Follow Along with the Message

Onboard or Off the Rails

Pastor Aaron Andrews

Welcome to post-Christmas!  Not sure what that looks like at your house today, but we’re going to see what it looked like after the first Christmas. 

1. What do we do with Christmas?

a) Honestly, we’re a lot  than we were four weeks ago! We know a lot more about Jesus and what He came to accomplish. Many of you have taken significant spiritual steps this month.

b) We’re going to take one last, not so talked about…or beloved, look at Christmas today.

2. King Herod (Matthew 2:1a)

a) Herod was a part Jewish,  king of the state of Judea under the authority of Rome.

b) He was, in many ways, the  of his destiny, going where he wanted, and living as he pleased.

3. The Wise Men (Matthew 2:1b-2)

a) Yep, that’s right, the famous “” have arrived in Jerusalem!

b) As it turns out, no one else had been paying much attention, and Jesus’ birth had not caused anyone to take notice or connect any prophetic dots. (Mattew 2:3-6) (Note: Matthew 2:7-8)

c) They find Jesus, they “worshipped” him and gave him their gifts just as they had planned. This is where things start to go .  (Note: Matthew 2:9-12)

4. King Herod’s Response (Matthew 2:16)

a) He uses the timetable that he had gotten from his earlier conversation about when the star had appeared, and then went to work. (Matthew 2:16)

b) Let’s take a minute to think about what Herod  did.

5. What Does This Mean for Me?

a) Jesus’ birth is an amazing gift to each of us.

b) This gift also creates .

c) We are each caught up in this tension; will I surrender to King Jesus or will I go my own way?

Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey! Let us know, too, by filling out a digital connect card.