Responses to the King: A Call to Worship
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound implications of Jesus' birth as depicted in Matthew chapter 2. This narrative is not just a historical account but a call to examine our own responses to the King of Kings. We began by reflecting on the apathy of the religious leaders who, despite their deep knowledge of the Scriptures, failed to act upon the news of the Messiah's birth. This serves as a cautionary tale for us today, reminding us that mere knowledge of Christ is insufficient without a heart that is moved to action and worship.
We then turned our attention to Herod, whose reaction was one of hostility and opposition. Herod's fear of losing control over his kingdom mirrors the human heart's natural resistance to surrendering authority to Christ. This narrative challenges us to confront the "little Herod" within us, the part that clings to self-rule and resists the transformative power of Jesus.
In contrast, the Magi, outsiders and unlikely worshippers, responded with genuine worship and surrender. Their journey to find Jesus, guided by a star, symbolizes the grace of God reaching out to all, regardless of background or past. The Magi's willingness to offer their treasures to Jesus exemplifies the true response to recognizing Him as King: surrender, generosity, and obedience.
As we reflect on these responses, we are invited to consider our own. Are we indifferent, hostile, or worshipful? The birth of Jesus presents us with a choice, and our response has profound implications for our lives and our relationship with God. Let us strive to be like the Magi, who saw the King for who He truly is and responded with wholehearted worship.
Key Takeaways:
1. Apathy of the Religious Leaders: The religious leaders knew the Scriptures but failed to act on the news of Jesus' birth. This warns us that knowledge without action leads to spiritual stagnation. We must guard against becoming complacent in our faith, ensuring that our knowledge of Christ moves us to worship and service. [49:03]
2. Herod's Hostility: Herod's reaction to Jesus' birth was one of fear and hostility, reflecting the human heart's resistance to surrendering control. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and recognize the "little Herod" within us that resists Christ's rule. True discipleship requires surrendering our desire for control to Jesus. [01:06:02]
3. The Magi's Worship: The Magi, despite being outsiders, responded to Jesus with worship and generosity. Their journey symbolizes God's grace reaching out to all people. This teaches us that true worship involves surrendering our treasures and lives to Jesus, recognizing Him as the ultimate King. [01:15:05]
4. God's Inclusive Grace: The inclusion of the Magi in the story of Jesus' birth highlights the wideness of God's grace. It reminds us that God's love and salvation are available to all, regardless of background or past. We are called to extend this grace to others, welcoming all into the family of God. [01:13:13]
5. Choosing Our Response: The birth of Jesus presents us with a choice: indifference, hostility, or worship. Our response to Jesus as King has profound implications for our lives. Let us choose to respond with worship, surrendering our lives to His rule and allowing His love to transform us. [01:16:06]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Introduction and Global Mission
[46:19] - Prayer and Reflection on Matthew 2
[49:03] - Apathy of the Religious Leaders
[01:01:46] - Herod's Hostility and Fear
[01:05:20] - Herod's Reaction and Human Heart
[01:06:02] - The Little Herod Within Us
[01:09:54] - Root of Rejection and Human Control
[01:11:58] - The Magi's Journey and Worship
[01:13:13] - God's Inclusive Grace
[01:15:05] - Surrender and Generosity
[01:16:06] - Choosing Our Response to Jesus
[01:17:42] - Prayer for Surrender and Worship
[01:30:46] - Closing and Call to Fellowship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 2:1-12
- Psalm 24:1-6
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the different reactions to Jesus' birth from the religious leaders, Herod, and the Magi as described in Matthew 2? [50:48]
2. How did the religious leaders respond to the news of Jesus' birth, and what does this reveal about their priorities? [49:03]
3. What actions did Herod take upon hearing about the birth of Jesus, and what motivated these actions? [01:01:46]
4. How did the Magi's journey and actions demonstrate their response to Jesus as King? [01:11:58]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the apathy of the religious leaders in Matthew 2 suggest about the dangers of having knowledge without action in one's faith? [49:03]
2. In what ways does Herod's hostility towards Jesus reflect the human heart's resistance to surrendering control? [01:06:02]
3. How does the inclusion of the Magi in the story of Jesus' birth illustrate the wideness of God's grace and the inclusiveness of His kingdom? [01:13:13]
4. What can we learn from the Magi's response to Jesus about the nature of true worship and surrender? [01:15:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be apathetic towards Jesus, similar to the religious leaders? How can you move from knowledge to action in your faith? [49:03]
