Sermon title: Wisdom from a King

Sermon text: Matthew 2:7-12 NLT 

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them

the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search

carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go

and worship him, too!”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east

guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the

child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house

and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and

myrrh.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God

had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Scripture: Matthew 2:10 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-3 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King

Herod. About that time some wise men[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem,

asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,[b] and we

have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem

Point: Any leader that can't take a back seat to Jesus is a liability and not an asset. 

Scripture: 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And

when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east

guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the

child was.

Point: What to do vs. How to get there

Takeaway #1: Read the room 

Takeaway #2: Be honest about what you see 

Takeaway #3: Avoid the threat