Sunday Worship Service Livestream


January 4, 2026
  • Welcome and Announcements
  • Good, Good Father
  • Prayer of Invocation
  • God The Son
  • O Come, All Ye Faithful
  • Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
  • Spirit Of The Living God
  • Father I Adore You
  • Pastor's Message - Light to the Gentiles
  • Father I Adore You



Matthew 2:1-12

  • 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
    2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
    3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
    4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
    5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
    6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
    7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
    8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
    9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
    10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
    11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
    12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.


SERMON NOTES - Light to the Gentiles

INTRODUCTION
  • Today is Epiphany Sunday.
  • In a biblical context, an epiphany could describe a manifestation or revelation of God in which He appears, reveals, or makes Himself known through Scripture, dreams, visions, direct encounters, or transformative moments of revelation.
  • The season of Epiphany celebrates the revelation or theophany of God in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It comes on the heels of the Christmas season, and in a sense closes out the Christmas season and is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday closest to Jan. 6. Specifically, it remembers the visit of the magi who came to Jerusalem in search of the King of the Jews in order to worship Him, which is why Epiphany is also called Three Kings' Day.
  • The visit of the three kings or Magi is traditionally a part of the Christmas celebration, however, in all probability the wise men or magi didn't arrive until much later with speculation ranging from two months to two years after the birth of Jesus.
  • The Bible describes them as Magi, the name for priests and wise men among the Medes, Persians and Babylonians - great, powerful men of influence. Magi were a group of scholars, even scientists, specializing in the study of astrology and enchantment and became known as enchanters and magicians. They were men of wisdom who studied the stars. It was a specific star, and I would propose a supernatural star, that launched them on their journey and brought them to Jerusalem.
  • Have you ever wondered though the significance of their visit? Why did they come a long way from another country?
  • The only definitive reason the Bible records is their own testimony - "where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." They came to worship Him!

THE VISIT GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY
  • It is interesting that it is only Matthew who records the visit of the wise men. What does that matter? Consider that Matthew's gospel is often regarded as the most Jewish of the four Gospels, and was written primarily for a Jewish or Jewish‑Christian audience.
  • The irony is that the most Jewish of all the Gospels deliberately echoes the major OT prophecies about Gentiles coming to the Messiah.
  • In Matthew's narrative, the Magi are the first Gentiles to publicly acknowledge the birth of the Messiah. They are the first representatives of the Gentile nations acknowledging Jesus, the first fruits of the prophetic vision of the Old Testament and with their visit Matthew is showing the beginning of what Isaiah foresaw (Isaiah 60:6).
  • The visit of the magi underscores the universal recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Yes, He is the Jewish Messiah, but He is also the Savor of the entire world.
  • The journey of the Magi, gentiles from a distant land, symbolizes the inclusion of Gentiles in God's redemptive plan. The message of the angel to startled shepherds was "do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people" (Luke 2: 10). Their arrival is not an addendum to the Christmas story but the fulfillment of prophecy and the acknowledgment of Jesus' His divine identity and mission.

THE VISIT EXPRESSES A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS
  • The wise men came searching the King of the Jews and while they may not have had a full Jewish theological framework it seems clear that they understood Him to be the promised, divinely appointed Messiah.
  • Herod was not a true king of the Jews in the historic, biblical, or ethnic sense. He held the title only because Rome gave it to him, not because he fulfilled the Jewish requirements for kingship.
  • The visit of the Magi underscores again the words of the apostle John concerning Jesus - "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him" (John 1:11). The world was looking for a Sovereign; instead they got a Servant. They wanted a Messiah of power and might; instead they got one who was humble and meek.

THE VISIT ENCOURAGES A RIGHT RESPONSE
  • One of the primary words translated "worship" in both the Old and New Testaments is "to bow down, to fall prostrate, or to kiss." That is the word used here in Matthew 2:9-10.
  • When the Magi fell down and prostrated themselves before Jesus, not only are they indicating that they know who He is, but they humbled themselves before Him with the appropriate response.
  • They were ready to worship. The told Herod, "we have come to worship Him." They were not waiting for the star to enable them to worship, or even depending on finding Jesus to worship. In other words they were not depending on some outside source to generate worship; they brought their worship with them. There was a sense of expectancy to being in the presence of Jesus.
  • I wonder what we expect to happen we when we come to church? Do we really anticipate having an encounter with God? Do we anticipate experiencing His presence? Do we bring our worship with us? They were looking, searching for the Messiah and when they found Him they fell down and worshiped Him.
  • The Magi brought their gifts with them which leads me to a simple observation - They were prepared to give! The adoration of their hearts and their worship manifested in giving to God They came prepared to offer the appropriate gifts for a King!