Sermon Title: Dealing With Unfamiliar People
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
Mt 2:6 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.' "
Mt 2:7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
I. Background
A. Several months, perhaps two years, after the birth of Christ.
B. Magi were learned men from Persian, and Syria who studied the stars.
C. Thy were not Jews and they were not Christians.
D. We do not know their names, how many there were, nor whether they were really kings.
II. The Magi were strange, unfamiliar people who were seeking Christ.
A. Gentile – the nations outside of Israel. ie: outsiders
B. Strange and unfamiliar dress, language, beliefs.
C. Unfamiliar with the customs and the politics of the region.
D. Seen by many as a threat or a sign of a coming threat.
E. Unfamiliar people seeking Christ in familiar ways.
III. God sought to reveal Christ to the world, including unfamiliar people.
A. Jews are the chosen people yet they broke their covenant with God and rejected His son as savior.
B. Jesus took his message first to the Jews but always was willing to minister to the needs of Gentiles.
C. The apostle Paul focused his life and ministry on taking the gospel to the Gentile world.
D. We are here today because God chose to reveal Christ to unfamiliar people.
E. The Magi were protected and guided at every step. They could not fail as long as they kept seeking.
IV. Unfamiliar people require us to make adjustments.
A. Consider the faith and courage (adjustments) required for unfamiliar people to enter into worship with others.
B. Consider the humility (adjustments) required for Saul to become Paul.
C. Consider the love (adjustments) required for Jesus to leave his heavenly home and dwell among us and then die for us.
V. We should embrace unfamiliar people who are willing to embrace God.
A. We are God’s people by the same grace that He extends to others.
B. As God’s people, He expects us to have the heart of Christ, which is to love those whom he loves (God and others).
C. Our mission is to follow Christ and make him known to a world filled with unfamiliar people.
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