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This happens at a specific moment in the history of Judea and Rome. During the approximately 40-year reign of King Herod, client king of Judea with Rome’s backing. Through Herod, Rome made certain concessions to the Jewish political/religious ruling elite of Judea, who were charged with keeping their…

The star leads to the Morning Star. A sign from heaven leads to Jesus rising in your heart. 28 even as I also received authority from the presence of my Father. I will give the morning star to the one who experiences victory. Play Video: Bertha Benz: The Journey that changed everything. The Gift in Bethlehem…

Matthew 2:1-12 (morning worship) Sermon Details: The events following Jesus' birth and the unexpected expedition of the Magi reveal how special this newborn baby really was. Sermon Points: #1 An Unexpected Expedition (1-2) #2 A Deceitful Ruler (3-8) #3 A Miraculous Star (9-10) #4 A Child-King Worshiped (11) #5 A Dream Warning (12) Preacher: Daniel Pelichowski

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” Let’s set our course, then, for two millennia ago—the dividing point of history. The scene…

Symbolic Star We often see people decorating the Christmas season with many stars. So, what is the meaning of the star on Christmas Day? Star, Latin: Stella: is a natural luminous body visible in the sky especially at night. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Magi said, “We saw his star at its rising”…

The sign of Christ’s birth, the star, was foretold centuries before by a gentile, and it led the first gentiles to the young Jesus. In what ways are you following the signs and directions given to you by God?

Nativity Scenes St Francis of Assisi AD 1223 - Italy Not all present at one place at one time on the night Jesus was born. A beautiful tradition and teaching tool, but not accurate. No record of animals, angels, nor a star.... Few Bible characters are as well know, yet so clouded by myth and tradition…

Jesus was a gift to all of humanity. The way He was given is a sign to us and for us.

One of the most common areas of scandals is the area of politics--both in history and presently. Politics is also one of the most heated areas of debate and division in our culture. In today's passage, we see a powerful ruler, King Herod, flexing his political muscles against King Jesus. His response is actually a picture of our hearts' response to King Jesus' authority; today's passage challenges our view of politics as well as the misplaced hope we put into it. It reminds us of the hope of Jesus' kingdom.

Introduction Throughout the last number of years, I’ve been thinking about the star of Bethlehem. Because there are things about the story in Matthew that don’t make sense to me as we read it. And it’s the scientist in me. I’m a bit like doubting Thomas in many ways. Not that I doubt in the classical…

Raise your hand this morning if movies are your thing. I don’t mean going to the theater to see a movie. I mean those of you who would say, “My home is my movie theater.” So, let’s see who the real movie fans are. Raise your hand if you have over 100 DVDs. Does anybody have 200 or more DVDs? Anybody…

The Magi – journey generously

Jesus will either be a threat to your life or a source of joy

Yesterday was the Twelfth and final Day of Christmas. Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany is a Greek word that means “to shine forth.” Epiphany is the manifestation of the light of Christ to the Gentiles. This revealing was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, “Arise,…

Advent teaches us about learning to search like you’re gonna find what you’re looking for. Seeking (in the Bible) is the sure-fire way to find God, and while some of us are incredibly resistant to look, he promises that is where we will find him. In the kingdom of God, it isn’t about the kind of search you’re on- but if your search leads you to the incarnated love of God- to incarnating the love of God in palpable acts of waiting and searching for him.

The birth of Jesus had political implications. The first gentiles to worship Him, the Magi, made a choice: to follow His authority over Herod's. As our society becomes more and more secular, the difference between following the rule of government and the rule of Christ becomes an ever widening chasm. And just as the Magi made a choice, so must we.

INTRODUCTION: One of the most familiar elements of the Christmas story is the star of Bethlehem. But at the same time, it remains one of the most unknown features of the story—because unlike the wise men, we don’t really look straight at it. THE TEXT: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him,…