The Chronicles of Advent: Joseph with Pastor Ben Carruthers

The manger looks calm, but the choices behind it were anything but. We kick off Advent by stepping into Joseph’s story and asking a bold question: why does a quiet carpenter keep picking the hardest road when every easier option is on the table? From the legal realities of ancient betrothal to the social fallout of a “quiet divorce,” we retrace Joseph’s dilemma and the moment an angel’s message turned a hard path into an impossible one. Then come the miles: a rushed escape to Egypt with a toddler, a return when danger passes, and a final detour to Nazareth, the town no one wanted.

What emerges isn’t a tale of blind compliance, but a portrait of righteousness as relationship. Joseph’s obedience isn’t driven by fear or by the empty phrase “because God said so.” It springs from love—an understanding of the law as the heartbeat of God’s care, and a willingness to protect Mary, name Jesus, and trade status for faithfulness. Along the way we clear up common nativity myths for clarity’s sake, then press into what they reveal: obedience is love in motion, and courage often looks like protecting someone else at your own expense.

This conversation invites you to rethink Christmas with fresh eyes and to consider how love might be calling you toward a costlier, truer “yes.” If you’re hungry for a season that’s more than sentiment—rooted in Scripture, honesty, and hope—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves a good rethink, and leave a review to tell us which moment in Joseph’s journey changed how you see Advent.

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