Jesus Is Our King - Ken DeChant - 12.21.25

We followed the star with the Magi and let their gifts preach. Frankincense points to Jesus as our High Priest—the mediator who bridges the chasm our sin created and brings peace with God. Myrrh whispers of a cross and a tomb—He came to die so we can live. And gold declares what too many of us overlook: Jesus is our King. Not a ceremonial figurehead, not a sentimental title, but the true Sovereign whose authority is real and whose reign is good.

Our culture loves the word “king” in movies, burgers, and sports, but we’ve lost the weight of kingship. In Scripture, a king’s character determined the destiny of his people. Bad kings take life; good kings give life. Jesus is the good King who came to give life. Paul foresaw the day He would be revealed as King of all kings, and John saw Him unveiled—radiant, victorious, riding in majesty. When His kingship moves from theory to the throne of your heart, that’s when life begins to flourish.

Matthew shows three responses to this King: Herod resisted; the religious leaders dismissed; the Magi worshiped. Resisting says, “I’m the ruler of my life.” Dismissing says, “Maybe later.” Worship says, “You get the throne.” Worship isn’t just singing louder; it’s surrendering control. Every one of us has an inner throne, and something sits there—relationships, work, image, security, even good things we’ve made ultimate. Jesus won’t share that seat. If He isn’t King of all, He isn’t King at all.

His reign doesn’t promise cupcakes and unicorns; it promises His presence, peace in the storm, and the adventure of obedience. He wants to call the shots in your relationships, identity, finances, words, and steps—not to shrink your life, but to set it free. Clear the throne. Let the High Priest who sacrificed Himself for you now reign over you. Under His rule, you won’t just survive—you’ll flourish.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is the good King A bad king drains life from his people; a good king gives life to them. Jesus uses authority to protect, provide, and lead us into flourishing, not fear. Let His goodness dismantle the suspicion that surrender will make life smaller. Yielding to Him opens space for real life to grow. [13:44]
• 2. Worship looks like surrendered control Worship isn’t primarily about volume or vibe; it’s about who occupies the throne of your heart. Surrender reorders loves, decisions, and habits under His leadership. When Jesus calls the shots, obedience becomes the truest praise. [23:22]
• 3. Examine your inner throne daily The throne never sits empty; something always rules us—success, comfort, image, even family. Good things make cruel kings when given ultimate place. Ask daily: who’s deciding my yes and no? Clear the seat, and invite Jesus to fully reign. [24:02]
• 4. Beware resisting or dismissing Jesus Herod resisted out of threatened self-rule; the religious leaders dismissed out of indifference—and both missed the King. Resistance is obvious; dismissal is subtle, death by delay. Curiosity without movement is still disobedience. Choose the posture of the Magi: rise, seek, bow, give. [21:53]
• 5. Jesus: Priest, Sacrifice, and King Frankincense, myrrh, and gold unveil a whole gospel—He mediates, He dies, He reigns. Many embrace forgiveness but ignore His authority; both belong together. Let the One who saved you now lead you, and watch grace become guidance, not just pardon. [06:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:04] - The star and the long journey
• [01:54] - Entering the house and the gifts
• [02:55] - Frankincense: Our High Priest
• [04:06] - Myrrh: He came to die
• [05:55] - Gold: Jesus our King
• [06:44] - What kingship really means
• [08:18] - Scripture’s unveiling of the King
• [12:42] - Good king vs. bad king
• [15:44] - Responses begin: Herod resists
• [20:28] - Religious leaders dismiss
• [22:50] - Wise men worship and give
• [24:02] - The throne of your heart
• [27:53] - King of all or not at all
• [33:24] - Invitation to surrender and next steps

Bible reading

Matthew 2:1-12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On 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, frankincense and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Observation questions

1. When the Magi saw Jesus, what did they do and what did they give? How do those actions show more than curiosity? ([01:54])
2. In this story there are three clear responses to King Jesus—who resisted, who dismissed, and who worshiped? ([15:44])
3. How far was Bethlehem from Jerusalem, and what’s significant about the religious leaders not making that short trip? ([20:28])
4. What does the gift of gold communicate about who Jesus is? ([06:07])

Interpretation questions

1. In Scripture, a king’s character shaped the life of the people. If Jesus is a good King, what should life under His rule look like—and how does that push back on the fear that surrender will shrink life? ([13:44])
2. If worship is surrendering control, what does it look like to move from “singing about Jesus” to “letting Him call the shots”? Be specific, not theoretical. ([23:22])
3. Why might indifference (“maybe later”) be as spiritually dangerous as open resistance? How does the five-mile detail expose the danger of delay? ([21:53])
4. “If Jesus isn’t King of all, He isn’t King at all.” Why is partial surrender so unstable and unfruitful? What does this teach about the nature of His kingship? ([27:53])

Application questions

1. The inner throne is never empty. What is actually sitting there for you right now—success, comfort, image, a relationship, security? Name a good thing that’s become ultimate, and one step you’ll take this week to clear the seat for Jesus. ([24:02])
2. Where are you resisting or dismissing Jesus today—an area you keep delaying with “maybe later”? What small act of obedience will replace delay with movement this week? ([21:53])
3. Jesus wants to call the shots in relationships, identity, finances, words, and steps. Choose one area and describe a concrete decision you’ll make under His leadership in the next seven days. ([28:18])
4. If faith has felt boring or flat, where might you be keeping Jesus off the throne? What “next step” of obedience would reintroduce dependence and adventure with Him? ([29:08])
5. Build a daily practice to examine the throne. What simple rhythm will you try—morning kneel and “Jesus, you’re my One,” a nightly review of your yes/no, or something else? Share it and how you’ll keep it. ([25:53])
6. The Magi bowed and gave. What will “bow and give” look like for you this month—time, generosity, confession, a hard yes to His leading? Be specific. ([22:50])
7. Surrender can feel risky. Which promise about the good King do you need to hold onto right now (His protection, His peace, His good rule)? How will you remind yourself when fear rises? ([26:47])