"ONE KING TO WORSHIP" – Costly Devotion

WEEK 3: "ONE KING TO WORSHIP" – Costly Devotion

Text: Matthew 2:11; Philippians 3:7-11 Theme: Counting all things loss for Christ

Matthew 2:11 CSB

11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Philippians 3:7–11 CSB

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

Exegetical Foundation

"They fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh". These weren't token offerings but treasures representing wealth, worship, and sacrifice. The Magi's journey cost them time, resources, and safety. Their worship cost them their most valuable possessions.biblegateway+2​

Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:7-8: "Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ...I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord".bibleproject+3​

Key Sermon Points

I. SINGLE-MINDED DEVOTION REQUIRES SACRIFICE

The Magi could have sent gifts via messenger. Instead, they came personally, presenting treasures and themselves. Authentic worship costs us something. Paul counted his religious pedigree, achievements, and status as "rubbish" compared to knowing Christ.

From Charles Stanley's teaching: True giving begins with giving ourselves. The Magi gave costly gifts, but their greatest gift was their presence and worship. We cannot give to God what costs us nothing.intouch+1​

II. WORSHIP FOLLOWS FOCUS

The distracted will not see Christ or the value of Christianity.

Illustration of people passing objects of great value as worthless when had they paid attention, they would have known.

Notice the progression: the Magi saw the star (focus), followed it (action), found Christ (encounter), and worshiped (response). Worship isn't generated by hype or emotion but by genuine encounter with Christ. As we behold Him, worship becomes inevitable.bibleproject+2​

From A.B. Bruce's insight: The Magi worshiped before they understood Christ's mission. They recognized kingship through signs, not full revelation. Sometimes we must worship with partial understanding, trusting that fuller revelation will come.

III. JESUS IS THE ONE WHO SURPASSES ALL OTHERS

City Slickers

“One Thing”

Paul's "one thing I do" finds expression in his singular pursuit: "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings". He wasn't content with doctrinal knowledge—he pursued experiential intimacy with Christ that demanded everything.biblehub+4​

From Francis Chan's radical call: We've domesticated Christianity into comfortable religion. The Magi's journey was dangerous, costly, and irrational by worldly standards. Yet they counted it worthwhile to worship the King. Have we?

The Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh Application

Gold - We give Christ our treasures, our finances, our material resources Frankincense - We give Christ our worship, our time, our spiritual devotion Myrrh - We give Christ our suffering, accepting that following Him may cost us dearly

Contemporary Challenge

We live in a culture of divided loyalties. We want

What Cultural Expectations divides your focus from Christ?

Christ plus comfort,

Christ plus approval,

Christ plus worldly success.

The Magi model radical abandonment—they gave their best without reserve. What treasure are you withholding from Christ? What competing loyalty prevents wholehearted devotion?

From Tim Keller's urban perspective: Modern people collect experiences, achievements, and identities like the Magi collected treasures. But unlike the Magi, we're reluctant to lay them down. Jesus demands not a portion of our life but the entirety.

What treasures are you holding back from Christ?

How would your life change if you truly counted everything loss compared to knowing Christ?

What does costly worship look like practically in your context?