To The Crib

December 5, 2004
Rev. Rurel Ausley
Matthew 2:1-12

1. What are you looking for this Christmas? Before you answer so quickly, try to think of what your deepest heart’s desire is. What are your priorities? How you think you can best fulfill them? How might your deepest needs really be spiritual and could find their deepest fulfillment in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

2. How do we look for the right things but in the wrong places or ways? What were the Magi looking for? How much did they know about the king of Jews? (Matt. 2:2) What did they not know about him? What question did they ask? How is that a relevant question today? What does it mean to ask, “Where is He?” How would you help someone find Jesus today if you were asked, “Where is He?”

3. Read Matthew 2:1-12. How much of our celebration of the Magi is biblical and how much “tradition”? How many were there? (Be careful.) Were they kings? How do you know? What does "Magi" mean? What does it mean that people from the non-Jewish world came to worship Jesus? How did they know about Jesus? What does this say about God and His ability to communicate to us? If you seek Jesus, will you find Him? (Deut. 4:29; Prov. 8:17; Matt. 7:7)

4. What keeps people from looking for Jesus? What keeps people from finding Jesus? What things could have kept the Magi from finding Him? Why do you think they overcame all obstacles in seeking to find Jesus?

5. What was King Herod's attitude towards Jesus? Look up King Herod in a Bible dictionary or "Google": "King Herod" and see what you find. Just how terrible was King Herod? How might this explain the fear of Jerusalem? What do we learn from King Herod about misusing others? Misleading others? Mistreating others? Take some time to contrast the Magi and King Herod.

6. What are the “traditional” meanings of the gifts of the Magi? Also, how might these gifts at least be very expensive gifts that represented the best that they had from their country? What does this say to us about offering our very best to God? Why is only the best acceptable to God as our worship? How are you offering your best? Financially? Personally? Time wise? Talent wise?