Sermon Tone Analysis

HKBC English Service

*The King’s Early Days on Earth*

Augsutine Chow

*Scripture: *Matthew 2:1-18 (NIV)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi 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.' " 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.

11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

9-12 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

"Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.

Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod.

And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." 16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

*Date: *24 April 2016 (HKBC English Service)

*Time: *40 Minutes

*Targets: *Hong Kong Baptist Church newly started the English Worship for the returning overseas graduates, English speaking families, families with children studying in International Schools who do not speak cantonese.

The congregation draws 100 persons.

40% youth students, 50% English speaking married couples, 10% Mothers of the English speaking families.

Majority are HKBC members.

5-6 new comers each time.。

*Situation:* The Gospel of Matthew About the Messiah – Its relevance to a Young Congregation, Mothers, and Youth

*Fallen Focus: *Traditional focus on this passage was a beautiful scenary of a peaceful Christmas, with focus on the Magi’s searching, offering to the new born King.

Little was said about the the nature and meaning of a new born King of Judea, and the meaning of the fulfillment of the prohpecies.

The gospel of Jesus the *Messiah* was born, then, in a land and at a time of trouble, tension, violence and fear.

Before the Prince of Peace had learned to walk and talk, he was a homeless refugee with a price on his head.

This is how Israel’s redeemer was to appear; this is how God would set about liberating his people, and bringing justice to the whole world.

No point in arriving in comfort, when the world is in misery; no point having an easy life, when the world suffers violence and injustice!

If he is to be Emmanuel, God-with-us, he must be with us where the pain is.

*Big Idea: *The new King was “Born where the suffering is.

Be wise.

Seek and follow Him.”

HKBC English Service

*The King’s Early Days on Earth!*

Augsutine Chow

*Sermon Outline*

#. *The Wise Seek and Worship Him *(2:1-2; 9-12)

Go, Search, Find – Worship – Offer – Fullfilled– *BE OVERJOYED*

#. *The Wicked Plot Against Him *(2:3-8; 16)*: *

Disturbed - Summon – Plot – Slaughter – *BE RAGED *

#. *The Prophecies Fullfilled *(2:13-15; 17-18)

Called – Obey - Take Suffering - Return – *BE FULLFILLED *

*SUMMARY: *

In a time of trouble, tension, violence and fear, the Messiah King was born with glory and worship.

He was taken to exile so that he can be with us where the suffering is.

Be wise.

Do not give the devil a foothold.

Be guided by your own star.

*Sermon (Finish in 40 minutes)*

【*INTRODUCTION*】

One morning the young new president of a bank made an appointment with his predecessor to seek some advice.

He began, “Sir, as you well know, I lack a great deal of the qualifications you already have for this job.

You have been very successful as president of this bank, and I wondered if you would be kind enough to share with me some of the insights you have gained from your years here that have been the keys to your success.”

The older man looked at him with a stare and replied: “Young man, two words: /good decisions./”

The young man responded, “Thank you very much, sir, but how does one come to know which is the good decision?”

“One word, young man: /experience./”

“But how does one get experience?”

“Two words, young man: /bad decisions./[1]/

/

Today’s sermon is about making good decisions, bad decisions, and cultivating an intimate experience with Jesus, the Messiah.

The text is Matthew 2:1-18.

You all are familiar with this passage, aren’t you?

It is often talked about during Christian.

But today, our focus is not on Christmas.

I suggest we put on our new glasses, to look at the passage from Matthew’s point of view, to understand the meaning of the prophecies fulfillment that is hidden in the core message of Matthew.

Why are the prophecies fulfillment so significant, and relevant to our experience with Him today?

Let’s first pray.

(253)

【*PRAYER*】

Our heavenly father, we pray that you open our eyes and hearts today.

Help us understand the truth of the scripture.

In this period of trouble, tension, violence, and fear, guide us with your sign of star in our life, help us grow with your wisdem.

Enable us to be obedient to your calling.

Equip us with the empathy and sympathy to the people you put around us who are suffering.

Empower us to enrich our intimacy and experience with you.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

(87)

【*SERMON*】

Imagine you are in Christmas.

You hear people sing: “Hark!

The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!”

You see the angels announcing the birth of Messiah to the shepherds in the fields.

They shepherds came to worship the new born baby in the manger At the same time 3 wise men, the Magi [meidʒai] from the east came to offer the new born baby with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

(picture)

Cut! Hey, wait a minute.

If you read the bible close enough, the fact is probably not what you were told in a Christmas story.

The Magi did not meet the new born king in a manger, but they came to a house (2:11), where they were not meeting a baby, but a child (2:8,9,11, and throughout the chapter).

When really happened?

Matthew 2:1 says: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.”

(NIV) From history we know, King Herod lived from 47 b.c.

till 4 b.c.

So the story began probably took place when Jesus is no more a new born baby, but a child of 2-3 years old living with his parents, Joseph and May in a house.

Who is King Herod?

What do we know about the Herods’ family?

Christ was born when Herod the Great */(47–4 b.c.) /*was ruling.