Advent - A New King: Week 2
Opening Prayer:
Lord God,
This Advent season grant us the courage to bring our unvarnished selves to You.
No hiding, no excuses, no prevaricating.
All we are we offer You in this season when we remember all You offered us and all You did for us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Key Scripture:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12
Today is week two of our Advent series; Advent — when we take the time to pause and reflect on the coming of Jesus into the world. If you missed Sunday’s talk you can catch up below: (Looking for the text summary? You can find that here.)
Discussion Guide:
The Void and The Promise
1. The "Kingless" Problem: Amelia suggests that we often reject the idea of a monarchy, although it seems we long for a ruler. When we reject this notion, we tend to make ourselves the ruler.
Reflect: Amelia references the time of the Judges - "In those days Israel had no king, and everyone did as they saw fit" (Judges 21:25). Looking at the world around us (or within us), what are the consequences when "everyone does as they see fit"?
2. The Prophecy (Isaiah 9:6):
Read: Isaiah 9:6. Amelia breaks down the four titles given to this promised child. Which of these four aspects of Jesus do you feel the greatest need for in your life right now?
Wonderful Counsellor: One who guides steps and introduces the Way to Life .
Mighty God: The One with power over death and darkness.
Everlasting Father: The enduring, compassionate provider who never abandons.
Prince of Peace: The bringer of wholeness, wellbeing, and ender of conflict.
3. Deep Dive: A Tale of Two Responses: Let’s reflect on two responses to Jesus’ arrival: Herod and the Magi. We identify who is King in our lives by looking at our worship and our sacrifice:
A. The Way of Herod (Self-Preservation)
Herod was ruled by himself; he worshipped his own power.
The Result: He sacrificed others (the children of Bethlehem) to save himself.
Discussion: It is easy to judge Herod, but in what subtle ways do we sacrifice others (our time for them, our patience, our resources) to maintain our own comfort or control?
B. The Way of the Magi (Self-Giving)
The Magi found joy and purpose in Jesus.
The Result: They sacrificed their treasures (gold, frankincense, myrrh), their plans, and their safety (changing their route home) to honour the King.
Discussion: the Magi "shifted their plans because of Jesus". When was the last time following Jesus caused you to significantly shift your plans or give up something valuable?
Practices:
Individual Practice: A "Throne" Audit
The sermon asks, "Who are you following?" and notes that if we aren't intentionally formed by Jesus, we are unintentionally formed by something else.
The Activity: Take 10 minutes this week to audit your "worship and sacrifice".
Check your Calendar: What takes up your most prime time?
Check your Bank Account: Where do your resources flow most easily?
Check your Anxiety: What fear is driving your decisions? (Herod was driven by fear of losing control).
The Goal: Identify one area where "Self" is currently ruler and intentionally submit it to Jesus.
Communal Practice: Advocates of Peace
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and while we wait for His return, we are called to "advocate and speak and act for peace alongside our Prince of Peace".
The Activity: As a group, identify a place of chaos or "war" in your immediate context. This could be:
A literal conflict in your neighborhood.
A relational breakdown.
A chaotic situation for a specific family in need.
The Action: How can this group step in to bring "wholeness and wellbeing" (Shalom) to that situation this week? Move beyond praying for it to actually acting for it.
Prayer
Lord God,
You are the true King, and we thank You for Your mercy and grace that You show to us each day,
And the forgiveness You offer to us when we have strayed and chased after other gods, other “kings”.
Teach us humility and obedience so that we may humbly offer Your love to those You have called us to reach out to and walk alongside.
For Your Kingdom’s sake,
Amen.