Make Room for Seekers

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Advent Prayer & Pastoral Prayer

God of hope, you call us home from the exile of selfish oppression to the freedom of justice, the balm of healing, and the joy of sharing. Make us strong to join you in your holy work, as friends of strangers and victims, companions of those whom others shun, and as the happiness of those whose hearts are broken. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Me

Have you ever been looking for something only to realize it was right in front of you the whole time? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned the house upside down looking for my keys… only to realize they were in my hands the whole time.

…or searched everywhere for my phone just to realize it’s in my pocket.

There’s nothing more humbling than realizing you’ve been chasing something you already had.

We laugh at moments like that because they’re little reminders of how we all search.

We search for things we misplaced.

We search for things we forgot.

We search for things we think we need in order to feel a little more settled.

But the hardest searches in life aren’t for keys or phones. It’s the moments when we’re searching for something deeper.

Searching for direction — or meaning — or hope.

Searching for a sense of peace when life feels cracked open.

Searching for something steady to hold onto when everything else feels unstable.

There have been seasons in my life where I’ve felt more like a wanderer than a follower of Jesus. Season when I was stumbling toward God rather than walking confidently. When I was doing the best I could with the little light I had — hoping it was enough to get me to where I needed to be. Maybe there have been times you felt like that too.

And you know what I found in those seasons? God didn’t push me away because I was unsure. He didn’t wait until I had it all together or understood everything. He met me right where I was. Right in the searching. Right in the uncertainty. Right in the middle of the questions I was too embarrassed to ask out loud.

That’s what I love about this part of the Christmas story. God didn’t reserve the birth of Jesus for the religious experts or the spiritual insiders.

The first people who went searching for Him weren’t priests or rabbis or prophets. They were outsiders. Travelers who followed a little bit of light across a long distance because something inside them said, “There’s gotta be more than this.”

And God honored their search.

We

We’re continuing in our Advent series called “Make Room”. Two weeks ago — we were challenged to Make Room for our enemies. Last week — we were challenged to Make Room at our Table. And this week — God is challenging us to Make Room for Seekers.

Every one of us knows what it feels like to be a seeker. Even if you’ve been in church your whole life — you didn’t start out with everything figured out. None of us did. Every Christian story begins with a search. A tug. A question. A moment where we realized there was something missing and we were looking for it.

But somewhere along the way — we forget that.

We forget what it felt like to walk into a church for the first time.

We forget what it felt like to not know the language — or the songs — or when to stand and sit.

We forget what it felt like to wonder, “Am I allowed to be here? Do I fit? Do I belong?”

And because we forget — sometimes we make it harder for seekers to find their way in.

Sometimes we assume people should show up already knowing what we know.

Sometimes we expect them to behave like believers before they even meet Jesus.

Sometimes we get uncomfortable when people bring their questions — and their doubts… their struggles — and their messy lives.

But the Gospel tells us that God doesn’t run from seekers. He draws them in. And if God draws them in — then we should make room for them.

God

This morning we’re exploring the story of the Magi — also known as the three Wise Men — in Matthew Chapter 2. If you’re new to the Bible — the book of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament. And if you’ve got The Turning Pointe set as your church in the Bible app, you should’ve just gotten a notification a few minutes ago with today’s sermon notes. If you click on the passage in those notes, it’ll take you right there in the Bible app.

Here’s why this story is important: most scholars believe the Magi were part of a priestly and scholarly class of people from Persia or Babylon. They were educated — and influential — and deeply respected in their culture. Their work combined astronomy — and ancient medicine — and dream interpretation.

And what’s fascinating is that Israel had a long history with Persia and Babylon — and the Jewish people wouldn’t have viewed the Magi as harmless travelers… they came from nations that once enslaved and exiled them. They came from cultures that were Pagan — that worshipped all kinds of gods.

So when Matthew’s audience hears “Magi” — they don’t imagine the three wise men or three cute little figurines in a Christmas nativity set.

