Breakthrough | January 4, 2026 | Sermon

Christmas is affirmed as a twelve-day festival that culminates with Epiphany, a season framed around the disclosure of divine light breaking into human darkness. The narrative reframes the familiar story of the magi: they are not merely wise sages but magi—astrologers from the East—whose skills brought them to the wrong city until God redirected them through scripture, dreams, and a guiding star. Ancient prophecy (Micah) becomes a conduit for revelation, showing how God uses his own Word to reorient seekers who are otherwise misled by the world’s wisdom. Even political scheming and cruelty—exemplified by Herod’s secret plot—are not beyond God’s ability to subvert; plans meant for harm are repurposed to fulfill God’s purposes and draw outsiders into worship.

When the magi finally stand before the Christ child, the moment signals something cosmic and intimate: the Messiah is sent for all people, and those perceived as furthest from God are drawn nearest. Encounter with Jesus produces a profound response—joy that transcends circumstances, worship expressed through costly giving, and an irrevocable change in trajectory. The sleep-vision that warns the magi not to return to Herod symbolically teaches that genuine encounter with the light compels a new way of living; believers leave the scene of darkness by another road.

This telling pushes beyond seasonal sentimentality to insist that Epiphany remains active in the life of faith: God continues to break through whatever darkness the new year or any personal past may hold. The light of Christ is both historical and present—revealed in scripture, mediated by providence, and experienced in the daily reorientation of a life transformed. Those who have seen this light are summoned to carry it: joy sustained by encounter, worship as response, and a changed pathway outward to a world in need. The closing charge is practical and hopeful—do not rush past the season, but expect that God will continue to reveal his light, break through darkness, and send the faithful out renewed into the coming days.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God breaks through any darkness God’s action is not limited by the depth or duration of a person’s night; divine light penetrates situations the world deems hopeless. This assurance reframes suffering as a stage where revelation can occur rather than a verdict of abandonment. It invites patience and expectancy when clarity has not yet come. [01:38]
• 2. God reveals truth through Scripture Scripture functions not merely as ancient text but as an active guide for contemporary seekers, redirecting those misled by worldly wisdom. The prophetic word called the magi away from Jerusalem and toward Bethlehem, demonstrating that divine revelation often works through remembered promises. This honors both the continuity of God’s plan and the present necessity of paying attention to God’s Word. [06:31]
• 3. God repurposes evil into good Even calculated human schemes are not outside God’s sovereignty; what is intended for harm can be turned to accomplish holy ends. That inversion does not minimize evil’s cost but testifies to God’s ability to wrest meaning and redemption from broken human intentions. The faithful are invited to trust God’s redemptive economy amid moral chaos. [09:16]
• 4. Encountering Christ changes life’s direction Meeting the Christ child caused the magi to depart by another road—an emblem of how genuine encounter reorients desires, decisions, and destinations. Conversion is not only belief but a re-routing: worship leads to renewed vocation and different relationships. This is a practical marker of authentic faith: paths change. [19:13]
• 5. Joy is deeper than circumstance The joy that results from seeing the light of Christ is not a mere emotional spike but a durable orientation that persists through sorrow and uncertainty. It permits honest lament while sustaining hope, enabling worship even in brokenness and grounding mission in gratitude. Such joy becomes a witness to the world’s deeper reality. [16:05]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:26] - Keep Christmas Twelve Days
• [01:38] - Epiphany: Light Breaks Through
• [04:08] - Who Were the Magi?
• [06:31] - Scripture Guides the Search
• [07:14] - Herod’s Secret Plot Exposed
• [10:58] - Magi Meet the Messiah
• [16:05] - Joy That Transcends Circumstance
• [19:13] - Sent Away a New Way
• [20:33] - Enter the New Year with Light

Bible reading

Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV)
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, 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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

‘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.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 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.” 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. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 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. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Observation questions

1. According to the text, what was the initial reason the magi went to Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem, and how did their "common sense" play a role in that decision? [05:00]
2. When Herod became troubled by the news of a new king, how did God use the words of the prophet Micah to redirect the magi toward the right location? [06:31]
3. What specific details did Herod try to learn from the magi in secret, and what was the hidden motivation behind his request for them to report back? [07:14]
4. After the magi found the child, what were the three specific responses they had to being in the presence of Jesus? [18:28]

Interpretation questions

1. The magi are often described as "outsiders"—astrologers and seekers from a distant land. What does their inclusion in the story of Jesus’ birth reveal about the reach of God’s grace and who the Messiah was sent for? [12:22]
2. Herod’s secret plot was intended for harm and the preservation of his own power. How does this narrative demonstrate God’s ability to subvert human evil and repurpose it to fulfill his divine plans? [09:16]
3. Upon seeing the star again, the magi were filled with a joy that "goes beyond circumstances." How does an encounter with the "true light" of Jesus produce a different kind of joy than the temporary happiness the world offers? [16:05]
4. The magi were warned in a dream to return home by "another way." Beyond just a change in travel plans, what does this detour symbolize regarding the spiritual transformation that happens when someone truly encounters Christ? [19:13]

Application questions

1. Epiphany is a reminder that God’s light breaks through any darkness. What is a "dark" area of your life right now—perhaps a situation that feels hopeless or uncertain—where you need to expect God to break through with his light? [01:38]
2. The magi were led to the wrong city because they relied on worldly logic. Have you ever followed what seemed like a "logical" path only to realize God was trying to redirect you through His Word? How did you handle that redirection? [05:00]
3. Scripture functioned as a guide for the magi when they were lost. What is a specific Bible verse or promise that has recently served as a "guiding star" for you during a time of confusion? [06:31]
4. We are invited into God’s presence not because we are perfect, but because He meets us where we are. How does knowing that Jesus rules with humility and love, rather than cruelty and domination, change the way you approach Him in worship? [14:35]
5. Genuine encounter with Jesus results in a "changed trajectory." In what practical way is your life currently heading in "another way" or a new direction because of your faith in Christ? [19:13]
6. Joy in Christ allows us to hope even in the midst of sorrow or pain. How can you share this "durable joy" with someone in your life who is currently struggling or sitting in darkness? [18:02]
7. As we move further into this new year, how can you be more intentional about looking for the ways God is revealing His light to you in your daily routine? [21:06]