PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: The Shining Star - Sermon Outline for December 22, 2019 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 22, 2019)

PROPS FROM A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: The Shining Star - Matthew 2:1-10 - December 22, 2019

Prayers

INTRODUCTION

Did the star misdirect the wise men?

Did they take a wrong turn at Jericho?

Did the star go out?  (Why would they need to ask for directions if the guiding star was there?)

Did they go to Bethlehem without their Godly GPS?

Matthew 2:1-10 New International Version (NIV)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Footnotes:

• Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
• Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I.  A STAR, A STAR

A.  Magi from the East

B.  Came to worship the new born King

C.  Stopped in the most likely place to find a new king

II.  A STAR IS BORN

A.  A king and his city are "disturbed"

1.  3 occurrences

a.  Matthew 2:3 - Herod and all Jerusalem (

b.  Luke 1:12 - Zacharias and the Angel ("gripped with fear")

c.  John 13:21 - Jesus and his betrayer ("troubled in his spirit")

2.  Expectation and Reality

B.  A king's fear

1.  Not an ordinary child

2.  The Messiah

3.  The Place

a.  Bethlehem in Judea

4.  The real issue - "a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel"

III.  SEARCHING FOR THE CHILD THEY FOUND A STAR

A.  Herod's plot - "Herod called the magi secretly"

1.  "Secretly" - used 4 times in NT, twice in this story (Joseph and Mary, here)

2.  His request - “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”  Mt 2:8

B.  The Magi's Journey

1.  "On their way" to Bethlehem

2.  The star showed the way to the place where the child was.

3.  "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."

CHALLENGE

There have always been people searching for the King.  Many know approximately where to find him.  Most need help finding Him.  

Who do you need to point toward Bethlehem?  What Wise Person do you need to point down the road?  

Herod by way of his chief priests and teachers of the law pointed them toward Bethlehem, but God showed them the star.

If we just point people to Jesus, God will do His part to get them there.  Point!