What kind of light can a star give; Details changed my life (4-5)

Title: What kind of light can a star give?

Matthew 2:1-12

Theme: Discovering Jesus in the unexpected places.

Goal: That we can be part of discovering Jesus in unexpected places so others may know.

Introduction:

Me: orientation: (find common ground with the audience)

Details change our lives don’t they:

Mom:

·        Mom went for test, said they found a little something

·        Doctor two days later

Almost falling down a quarry caused me to seek the meaning of life.

We: Identification (Make it clear that you struggle)

What kind of light can a star give? If you are out of the city it looks brilliant but still lighting ones path… hum

For astrologers from the east Babyloian enough light was cast to have these men make a journey.

While I hear people tell me they struggle to tell me they struggle to see God in their journey I believe we struggle most when we attempt to look in two directions. It gets clearer if we remained centered and focused.

In truth I believe that maybe the thing causing us difficulty with Christmas is memorialize instead of sacrifice. We make it about us rather than Christ.

God: illumination (The goal here is to resolve the tension by pointing people to God)

I.            Finding the one?

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."

A.     Where is Jesus today?

1.    I can tell you directly you won’t find him in a manger or under a tree.

2.    Maybe he is in the poor, marginalize in our world.

3.    Scriptures

a.     Not in Herod all he wanted is power & control and to protect that

b.     Didn’t find him in the religious community, they were too busy answering questions and ignoring others

c.     Heathen Gentiles who saw a light

B.    Upside Down Kingdom

Baby born in poverty, we find God shows up in the unexpected to the unaccepted .

1.    Fragile, vunerable and unexcepted

2.    Lower rungs of economic latter

3.    Birth always be question

4.  This was unexceptable… Jesus with the lowely, outcast,..

II.          Discovering Jesus in sacrifice

A.     Christianity is a journey not an event.

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

1.    Are you walking in the journey or do you see Christianity as an event.

B.    Resources

11On 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 and of incense and of myrrh

1.    (worship):First things you hold in worth

·        Opened there treasures to him

·        He makes the decision

·        What ever he needs

·        Jesus uses what you have in your hand to touch the lives of others.

-          What is in your hand now

-           

III.        Demonstrate his presence through love

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35

·        Willingness to lay down my life for others

A.     Do what is front of you

B.    Love

C.    John 3:16 where is the one?

You: Application (tell people what to do with what they have heard)

Conclusion:

Today I encourage you in your journey of discipleship to walk in the light by:

·        Finding the one

·        Discovering Jesus in the sacrifice

·        Demonstrating the love of Jesus

We Inspiration is an emotion identify, vision casting