the clues fit (or didn’t fit).

Connect it:
“Sometimes a person’s story isn’t what you expect—just like Jesus’ family tree. Today we’ll look at three surprising people in His family line and what their stories teach us about God.”

1. Tamar — God Sees What We Try to Hide

Read: Genesis 38:26
Tamar was treated unfairly and left without hope. Her situation was messy and painful, but God didn’t ignore her. He saw her, stepped into her story, and used her life in a big way.

Discuss:

  • Why do you think Tamar felt powerless?

  • Have you ever felt overlooked or treated unfairly?

  • What does it mean that God sees the parts of our story we try to hide?

Takeaway:
God doesn’t turn away from your messy story—He steps into it.

2. Rahab — Faith Starts Before Life Gets Cleaned Up

Read: Joshua 2:9,11
Rahab lived in a rough place and didn’t have her life figured out. But she believed God was real and powerful. Her faith came before she understood everything else—and that was enough for God to begin His work in her life.

Discuss:

  • What stands out to you about Rahab’s courage?

  • Do you ever feel like you need to “fix your life” before coming to God?

  • Why does God respond to faith—even when we’re still growing?

Takeaway:
You don’t have to be perfect to follow God. Start with faith.

3. Ruth — Following God Means Leaving Your Old Life Behind

Read: Ruth 1:16
Ruth had every reason to give up, but she chose loyalty, courage, and trust in God. She left Moab—her old life—and followed God into something new.

Discuss:

  • What was hard about Ruth’s situation?

  • What does “leaving Moab” look like for someone today?

  • What step might God be asking you to take toward Him?

Takeaway:
Following God means trusting Him enough to leave your old ways behind.

Outro

Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth show us that Jesus’ family is full of unexpected people with imperfect stories. And that’s good news—because it means there’s room for us too. God invites everyone in, no matter their past, their struggles, or where they come from.

Closing Thought:
The Christmas story isn’t about perfect people—it’s about a perfect God who welcomes imperfect people into His family.

Challenge:
This week, pray: “God, help me trust You with my story—especially the parts I want to hide or fix on my own.”
Then take one step of faith—big or small—toward Him.

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WE THREE KINGS: A ROYAL MESS AND A FAITHFUL GOD

Most of us skim past the first seventeen verses of the New Testament. The long list of names in Matthew’s genealogy feels distant and hard to pronounce, so we move on quickly. But Matthew didn’t include those names by accident. He placed them there to ground the Christmas story in real history. Jesus didn’t drop out of the sky. He entered the world through a real family—full of faith, failure, courage, compromise, and grace.

Matthew organizes Jesus’ family tree into three groups of fourteen generations. First come the patriarchs, from Abraham to David—the rise of a family. Then come the kings, from David to the exile—the ruin of a kingdom. Finally comes the remnant, from the exile to Jesus—the long road toward restoration. Last week we looked at the outsiders in Jesus’ lineage: Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. This week we turn to the kings.

You might expect the kings to be the highlight reel—strong leaders, noble faith, spiritual consistency. Instead, what we find is a royal mess. To understand it, we’ll look at three kings from the southern kingdom of Judah: a father, a son, and a grandson. Their stories show how faith can be passed down, rejected, reclaimed, and lost again.

King Ahaz: The Shadow of a Bad Legacy

By the time Ahaz became king, Israel was divided. The northern kingdom had fully embraced wickedness. Judah, the southern kingdom—where Jesus’ line continued—was struggling to stay faithful. Ahaz did not help.

2 Kings 16:2–3 (NLT) tells us that Ahaz “did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord… Instead, he followed the example of the kings of Israel, even sacrificing his own son in the fire.”

In the ancient world, people believed that if you wanted the gods to act, you had to give them something valuable. Ahaz was losing a war and terrified of losing his throne. In desperation, he went to the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his own son to Molech. That valley later became known as Gehenna—the word Jesus used for hell.

Ahaz’s legacy is devastating. He sacrificed his son on the altar of selfishness. Before we judge him too quickly, we should ask an uncomfortable question: What do we sacrifice our children to today? Career success, personal freedom, reputation, comfort, or misplaced ambition can quietly become modern altars.

King Hezekiah: The Cycle Breaker

After Ahaz died, his son Hezekiah took the throne. He grew up surrounded by idolatry. He had watched his father’s choices destroy lives. Everything about his upbringing suggested he would repeat the cycle.

But 2 Kings 18:5–7 (NLT) says something remarkable: “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord… There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah.”

Hezekiah broke the cycle. He tore down idols—even destroying the bronze serpent Moses had made because people were worshiping it instead of God. He trusted God in crisis. When the Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed instead of panicking. God responded by delivering the city overnight.

Hezekiah’s life proves an essential truth: your biology is not your destiny. Grace is stronger than genetics. You can be the one who says, “The trauma stops with me.” Christmas is a powerful time to ask: What patterns am I passing down, and which ones need to end?