They think of foreign philosophers — pagan spiritualists — and political outsiders who would never be expected to bend the knee to the Jewish Messiah.

So the story of the Magi tells us something we all need to hear this Advent season. God never ignores a searching heart.

Even when our steps feel shaky.

Even when our questions feel bigger than our faith.

Even when we’re not sure what we’re doing.

God meets seekers right where they are. And that includes us. Take a look with me at Matthew Chapter 2 — verses 10 and 11.

Matthew 2:10–11 NLT

10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The truth is — we’re not always good at making room for seekers. We have our routines — our comfort zones — our preferences. We like when church feels simple — and predictable — and familiar.

But let’s be honest — church culture is sometimes kind of weird, isn’t it? (And some of y’all are really weird.) Church has it’s own little ecosystem. If you didn’t grow up in it — it can feel like walking into somebody else’s family reunion where everybody already knows the inside jokes.

But seekers don’t fit into neat categories. They don’t always know where to sit — or how to act — or what to say. And sometimes that makes us nervous.

But it shouldn’t.

Because long before any of us were disciples — we were all seekers. Long before we followed Jesus with confidence — we followed Him with curiosity. Long before we learned the prayers — and the worship songs — and the Bible verses — we were simply people who heard a whisper of hope and followed it.

The Magi remind us of this.

They didn’t have the Scriptures.

They didn’t grow up knowing the God of Israel.

They didn’t fit the mold of “religious insiders”.

But God still invited them into the story. God still gave them a light to follow. God still welcomed their searching hearts.

And here’s the surprising part: The Old Testament clearly forbids God’s people from looking to the stars for guidance. The Book of Deuteronomy warns against divination — and sorcery — and consulting the stars. And the Prophet Isaiah even mocks the astrologers of Babylon — saying their star-gazing can’t save them. Look at Isaiah 47 verse 14:

Isaiah 47:14 NLT

14 …they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.

So if astrology was forbidden — then why would god use a star to reach these men?

Because they weren’t God’s people yet. They were seekers. Pagans. Outsiders. And God chose to reveal Himself in a place they were already looking.

Let that settle in your heart for a moment. The God who forbade Israel from seeking answers in the stars still placed a sign in the sky so outsiders could find their way to Jesus.

Guys — this should humble us. And it should challenge every prejudice we carry about who is “qualified” to come to Jesus.

Now — this is important but I don’t want you to get lost in the weeds either. This is where a lot of people get confused. Did God use a giant spotlight in the sky like a cosmic pin in Google Maps?

Was it a comet?

A miracle?

A supernatural light?

The truth is — we don’t exactly know. But what we do know is that God has used the heavens to point to Himself before.

Psalm 19:1 says:

Psalm 19:1 NLT

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

The Old Testament never says stars themselves have power… it says God does. And every time the stars move — or shine — or align… they do it because He told them to.

So the Magi weren’t responding to astrology the way we think of horoscopes today. They weren’t cracking open scrolls that said, “Well if you’re a Capricorn — then today is a great day to travel east…”

God took something familiar in their world — something they studied every night — and used it to draw them toward Jesus. He chose to reveal Himself in the only language they understood at that point in their journey.

By the way — you shouldn’t be studying horoscopes either. You’re not having trouble with your mother because you’re a Scorpio — you’re having trouble with her because y’all are both codependent and need therapy.

If God can draw the Magi — He can draw anyone. If the most pagan of pagans can kneel before Jesus — then nobody is too far. And if God Himself welcomed them — then His people must welcome seekers too.

Because the message of Advent isn’t “Come back when you have it all figured out.”

“THE MESSAGE OF ADVENT” GRAPHIC

The message of Advent is, “Come and see. Come and search. Come as you are.”

And that’s good news for every single one of us — because we’re all seeking something.

Our passage today shows us exactly how God reaches for us when we’re seeking for Him. And it shows us how seekers follow the light they have.

Look back with me at verse 10:

Matthew 2:10 NLT

10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

The Magi saw a star — and they followed it.

