How Committed Are You?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: The definition of commitment is-
to do; perform; perpetrate:
to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.): Asked if he was a candidate, he refused to commit himself.
to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge: to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.
to consign for preservation: to commit ideas to writing; to commit a poem to memory.
to give in trust or charge, especially for safekeeping; consign; commend:
Matthew’s Gospel is the only account in which the wise men are listed. God must have felt it necessary for us to know about these men in order for it to be recorded. Why is that? When you stop and think about this event, The Christmas story as it is, we see the shepherds, the residents of the town of Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph, and then we have the wise men. The wise men represent the Gentiles. He came to the Jews and they rejected Him, but the wise men, theirs is a different story all of its own.
Scripture Reading:
1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Proposition:
Transition:
How Committed Are You to Seeking Out Jesus- Vs 1-2
Exposition-
First Matthew records- “after the child was born” and Herods words “young child”
This shows that there had been a significant amount of time between the birth and their arrival
Illustration
Application
How Committed Are You to Worshiping Jesus- Vs 10-11a
Exposition
Illustration
Application
Transition
How Committed Are You to Giving to Jesus- Vs 11b
Exposition-
Gold-
Frankincense- Tradition says that it symbolized Christ’s divinity. Primarily used for worship. Ingredient for the incense that was burned in the tent of meeting.
Myrrh- Tradition says that it symbolized Christ’s death. It was also used for the anointing oil in the tent of meeting.
Illustration-
Application-
Transition-
How Committed Are You to Following Jesus- Vs 12
Exposition-
Illustration-
Application-
Conclusion