King Manasseh: Broken Again

After Hezekiah, his son Manasseh became king. Surely the revival would continue—right? Instead, Manasseh reversed everything.

2 Kings 21:2–3, 6 (NLT) says he rebuilt pagan shrines and “sacrificed his own son in the fire.” He returned to the very sins his grandfather Ahaz had committed.

Manasseh’s story teaches a hard lesson: you cannot inherit a relationship with God. God has no grandchildren. Each generation must choose for itself whom it will serve. Parents can shape environments, but only God can change hearts.

The Choice Is Yours

Ahaz was a wicked father. Hezekiah was a faithful son. Manasseh was a rebellious grandson. It’s messy and inconsistent—and yet Jesus came from this family line.

The Christmas story isn’t about perfect families. It’s about a faithful God who enters our mess and offers every generation a choice. As Joshua declared, “Choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NLT)

Why choose God this Christmas? Because He is better than Molech. He doesn’t demand your son—He offers His own. Jesus died so we could be free, and that freedom can echo through generations.

Talking Points:
  • Matthew’s genealogy shows that Jesus entered real, messy family history, proving God works through broken generations. Matthew 1:1–17
  • King Ahaz represents generational sin—sacrificing what mattered most for fear and self-preservation. 2 Kings 16:2–3
  • King Hezekiah broke the cycle by trusting God, removing idols, and praying in crisis. 2 Kings 18:5–7
  • Grace is stronger than genetics; your past does not have to define your future. Ezekiel 18:20
  • King Manasseh shows that faith cannot be inherited. Every generation must choose God for themselves. 2 Kings 21:2–6
  • God has no grandchildren. Parents shape environments, but only God changes hearts. Deuteronomy 6:4–7
  • The gospel offers freedom that can impact generations because God gave His Son instead of demanding ours. John 3:16

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Which family traditions—good or broken—have been passed down to you? How have they shaped your faith?
  3. In what ways do modern families sacrifice children without realizing it?
  4. What stands out most about Hezekiah’s decision to break the cycle of his father’s sin?
  5. Why is it comforting—and challenging—that “God has no grandchildren”?
  6. How can parents influence faith without trying to control outcomes?
  7. As you gather around the Christmas table this year, what patterns do you want to continue or end for the next generation?

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We Three Kings: Choosing Faith for Yourself

1. Intro
Today we’re talking about family patterns—good ones and bad ones—and how God gives each person a choice. Even if your family history is messy, God isn’t finished with you.

Read: Matthew 1:1–17
Discuss: Why do you think God included imperfect people in Jesus’ family tree?

Icebreaker (5–10 minutes): “Family Traits Challenge”
Have students write down three traits they think run in families (funny, stubborn, athletic, short temper, etc.). Share and laugh together. Then ask: Which traits are helpful, and which ones can be harmful?

2. King Ahaz: Bad Choices
Ahaz was a king who chose fear over faith and hurt his family badly.

Read: 2 Kings 16:2–3
Discuss: What happens when fear makes us choose the wrong things?
Takeaway: Bad choices don’t just affect us—they affect others too.

3. King Hezekiah: Breaking the Cycle
Hezekiah saw his father’s mistakes and chose a different path.

Read: 2 Kings 18:5–7
Discuss: What does it look like to trust God when life feels scary?
Takeaway: You can choose a better path, no matter where you came from.

4. King Manasseh: Choosing for Yourself
Manasseh had a faithful dad but still chose the wrong path.

Read: 2 Kings 21:2–3
Discuss: Why can’t someone else’s faith save us?
Takeaway: Everyone has to choose God for themselves.

5. Outro
God doesn’t expect perfect families. He invites each person to choose Him.

Closing Thought
Your story isn’t over. God can use your choices to change generations.

Challenge
This week, pray: “God, help me choose You, even when it’s hard.”

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Secrets for a Fruitful Life

Scripture: John 15:1–15 (NLT)

Every new year brings a familiar pressure: do more, be better, try harder. But on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus offered His disciples something radically different. In a moment filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and transition, He revealed the true secrets to a fruitful life—not through striving, but through connection.

A Moment of Transition

John 15 isn’t a traditional “New Year’s passage,” but it may be the most important chapter for stepping into a new season. Jesus and His disciples are in the Upper Room. He has washed their feet. They’ve shared the Last Supper. Judas has already left. The weight of what’s coming hangs heavy in the air.

This moment feels like a final speech—Jesus preparing His closest followers for life without His physical presence. Twice in John 14, He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid. And yet, they clearly are.

We can relate. None of us knows what awaits us in the coming year. We don’t know what challenges, changes, or losses might be ahead. So how can we live without fear? Jesus answers that question in John 15.

