December 8, 2024

Where Is The King? – Matthew 2:1-2

Ice Breaker

1. Read Matthew 2:1-12.
2. Sing: What Child Is This? If you need help, google the lyrics.

Loving God Unreservedly

3. What title did the Magi give to Jesus? (vs. 2; Ps. 72:10-11; cf. Is. 60:6)
4. What are some various presents we might give to Christ?
5. Do you ever approach God, not needing anything from him, other than just to simply worship him? What can we learn from the Magi? (Is. 2:2–5; 11:10, 12; 14:1; 49:22; 56:3, 60:3, 6, 11)
6. Why should we worship the Lord? (Rev. 21:24-26)

Loving People Sacrificially

7. Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
8. What prompts people to make great sacrifices for others?
9. Observe that Herod was troubled. (vs. 2) Why was all Jerusalem troubled? (Ps. 89:51; Acts 4:24-27; Rev. 17:12-14)
10. The chief priests and scribes knew the Old Testament and did not go to Bethlehem, yet the Magi traveled from the East to see the king of the Jews. (vv. 4-6; cf. Micah 5:2) Why is it important that we not simply know the Word but also be doers of the Word?

Making Disciples Purposefully

11. What starlike, and shinning deed can you do today to point a non-Christian friend to Christ? (Lk. 1:78; 2 Pt. 1:19; Rev. 22:16)
12. What gift of time, effort, or money would demonstrate your love for Jesus this week?

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study)

13. Research: The Promised King - God promised David that one from his own line would rule forever over an everlasting kingdom. (2 Sam. 7:12–13)
14. a) While Israel’s kingdom crumbled, the prophets kept the promise alive. (Isa. 9:6–7; Jer. 33:17; Ezek. 34:23–24)
15. b) After centuries of waiting, Matthew announces that this “son of David” has arrived. (Matt. 1:1)
16. c) He traces Jesus’ lineage right through David, “the king” (1:6), and up to Joseph, another “son of David” (1:16, 20), who adopts Jesus into this royal line.
17. d) As a consequence of his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus is already reigning as King, though we do not yet see the full manifestation of his rule that will occur when he returns.
18. Incarnation - Mary “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” (Matt. 1:18) This is a great mystery. We call it the incarnation, which literally means “en-fleshing.”
19. a) In a singular moment of time, just over 2,000 years ago, the God who created all things entered this creation and became a part of it. (Jn. 1:1-14)
20. b) In Jesus Christ, God became a man. Jesus is not half-man and half-God, but he is truly man and truly God, and both, so to speak, in full.
21. c) He is this human “child” inside of Mary, and yet he is also to be called “Immanuel,” which means, “God with us” (1:23).