Not a map. Not a sermon. It wasn’t perfect theology. Just a light. Just a nudge. Just one step at a time.

In Proverbs 8:17, God says:

Proverbs 8:17 NLT

17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.

And in Jeremiah 29:13 He promises:

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

God has always honored the heart that searches.

And while Israel had the Scriptures — the prophets — the promises — the temple… these men had none of that.

But they followed the little light they had — and God used it to lead them to the Light of the World.

This reminds us that God doesn’t demand perfect understanding before He draws someone.

He meets seekers right where they are. And He shows us:

“SEEKERS BELONG” GRAPHIC

Seekers belong in the presence of Jesus.

Look at verse 11:

Matthew 2:11 NLT

11a They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

…they entered the house. Not the synagogue. Not a religious institution. A house. Simple — and ordinary.

Outsiders walked right into the presence of the King — and nobody stopped them. Nobody shamed them. And nobody told them to leave.

Psalm 145:18 says:

Psalm 145:18 NLT

18 The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

These men bowed down and worshipped Him — long before they understood everything about Him. They belonged before they believed.

And that should shape how we treat seekers today. If Jesus welcomed them into His presence — then we should too.

You know — what’s interesting is the sharp contrast Matthew writes about these Magi and others around Jesus. See — the chief priests — the “religious experts” of the day — lived within five miles of Bethlehem. Five miles.

They had the Scriptures — they had the temple — they had generations of teaching telling them the Messiah was coming… but they didn’t go.

These outsiders traveled 900 miles to get to Jesus — but the insiders wouldn’t walk five.

Matthew is trying to show us something here that’s painful but important.

It’s possible to be around Scripture your entire life and still miss Jesus.

It’s possible to be religious — and still be unmoved.

It’s possible to know the truth — and still not follow it.

And meanwhile — seekers — people with scraps of information — people from the wrong backgrounds — are sprinting toward the Savior with joy.

If that doesn’t humble us — nothing will.

We often forget that we’re here to help seekers on their journey, and we have to remember that

“SEEKERS BRING WHAT THEY HAVE” GRAPHIC

seekers bring what they have — not what they don’t.

The Magi rode camels for months. The chief priests could’ve been there before lunch. These guys crossed a continent — but if we’re honest — sometimes we won’t even cross the sanctuary to sit in a different seat.

Matthew 2:11 NLT

11b Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

They didn’t bring the right theology.

They didn’t bring impressive resumes.

They didn’t bring religious achievements.

They brought what they had.

Gold — and frankincense — and myrrh.

And God received it.

Romans 12:1 says:

Romans 12:1 NLT

1 … I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Worship is offering ourselves to God. Not just our strengths — but our searching. Not just our certainty — but our questions.

The Magi didn’t wait until they had it all figured out before they worshipped. They worshipped because they had found Jesus.

Their search turned into surrender.

Their curiosity turned into worship.

Their journey turned into joy.

And God honored their seeking hearts.

These gifts weren’t random, either. They were expensive. They were prophetic. And they reveal who Jesus truly is.

Gold was a gift for a king. In ancient cultures — gold was the standard tribute for royalty. The Magi were declaring, “This child isn’t just special. He’s sovereign.”

Frankincense was used in priestly worship. It was burned on the altar in the temple as a symbol of prayer rising to God. The Magi didn’t fully understand it — but they were acknowledging Jesus’ divine identity.

And Myrrh was used in burial. This is the hardest one. Myrrh was used to prepare bodies for death. Imagine giving burial spices to a child. Yet the gift pointed to the reason Jesus came.

Even at the manger — the shadow of the Cross was there.

Gold for His Kingship.

Frankincense for His diety.

And Myrrh for His sacrifice.

These pagan seekers preached the Gospel with their gifts before Jesus even spoke a word.

You

So what’s this mean for us today?