Secret #1: Think Like a Producer, Not a Consumer

Jesus begins with a metaphor:

John 15:1–2 (NLT) – “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”

The disciples were likely confused. They were focused on themselves—Why are you leaving us? Why can’t we go with you? But Jesus flips the perspective. He shifts the focus outward.

Fruitfulness isn’t about self-improvement; it’s about impact.

A consumer mindset asks, What do I get out of this?
A producer mindset asks, What can God do through me?

This changes everything—our marriages, our parenting, our work, our church involvement. Instead of seeing ourselves as victims of circumstances, we begin asking how we can bring peace, serve others, and make disciples. Jesus had just modeled this by washing His disciples’ feet.

A fruitful life starts when we stop making it all about us.

Secret #2: Stay Connected to the Vine

Jesus continues:

John 15:4–5 (NLT) – “Remain in me, and I will remain in you… For apart from me you can do nothing.”

The image is organic, not mechanical. Branches don’t strive to produce fruit; they simply stay connected. This runs counter to how we’re wired. We’re taught to maximize effort, build better habits, and dig deeper into ourselves.

But Jesus says fruit comes from abiding—learning the art of being with Him.

That’s harder than it sounds. Many of us are good at doing things for God, but not being with God. Remaining requires intentional practices that slow us down and create space for relationship: solitude, slowing, and Sabbath rest.

Jesus doesn’t need us to produce results for Him. He wants to do something in us before He works through us.

Secret #3: Let Obedience Flow from Relationship

Jesus then explains what abiding really looks like:

John 15:9–10 (NLT) – “Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love.”

Remaining isn’t mystical or complicated. It’s relational. Jesus calls it love.

The relationship between the Father, Son, and Spirit existed before time began. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus lived in loving obedience to the Father—and now He invites His disciples into that same relationship.

Obedience doesn’t earn love; it expresses it. Real relationship with Jesus always produces obedience over time. Not perfection—but transformation.

The Motivation: Overflowing Joy

Jesus concludes with His heart behind it all:

John 15:11 (NLT) – “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

This is the goal—not pressure, guilt, or fear—but joy. As we head into a new season, Jesus invites us into a fruitful life marked by impact, connection, obedience, and overflowing joy.

These are the secrets. And they still work.

Talking Points:
  • Jesus teaches that a fruitful life begins when we stop thinking like consumers and start thinking like producers, focusing on our impact on others. John 15:1–2
  • Fruitfulness is not about striving harder but staying connected to Jesus, the true vine. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. John 15:4–5
  • Abiding in Jesus is relational, not mystical—it’s about remaining in His love through daily connection. John 15:9
  • Obedience does not earn God’s love; it naturally flows from a real relationship with Jesus. John 15:10
  • Jesus reveals that the ultimate goal of abiding, producing, and obeying is overflowing joy. John 15:11

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Why do you think Jesus emphasized producing fruit when His disciples were anxious and uncertain about the future?
  3. In what ways do you tend to approach faith as a consumer rather than a producer?
  4. What makes it difficult for you to slow down and simply “be with” Jesus?
  5. How does viewing obedience as a byproduct of relationship change your understanding of spiritual growth?
  6. Which of the three “secrets” feels most challenging for you right now? Why?
  7. What would it look like for you to pursue joy through abiding in Jesus this year?

Click for Student Edition

Secrets for a Fruitful Life – Student Edition

Intro
Today we’re talking about how to live a life that really matters. Most people think that means trying harder or doing more. But Jesus teaches something very different. He shows us how to live a fruitful life—one that makes an impact and leads to real joy.

Icebreaker: “Connected or Disconnected?” (5–10 minutes)
Have students stand in a circle holding hands. One student gently lets go. Ask:

  • What changed when the connection was broken?
    Explain that today’s lesson is about staying connected to Jesus.

1. Think Like a Producer
Read: John 15:1–2

Jesus says His followers are meant to produce fruit. That means our lives should help others know and experience God’s love.

Discuss:

  • What does it mean to help others instead of only thinking about yourself?

  • Who is one person you could impact this week?

Takeaway:
A fruitful life focuses on helping others, not just yourself.

2. Stay Connected to Jesus
Read: John 15:4–5

Jesus explains that we can’t produce fruit unless we stay connected to Him—just like branches need a vine.

Discuss:

  • What helps you feel close to Jesus?

  • What distractions pull you away?

Takeaway:
Staying close to Jesus is more important than trying harder.

3. Obedience Comes from Love
Read: John 15:9–10

Jesus says obeying Him is a way to stay in His love. Obedience shows we trust Him.

Discuss:

  • Why is it easier to obey someone you trust?

  • How can love make obedience easier?

Takeaway:
When we love Jesus, obedience follows naturally.

Outro
Jesus doesn’t want us stressed or scared about the future. He wants us connected, fruitful, and full of joy.

Closing Thought
Real joy comes from staying close to Jesus and letting Him work through you.

Challenge
This week, spend a few minutes each day talking to Jesus and asking Him to help you stay connected.

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