NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the YOU curriculum.
Bible Passage: Matthew 2:1-11, 16-18
Discussion Questions:
— How were you first drawn to worship Jesus?
— Where do you see Herod-like belief in action in our culture today?
— How would you describe the connection between gifts and worship?
Food for Thought:
Most churches try their best to offer convenience when it comes to worship. That’s not a bad thing. We need to try to remove any obstacles believers might encounter in worship. We have climate-controlled spaces and preferred parking for seniors, visitors, and expectant mothers. Coffee is often available in the foyer and, since the pandemic, many churches offer a streaming option allowing worship from the comfort of home.
It’s easy to forget that there are people half a world away that risk their lives to worship with other believers. For them it takes planning and a little cunning. Some don’t have access to Bibles. They pass around scraps of Bibles salvaged after the last confiscation in the village by authorities.
We might worship in comfort, ease and convenience, but we are a slim minority in the long history of the worshiping church, including the Magi who made the arduous journey to kneel at the feet of the Christ child.
Read Matthew 2:1-11, 16-18. From the start we are introduced to Herod the Great, a villain through and through. He came from Edomite roots (archenemies of the Jews). He was a friend to Marc Antony but enemy to Cleopatra. He was well connected. His father and Julius Caesar were friends. But it’s obvious from the start that Herod was a jealous, vindictive, conniving ruler. In the middle of all this tangled mess, God sent His Son.
This story also shows us what it’s like to completely miss God. Herod was a politician, not a theologian. He called all the chief priests and scribes to find where the prophesied King was to be born. They knew the answer from the prophet. It was Bethlehem. It’s fascinating to realize that these teachers and theologians knew so much Scripture and yet they didn’t take the first step toward Bethlehem.
Herod worshiped at the altar of self. His world orbited around his overblown ego and narcissism. There’s nothing good in all the unspeakable, gratuitous violence Herod wrought other than a reminder that the enemy of Christ is real. And the enemy of the innocent remains on this Earth. It is the spirit of Herod that stands opposing the Spirit of God.
— The spirit of Herod seeks to destroy anyone it feels threatened by.
— The spirit of Herod gladly murders children for personal gain.
— The spirit of Herod believes he is not culpable as long as the sword is not actually in his hand.
— The spirit of Herod tells lies to unsuspecting bystanders in the hopes they will do his work.
— The spirit of Herod will never be satisfied because his stomach is never too full for violence.
Like the Magi, we also see the seekers who are watching, waiting and searching for God. They may have come from different faith backgrounds, but when they catch a glimpse of the Messiah, they lavish the Lord with radical worship and sacrificial giving. Matthew keeps a simple registry of the gifts the Magi showered on Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Each had symbolic connotations:
— Gold: A symbol of royalty. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords.
— Frankincense: A valuable incense used for worship in the temple. Jesus is the cornerstone of an incorruptible temple not made by hands, worthy of worship.
— Myrrh: An expensive perfume for embalming and a disinfectant. Jesus’ great sacrifice cleansed us from the stain and stench of sin.
As believers, our worship is a gift to God. In our private and corporate times of worship we offer the gift of our lives. Paul urged us to give up our lives as an act of worship that is holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). This is what worship entails.
YOU
YOU is committed to providing a complete Bible study experience for small groups and classes. Every session is written through an urban and multiethnic lens that provides relevant, engaging and applicable studies that not only encourage and equip people, but also motivate them to mission. This flexible, non-dated, all-in-one quarterly resource offers weekly Bible study for leaders and learners, devotionals and teaching plans, as well as articles on hot topics and missions. For additional downloadable online teaching resources, visit You.Lifeway.com.
Other ongoing Bible study options offered by Lifeway for all ages can be found at Lifeway.com.
Related posts:
LifeWay celebrates new headquarters in Nashville 
4 entity heads address messenger questions 
Half of pastors support Trump, but many are hesitant to share preference 
Bible Study: Jesus’ healing ministry revealed His identity, His love 
Rainer shares tips on church hospitality 
LifeWay trustees approve new division, elect vice president for technology 
Bible Study: Why does God allow suffering? 
Generation born since ’83 takes new view of authority, he says
