WELCOME ICEBREAKER

What is your favourite tradition related to Christmas?

WORSHIP

Take time to sing or have those in the group give thanks for what God is doing in their lives.

WORD

Read Matthew 2:1-20.

• What do you think it was like for these wisemen to leave their country and go to Jerusalem and search for the King of the Jews?
• We know they were Gentile people living in Persia or perhaps Arabia. What sacrifices would they have had to make?
• What would they have to bring?

The gifts they brought were a reflection of who they would worship. The frankincense (which represented a priest), the gold (which represented a king) and the myrrh (which was used to embalm people represented a saviour). Jesus of course was all three of these. These gifts no doubt cost them something, not to mention the expense of travelling over the desert for months to get there.

• What do you think was the reaction of Joseph and Mary when the magi arrived?

God spoke to the magi through a star since they were astrologers. For a carpenter God speaks in carpentry terms, for a farmer in farming terms and for a computer wiz in computer terms. These men are famous for they followed their star. God gives each one of us a star (a dream, a vision or a life long ambition) to follow.

• What is the “star” you feel God has put in your life?
• The wisemen of magi gave up a lot to follow the star to Jesus. What have you given up to follow After Jesus?

The Bible makes it clear that the star went out after they left to find the King of the Jews. In Matthew 2:2,9 we read it was past tense that they HAD seen the star. In verse 10 they rejoice with great joy when it reappeared which if it was shining all the time would not have been a big deal. And if the star was shining all the time they would not have asked where He was. In all of our lives there is a time when our “star” seems to go out. We started following it and then suddenly it is as if God has left us on our own. Now by raw faith He expects us to follow the direction He gave us, to walk by faith and not by sight.

• What should we do as Christians when it seems like our “star” or dreams have gone out?
• What steps of faith did the magi take that we can learn from?

WORK

Remember to encourage your group to invite their friends to the Christmas Eve Services at 6:00pm and 7:30pm.