2. Consider the "little Herod" within you that resists Christ's rule. What specific steps can you take to surrender control to Jesus in your daily life? [01:06:02]
3. The Magi offered their treasures to Jesus. What are some "treasures" in your life that you might be holding back from God, and how can you offer them to Him in worship? [01:15:05]
4. God's grace is inclusive and reaches out to all. How can you extend this grace to others in your community, especially those who might feel like outsiders? [01:13:13]
5. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between indifference, hostility, or worship in response to Jesus. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it guide your future responses? [01:16:06]
6. How can you ensure that your faith is not just a "distant insurance policy" but an active and living relationship with Jesus? [50:48]
7. Identify one area in your life where you can practice greater generosity and obedience to Jesus this week. What specific action will you take? [01:15:05]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Knowledge Without Action Leads to Stagnation
The religious leaders in Matthew 2 had extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, yet their hearts remained unmoved by the news of Jesus' birth. This serves as a powerful reminder that intellectual understanding of Christ is not enough; it must be accompanied by a heart that is responsive and active in worship. Knowledge without action can lead to spiritual stagnation, where faith becomes a mere intellectual exercise rather than a living, dynamic relationship with God. We are called to ensure that our understanding of Christ propels us into a life of worship and service, avoiding the complacency that can come from knowing but not doing. [49:03]
Jeremiah 7:23-24 (ESV): "But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward."
Reflection: In what areas of your life have you allowed knowledge of God to become stagnant? How can you take a step today to turn that knowledge into action and worship?
Day 2: Surrendering Control to Christ
Herod's reaction to the birth of Jesus was one of fear and hostility, as he perceived a threat to his own authority. This mirrors the human heart's natural resistance to surrendering control to Christ. We often cling to our own sense of self-rule, resisting the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. True discipleship requires us to confront the "little Herod" within us, surrendering our desire for control and allowing Christ to reign in our hearts. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to let go of our own agendas and embrace His will. [01:06:02]
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 3: Worship Through Surrender and Generosity
The Magi, despite being outsiders, responded to Jesus with genuine worship and generosity. Their journey to find Jesus, guided by a star, symbolizes the grace of God reaching out to all people. The Magi's willingness to offer their treasures to Jesus exemplifies the true response to recognizing Him as King: surrender, generosity, and obedience. This teaches us that true worship involves not just words but actions that reflect our recognition of Jesus as the ultimate King. We are invited to examine our own lives and consider how we can offer our treasures—our time, talents, and resources—in worship to Him. [01:15:05]
2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: What is one "treasure" in your life that you can offer to Jesus today as an act of worship and surrender?
Day 4: Embracing God's Inclusive Grace
The inclusion of the Magi in the story of Jesus' birth highlights the wideness of God's grace. It reminds us that God's love and salvation are available to all, regardless of background or past. This challenges us to extend the same grace to others, welcoming all into the family of God. We are called to be conduits of God's grace, reaching out to those who may feel like outsiders and inviting them into the transformative love of Christ. This requires us to examine our own biases and barriers, ensuring that we reflect the inclusive nature of God's kingdom. [01:13:13]
Ephesians 2:13-14 (ESV): "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."
Reflection: Who in your life might feel like an outsider to God's grace? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week and extend the love and welcome of Christ?
Day 5: Choosing Worship Over Indifference or Hostility
The birth of Jesus presents us with a choice: indifference, hostility, or worship. Our response to Jesus as King has profound implications for our lives and our relationship with God. We are invited to choose worship, surrendering our lives to His rule and allowing His love to transform us. This choice is not just a one-time decision but a daily commitment to live in alignment with His will. As we reflect on the responses of the religious leaders, Herod, and the Magi, we are challenged to examine our own hearts and choose the path of worship and surrender. [01:16:06]
Joshua 24:15 (ESV): "And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Reflection: Reflect on your current response to Jesus as King. Are there areas of indifference or hostility in your heart? How can you choose to respond with worship and surrender today?
