Seeking
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Advent
Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Sermon Outline
People seeking “life” should watch for how God leads them, because when brought to Christ they find joy.
1. Wise men
vv1-2 “wise men from the east came… “Where is he….? we saw his star ...”
2. Scribes/chief priests
vv5-6 “They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet…”
3. Herod
vv3-4 “When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled...
vv7-8 “…search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
4. Jesus
v6 “for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel”
v12 “…being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed…”
vv10-11 “…they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly… they saw the child… they fell down and worshiped him… they offered him gifts…”
Prayer of Confession
Our sovereign God, forgive us. We are wanderers unable to see what is all around us. We continually fail to recognize your presence and provision. We ignore your leading. We assume we know more than we do. We put ourselves in your place and try to orient the world around us. Who is gracious as you are, coming for the very people who have wandered from you? Thank you for sending Jesus into the world. Thank you for being a shepherd who calls us, leads us, and protects us. We come before you in worship, in the name of Jesus. Grant us joy this Christmas. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What are you searching for in life?
How does God work through circumstances? What cautions do we need to exercise when trying to interpret what we are seeing and experiencing?
What role does the Bible play for anyone seeking God?
What can you do if you are seeking but not finding?
Why is sincerity important for seeking God? Why does seeking God need to be personal, and not just an exercise in gathering information?
How is Jesus the key help for people seeking God? What difference does his coming make?
Does your life with God have joy in it? How can that joy deepen and become more consistent?