Wise Men: Intentional Worship, Sacrifice, and Global Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional worship: coming to bow before the King

The wise men crossed deserts and borders for one purpose: to worship the One born King. Their journey reminds you that worship is not accidental; it is a chosen direction of the heart and the feet. You can make the same choice each day—before tasks, before screens, before worries—to come and adore Jesus. Worship does not wait on a building or a band; it rises from a grateful heart in a living room, a car, or even an aisle at Home Depot. Set your course toward Jesus today, and let your life become a steady arrival at His feet. Begin where you are, and let the journey be your offering to the King. [46:17]

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11 — After Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, wise men came from the east asking, “Where is the One born King of the Jews?” They had seen His star and came to honor Him. The star led them on until it rested over the place where He was; overwhelmed with joy, they entered, bowed low, and offered Him treasures.

Reflection: What is one specific way you will intentionally arrive at Jesus’ feet tomorrow morning before anything else competes for your attention?

Day 2: The star still shines: God’s providence in chaos

Herod’s fury could not stop God’s plan, and neither can the turmoil around you. The gifts carried by the wise men became provision for a young family’s flight and safety, reminding you that God sees ahead and supplies what will be needed. When life feels fragile, kneeling becomes a doorway to trust, not a sign of defeat. You are not forgotten; your circumstances are not stronger than His sovereignty. The same God who guided by a star now guides by His Spirit and His Word, sustaining you step by step. Bow low, breathe deep, and remember that the light still leads. [50:52]

Matthew 2:13-15 — After the visitors left, Joseph was warned in a dream to take the child and His mother to Egypt because danger was coming. He left that very night, and they remained there until God said it was time to return, fulfilling what had been spoken long before.

Reflection: Where do you feel most threatened or uncertain right now, and how will you practice kneeling—literally or figuratively—to entrust that specific situation to God this week?

Day 3: A high view of Scripture that renews the mind

Herod called for experts because he did not know the promises; you are invited to know them personally. Scripture is not a cold record but a living word that shapes how you think, choose, and love. As you read, discuss, and prayerfully wrestle with it in community, your mind is renewed and your steps become aligned with God’s good will. This is how you learn to test and approve what pleases Him rather than drifting with the world’s patterns. Small, steady habits—ten minutes here, a conversation there—add up to deep transformation over time. Open the Book, and let the Book open you. [52:40]

Romans 12:1-2 — In light of God’s mercy, offer your whole self to Him—this is true worship. Don’t be squeezed into the world’s mold; let your mind be made new so you can recognize and embrace what God wants—what is good, pleasing, and complete.

Reflection: Choose one passage to live with all week; what will it be, and when—specifically—will you meet God in it each day?

Day 4: Sacrifice as worship: holding everything loosely

The wise men didn’t just sing; they opened their treasures, showing that worship costs us something. Scripture calls you to offer your body, time, and resources to God as a living sacrifice—held loosely, available for His purposes. Praise rises from lips He opens, but the sacrifice He cherishes most is a broken and contrite heart that says, “It’s all Yours.” When gratitude fills your mouth, grumbling and gossip lose their grip. Let your generosity, your schedule, and your yes to God become a chorus of worship far beyond Sunday. Open your hands, and you will find your heart opening too. [56:43]

Hebrews 13:15-16 — Through Jesus, keep bringing God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that speak His name. Don’t forget to do good and to share with others; these are the kinds of sacrifices that delight His heart.

Reflection: What one comfort, habit, or resource will you place on God’s altar this week as worship, and how exactly will you offer it?

Day 5: To the ends of the earth: a global King, a local witness

From Gentile travelers to Kenyan believers and neighbors in a parking lot, the gospel keeps crossing borders and backyards. Jesus’ birth is good news for every nation, and His commission sends every follower—no exceptions—to make disciples. You are not a reservoir meant to store truth; you are a river meant to carry it. The Spirit supplies power; Jesus supplies authority; His presence goes with you as you go. Start small but start: a conversation, a prayer, a shared scripture, an invitation. As His peace increases, so does your courage to carry His name. [10:52]

Matthew 28:18-20 — Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Therefore, go and make disciples of every people group, immersing them in the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach them to practice everything He commanded. He promises to be with you always, right to the end of the age.

Reflection: Who is one person—perhaps of a different background or zip code—you will intentionally bless with the good news this week, and what first step will you take in the next 48 hours?

Sermon Summary

Christmas draws our attention to the quiet, stubborn light of Jesus that still breaks into a chaotic world. I walked with the Magi in Matthew 2 and pointed to three threads running through their story: intentional worship, real sacrifice, and the international reach of the gospel. These travelers didn’t come to sample spiritual options; they came to bow. They moved their lives around one purpose—worshiping the King—and their posture challenges us to make worship an intentional daily choice, not a weekly event or an emotional impulse.