Quotes
"Herod was a very cruel tyrant leader. He's an ancient Darth Vader. That's essentially what he's like. He had three of his sons killed because of his paranoid drive to retain his own crown. He had his favorite wife. I don't know if you can call it favorite wife. He had his favorite wife also killed as an effort to retain his power. Caesar Augustus once said about him that it's better to be Herod's pig than Herod's son. And that was a play on words because in Greek, pig and son sound very similar. But it's true. You might be treated better as a pig to be slaughtered than his own son." [01:01:51] (36 seconds)
"Herod himself was an Idumean, which means he was half Jewish, which means he came to power because of Roman politics. He was not actually from the royal line. And so when foreigners come searching for the one born king of the Jews, his radar goes up. There's a threat. So when born, I came through political means. His panic and manic feelings begin to rise. His rage rises. And troubled really doesn't cover or capture what's going on. It means he's thrown into rage." [01:04:29] (37 seconds)
"Herod shows us a another response. Not apathy, opposition, hostility. Herod doesn't just represent a villain in the gospel story, in the birth story of Jesus. He actually represents a picture of the human heart. Because at the base of Herod's reaction is the condition of every human heart apart from Jesus. Herod shows us the human reaction to a human heart. And so he's not just a king that threatens our control of our lives. The king of Jesus." [01:05:26] (37 seconds)
"Herod heard the same scriptures, the same gospel presentation that the religious leaders began to understand. The religious leaders began to understand, there's the one born king of the Jews, he's come, and they're apathetic. Herod hears it. He actually has, I think, a legitimate response. He believes it, and he responds by taking it out. He hears the good news. He actually had a chance. This is the good news. He actually had a chance. This is God's mercy. He gives Herod a chance to hear the birth of the king. He has a chance to surrender, but he chose to live in rebellion." [01:07:52] (36 seconds)
"Herod shows us also that if you hate the child, you hate the king, Jesus, you'll always end up hurting people in your life, right? He hates the child, and he ends up slaughtering many children. Hating Jesus, rebelling and opposing Jesus always leads to human pain and consequences. It may not react the same way as Herod, but if you think about all the drama and thin and pain in your life that isn't caused by natural things, interpersonal, relational things, most of that happens if you trace the root far enough because of our rebellion to the king's way, rebellion to the king's rule." [01:10:15] (50 seconds)
"They, in the modern terms, it would be like someone who's the leader of the occult or new age spirituality coming to follow Jesus. And they're the ones, surprisingly, not the religious leaders, not the actual legal king of the Jews, it's the outsiders, the sorcerers of the pagan world who come to seek the Lord. And this, again, shows us how wide the grace of God, again, is." [01:12:46] (27 seconds)
"He includes surprising people in the genealogy. His arms of grace are open to the Gentiles of this world, even sorcerers. It shows us the wideness and the depth of God's mercy and love. It reminds us the inclusiveness of Christ. He welcomes all, no matter background or sin, his salvation is open to all people. It doesn't matter what you've done or who you are or where you've come from. He's open to all people. He's open to all people. He's open to all people. God's mercy is wider, stronger, and more powerful than our sin." [01:13:13] (34 seconds)
"Following Jesus is never about adding a religious system to our life. It's not about our life. It's ultimately not even about you. It's about a king who humbly came into this world to offer salvation from the heart of Herod that we all have, and from the indifference that is possible if you know too much but don't have a heart that's surrendered." [01:16:06] (23 seconds)
"This king of Jesus doesn't come to take the land and its people by force. He comes offering a choice. How will you respond to me? Indifference? Hostility? Or worship? And that's the question we have to ask ourselves today as we consider who Jesus is. How will you respond? Let's pray." [01:18:09] (24 seconds)
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