Worship like the wise men.
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
SERMON NOTES:
Worship the King!
Matthew 2:1-12
Worship like the wise men!
The wise men journey to Jerusalem to worship the King. (1-2)
God guides the wise men to Bethlehem through an unknown enemy. (3-8)
The wise men worship the King. (9-12)
How did the wise men worship?
study questions:
Matthew 2:1-12
1.Read verses 1-2. How long “after” the birth of Jesus do you believe these events occurred (see Matthew 2:16)? The “wise men” were from the “east”. Where is the “east”, and how long do you believe these men had been traveling? Who specifically were these men seeking, and what did they intend to do when they got there? Why do you think they would want to do this for a king from a land and a people who is not their own?
2.Read verses 3-8. Who was Herod, and why was he troubled? What did he do about his concerns? What is the significance of the prophecy that Jesus fulfilled, and why would this have further troubled Herod? What do Herod’s actions teach us about him and his character? Why would it have been scary to have Herod pursuing you?
3.Read verses 9-12. What did the wise men do next? What do you think it was like for them to follow a star, and how is this even possible? How did the wise men initially react when they arrived to the location of Jesus? What did they do when they saw Jesus? What gifts did they give him?
4.So what? Please consider the actions and attitudes of these wise men. Do you seek Jesus with the same focus as the wise men, and why or why not? Do you worship Jesus with the same passion as the wise men, and how so? What gifts do you give Jesus (consider both tangible and non-tangible gifts)? What is your one big takeaway from your study of this passage and the example of the wise men?