We also watched how God wove provision into obedience. The gold, frankincense, and myrrh weren’t merely symbolic; they funded a refugee family’s survival in Egypt when Herod tried to choke out God’s plan. When God calls, he also sustains. That same providence still meets us—maybe not with bags of gold, but with enough light to take the next step.

The Magi also expose the danger of biblical illiteracy. Herod knew power; he didn’t know Scripture. Many of God’s people know church rhythms but neglect the living words that rebuke, steady, and guide. So I urged us to take a high view of Scripture—read it, wrestle with it together, and let it renew our minds so we can discern God’s will in real time.

Sacrifice is worship. Paul calls our very bodies living sacrifices, and Hebrews calls praise itself a sacrifice. I shared about Gary in Jamaica who, while standing on stacked barrels to paint his church, told me he was grateful because his sins were forgiven. That cut through my Western clutter. Forgiveness is not a footnote; it’s the center—a reorientation that produces durable gratitude even in lack.

Finally, the reach of the gospel isn’t theoretical. A small church in North Carolina helps feed believers in Kenya and built a gathering place in Pakistan. We stand under the same commission: go, baptize, teach, and trust Jesus to be with us. Locally, our weekly parking lot prayer has made us known as a people who are available and present. Transformation is the evidence that we’ve met Christ: not perfection, but unmistakable change—more love, more peace, a new interior life under a new King. Merry Christmas—may the Prince of Peace meet you with fresh light and a deeper yes.

Key Takeaways

1. Worship on purpose, wherever you are Intentional worship is not tied to a building or a band; it’s a posture we carry into kitchens, job sites, and hospital rooms. The Magi crossed miles to bow; we cross minutes to begin the day with gratitude and surrender. Worship re-centers our loves and loosens our grip on control, so we can face the day from our knees rather than our nerves. Make worship your first movement, not your last resort. [53:21]
2. Take Scripture seriously, not casually Herod had access to priests but no anchor in God’s Word; confusion filled the space where conviction should have been. We need a high view of Scripture that goes beyond underlining verses to letting them interrogate our choices. Read in community, ask hard questions, and let Scripture set the agenda when your instincts disagree. Illumination often arrives after persistence, not before it. [51:46]
3. Offer yourself as living sacrifice Sacrifice is not dramatic heroics; it’s the daily availability of your body, time, and resources for God’s purposes. Hold everything loosely and let God decide how to spend what he first gave you. As your mind is renewed by Scripture, you’ll recognize His will more easily and resist the world’s scripts. Worship is measured in yielded lives, not just lifted hands. [63:14]
4. Remember: forgiven, therefore profoundly grateful When Gary said, “Because my sins have been forgiven,” he named the root of unshakeable gratitude. Forgiveness reframes scarcity, disappointment, and delay; it tells us the biggest mountain has already moved. We don’t minimize pain—we relocate it under the greater mercy of the cross. Start gratitude at the cross, and your thanks won’t evaporate when circumstances thin out. [60:12]
5. Join the gospel’s global reach The Magi’s journey hints at a King for all nations, and Jesus’ commission removes any doubt. Whether through technology, local prayer, or resourcing partners abroad, ordinary believers get caught up in an extraordinary mission. Don’t overcomplicate your part: learn, obey, and teach what you’ve learned to someone else. Love travels farther than your passport when your heart is available. [70:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[42:38] - Tech hiccup and Christmas greeting
[43:50] - Series intro and Magi background
[45:30] - Three themes and Matthew 2
[46:17] - Intentional journey to worship
[49:20] - Worship, gifts, and God’s provision
[51:46] - Don’t repeat Herod’s biblical illiteracy
[53:21] - Psalm 95 and worship anywhere
[56:43] - The cost and scope of the journey
[59:49] - Jamaica story: gratitude redefined
[63:14] - Living sacrifices and renewed minds
[68:12] - Global reach: Pakistan and Kenya
[70:52] - Great Commission for every believer
[72:22] - Local prayer ministry impact
[76:27] - Closing blessing and invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Matthew 2:1-12

Observation questions

In Matthew 2:2, what did the Magi say they had come to do, and how certain were they about who this child was?
In Matthew 2:11, what did the visitors do first when they saw the child, and what gifts did they offer?
How does the story show God providing for Jesus’ family through the Magi’s gifts, and what danger made that provision necessary? ([49:20])
What was King Herod’s initial reaction to the news of a newborn king (Matthew 2:3), and what does that reveal about him?