Maybe you’re here this morning and you feel like a seeker. You’re searching. You’re curious. You’re not sure what you believe yet. And you need to hear this clearly:

“GOD IS NOT WAITING” GRAPHIC

God is not waiting for you to clean yourself up before you come to Him. He’s not expecting you to show up with all the answers. And He’s not frustrated with your questions. He honors them. He invites them. And He uses them to draw you closer.

If you feel like you’re stumbling toward Jesus with only a little bit of light to guide you — that’s enough. That’s all the Magi had — and God took their one small step and turned it into an encounter that changed them forever.

But maybe you’re here and you already know Jesus — and God is asking you a different question: Who in your life is seeking? Who has God placed in your path who might be one small conversation or one small invitation away from taking a step toward Jesus?

Is it the friend at work who keeps hinting they’re struggling but doesn’t know how to say it?

Is it the neighbor who always waves but never quite crosses the property line?

Is it a family member who used to be close to God but now feels miles away?

Is it somebody in this room who feels like an outsider and just hopes nobody else notices?

Here’s the thing: seekers aren’t always loud about their searching. More often than not they come quietly. They come cautiously. They come hoping somebody will see them and not judge them… welcome them and not push them away.

And that’s where you come in.

You can’t save anyone. You can’t force anyone. You can’t fix anyone. But you can make room. You can open your life. You can listen. You can show compassion. You can say, “You can sit with me.” Sometimes that one small act becomes the light that leads them to Jesus.

Making room for seekers simply means this:

You refuse to close the door God opened.

You refuse to dismiss a story God is writing.

You refuse to assume somebody is too far gone.

And you refuse to forget that you need grace, too.

Somebody in your life is searching. Somebody is watching. Somebody is wondering if God cares about people like them. Somebody is following the little bit of light they have. And if you’re willing to make room — you might be part of the road that leads them home. Christmas might be the moment God uses to draw them closer.

We

When we step back and look at this story — we start to realize something important. The Magi didn’t just have a personal encounter with Jesus… their story reveals what happens when God’s people make room for seekers. When we open our lives — when we open our tables — when we open our hearts — God brings people to Himself in the most unexpected ways.

And here’s the part that should get our attention: over the next week and a half — seekers are going to walk through the doors of this church. Christmas brings people who don’t normally come. People who aren’t sure what they believe anymore. People who used to be close to God, but drifted. People who feel out of place — unworthy — unsure — nervous — or curious.

Some of them will come because a family member begged them to.

Some will come because Christmas feels heavy and they don’t know where else to go.

Some will come because something inside them is whispering, “There’s gotta be more than this.”

And some will come because God has already started drawing them — just like the star drew the Magi.

So the question becomes:

How will we treat them?

What will we show them?

Will they find warmth — or distance?

Will they hear welcome — or judgement?

Will they encounter the heart of Jesus — or the cold shoulder of religion?

Because whether we realize it or not — we preach a sermon long before the sermon ever begins:

The way we make eye contact.

The way we smile.

The way we greet a stranger.

The way we make space in the row instead of guarding the end seat.

The way we say, “I’m glad you’re here,” — and mean it.

Seekers notice everything — and so did we when we were in their shoes.

This is a moment where we realize the church isn’t a club for the convinced — it’s a home for the hopeful — the hurting — and the hungry. It’s a place where insiders make room for outsiders — because none of us are insiders by birth. We were brought in by grace.

And when we make room for seekers — something holy happens:

Walls come down.

Hearts open up.

Hope begins to flicker.

And people catch a glimpse of Jesus in the way we treat them.

Church — this is who we must be. People who walk slowly enough to notice the ones searching. People who aren’t threatened by the questions of the curious. People who welcome the seekers because we were once seekers too.

Christmas is almost here. Hearts are already stirring. And the glory of the Lord is drawing near.

So let’s make room.

Let’s open our lives.

Let’s welcome those God is bringing.

Because when seekers show up — Jesus is already in their story — and we get the joy of helping them take their next step toward Him. We get to be the first glimpse of Jesus they encounter.

Prayer

Communion