Interpretation questions

What does it mean to make worship an intentional choice and not just a weekly moment? How might worship look in everyday places, not just in a church building? ([53:42])
The Magi’s gifts helped a refugee family survive. What does this teach about the way God weaves provision into obedience, giving “enough light to take the next step”? ([50:36])
Herod had religious experts on call but no anchor in Scripture. What happens to a person or a church when access replaces engagement with God’s Word? ([51:46])
Scripture calls believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. How is “sacrifice as worship” different from dramatic moments, and why is a renewed mind essential for this? ([01:03:14])

Application questions

Start with worship, not panic: What is one simple way you can begin your mornings this week with gratitude and surrender before anything else? Be specific—words you’ll pray, a place you’ll kneel, a time you’ll set. ([53:59])
Take Scripture seriously: What plan will you follow for opening your Bible with others in January (a reading plan, a weekly meet-up, a text thread)? What’s one area of life where you need Scripture to challenge your instincts? ([52:07])
Offer yourself as a living sacrifice: What is one part of your daily life—your schedule, your skills, your home, your car—that you will hold loosely and offer for God’s purposes this month? Name it and how it will be used. ([01:03:40])
Gratitude rooted in forgiveness: Where has disappointment or scarcity been loud in your life? How will you put your gratitude back at the cross this week—naming, out loud, “Because my sins have been forgiven”? ([01:00:12])
Join the gospel’s global reach: What is one next step you can take in the next 14 days—pray for a specific partner, give to a project, share a Bible study with someone, or teach what you’ve learned to one person? Choose one and set a date. ([01:08:35])
Be locally available: What is one practical way you can be present and available to your neighbors this week—offer prayer, check on someone, show up where people hurt? Decide when and where you’ll do it. ([01:12:22])
Look for real change: If transformation is the evidence of meeting Christ, what change has begun in you lately—more love, more peace, a new willingness to obey? What’s one small step you’ll take this week to cooperate with that work? ([01:14:45])

Sermon Clips

Such an incredible picture of provision. God's still doing that for us, church. He's still doing that. He's still providing for us. He's still on the throne. And we look around this world and we see how crazy and how just nuts everything is. One thing remains true. The star still shines. And Jesus Christ is still the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Amen. Bless God. And I wish I was there to hear the thunderous amen that would have come after that. [00:50:31] (33 seconds) #GodStillProvides

Because the book that we have called the Bible is a living document. It's full of wisdom and instruction. And it's full of faith and power. And it tells us all about grace and forgiveness and the love of God and the mercy of God. And it tells us about all the things that are going to happen. So, there's no reason for us as Christians to ever be caught off guard. Because we have the book that's been 100% accurate 100% of the time. And so, we need to take a very high view of scripture. [00:52:40] (32 seconds) #BibleIsLiving

There's an intention about coming to God's house or coming together as God's people. And it's great to come together as a group. And it's great to have a praise team that can come and sing for us and lead us into worship. But you don't have to wait for that. You can do that in your living room. You can do it in your backyard. You can do it basically anywhere that you are. I've done it in the middle of Home Depot before. [00:53:37] (24 seconds) #WorshipAnywhere

And so I have great faith and great trust in what God can do to a life that is yielded to him. And so one of the first places that we can do that is through intentional worship, not haphazardly, not kind of like checking the boxes or going through a religious exercise, but just presenting ourselves to him and just saying, God, I am so grateful, and I just worship you for who you are. You are the great God. You're the famous one. You're the ancient of days. And then one day you're going to appear in the sky, and you're going to take us home. And bless God, what a day that's going to be. [00:55:57] (38 seconds) #IntentionalWorship

He got it completely. It's not about stuff or where we are or where we're born or who we are or anything else. It's all about the fact that a Savior long ago was born for the sole purpose of dying for my sin. And it touched me so much. It brought tears to my eyes. And I stood there on the top of that thingand in a couple of, in a few minutes, kind of reassessing my whole life. And it's a very humbling moment when you realize how foolish that you've been and how you've added things to the gospel that just simply are not there. [01:00:36] (43 seconds) #ChristIsEnough

And so one day when you face a righteous and a holy God, you won't have to come up with all kinds of excuses. All you'll have to come up with is I know Jesus and he covered me. And then God is going to invite you into that kingdom. It's going to be an incredible time. And so sacrifice, what are you willing to sacrifice for the gospel? [01:02:51] (22 seconds) #CoveredByJesus

We'll be able to know that because we will have studied the scriptures and we'll see that our lives are lining up with that and that we know that we are pleasing him and that we know that we're in his will. And so we don't have to walk around here wondering if we're pleasing God or not. We can know that. [01:05:14] (18 seconds) #ScriptureInAction

It's all wonderful when it works and it's a pain when it doesn't, but so far it looks like it's working this morning, so bless God for that. But it's just not that difficult to reach people if you have a heart for God and a heart for people and that you want to see the gospel preached to the ends of the earth. [01:10:08] (20 seconds) #ShareTheGospel

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