In Sermon Illustrations: "Matthew 2:1-3:1"

Joy

Contributed by Terry Laughlin on Aug 11, 2008

Joy In Galatians 5: 22 we read that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy. The Greek word means an inner gladness, a deep pleasure which comes from an inner assurance and confidence that God does all things for His good purposes. This joy is not the same as the joy found in ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:22, Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Fruit Of The Spirit

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Explosive Christmas Story  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 7, 2009

THE EXPLOSIVE CHRISTMAS STORY James Martin tells about a trip to the Holy Land. While there, he buys a nativity set for his Sunday School class. It was carved out of olive wood in the town of Bethlehem and had all the traditional figures: sheep and oxen; wise men and the shepherds; Mary, Joseph, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-23

Tags: Birth Of Jesus

Horror Stories From ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 6, 2010

Horror Stories from Refugees Hushidah Bagam is 20. For two years now, she has lived in a squalid bamboo and corrugated iron hut in a Bangladesh refugee camp. But what she left behind in neighbouring Myanmar (formerly called Burma) was worse. “The soldiers came to our village In the middle of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Tags: Hardship Of Life

Happy Is The Man Who Walks So Close To God, That ...

Contributed by Rodelio Mallari on Dec 12, 2010

"Happy is the man who walks so close to God, that he leaves no room for the Devil to come in between." — Anonymous ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18

Tags: God In The Hardships

Denomination: *other

Where's The Baby?

Contributed by Johnny A. Palmer Jr. on Dec 24, 2011

WHERE'S THE BABY? Luis Palau tells of a wealthy European family that decided to have their newborn baby baptized in their enormous mansion. Many people were invited, it was an elegant and elaborate affair. They took off their coats and laid them on the bed in a designated room and soon the time ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:21-40, Matthew 2:2

Tags: Christmas

Denomination: Baptist

The Fourth Gift Of The Magi  PRO

Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Jan 3, 2013

THE FOURTH GIFT OF THE MAGI David Dewitt states, "Though there are still many questions about the Magi that may be left unanswered, we can determine that they brought a fourth gift that is often forgotten by many. After they laid their treasures down before Mary and Joseph, they worshipped Jesus. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Christmas Eve

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Poinsettia

Contributed by David Simpson on Dec 19, 2014

There are a lot of symbols at the Christmas season. All represent something. Santa Claus, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, etc. I’ve always admired the beauty of poinsettias, and decided to do a little research on them. You may know that they were named after Joel Poinsett, who happened to be the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Christmas, Wise Men, Star Of Christmas, Poinsettia

Denomination: Christian Church

Gold, Frankincense, & Myrrh

Contributed by Gerald Manning on Dec 21, 2015

The little boy was no more than seven years old. It was time for Church, and he wanted to take his teddy bear, whom he had always called Frank. His parents protested, but he insisted that he had to take Frank, today, and they finally relented. When the offering plates were passed, he put the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:11

Tags: Offering, Giving, Tithing

Denomination: Nazarene

Expectations Of The Messiah

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

Reza Aslan writes in his book “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth”: “The Jews of Jesus’ time had conflicting views about the role and function of the messiah….Some believed the messiah would be a restorative figure who would return the Jews to their previous position of power and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1

Tags: Messiah, Expectations

Denomination: Methodist

Best Christmas Illustration Ever!  PRO

Contributed by Tim Smith on Aug 13, 2017

The brand new pastor and his wife were assigned to their first church in Brooklyn and were to reopen it. They arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw the church, it was run down and needed a lot of work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1

Tags: Christmas Reunion, Christmas, Advent

Denomination: Methodist

Politics And Religion

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Nov 19, 2019

Politics always competes with religion (joining it, tolerating it when it must, and absorbing it when it can) in order to promise, if not a life beyond, then a new deal on this earth, and a leader smiling charismatically from the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4, Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 23:1-25

Tags: Hope, Politics, Culture

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Magi -- Who Were They?

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

Lambert Dolphin writes: “The ancient Magi were a hereditary priesthood of the Medes (known today as the Kurds) credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. After some Magi, who had been attached to the Median court, proved to be expert in the interpretation of dreams, Darius the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Wise Men, Magi, Kinds, Seers

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Magi And Zodiac

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Nov 25, 2019

Henry Morris [When They Saw the Star] goes on to postulate, as have others, that the original signs of the Zodiac painted a picture of the Gospel. The virgin (Virgo) would give birth to the Messiah (pictured by Leo the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Wise Men, Magi, Zodiac, Stars, Astronomers, Astrologers  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Race

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 22, 2021

A Race A race was organised between Goliath and David. Now, when the race started, both Goliath and David started running at an equal pace but after a few seconds, David got ahead of Goliath. Seeing David getting ahead, Goliatha increased his pace but was unable to match the David’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Tags: David, Race, Goliath

Denomination: Other

Una Carrera

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 26, 2021

Una carrera Mateo 2:16-18 Se organizó una carrera entre Goliat y David. Ahora, cuando comenzó la carrera, tanto Goliat como David comenzaron a correr al mismo ritmo, pero después de unos segundos, David se adelantó a Goliat. Al ver a David adelantarse, Goliatha aumentó ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Tags: David, Goliath

Denomination: Other

Isang Lahi

Contributed by Dr John Singarayar Svd on Dec 26, 2021

Isang Lahi Mateo 2:16-18 Isang karera ang inorganisa sa pagitan nina Goliath at David. Ngayon, nang magsimula ang karera, parehong nagsimulang tumakbo sina Goliath at David sa pantay na bilis ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang segundo, naunahan ni David si Goliath. Nang makitang nauuna si David, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:16-18

Tags: David, Goliath

Denomination: Other

Where Is He?

Contributed by Loyd C. Taylor on Dec 8, 2023

Where is the Hope of our salvation? Where is the cause of the celebration? Where is the One sent from above? Where is He, the Divine Gift of love? Where is He, born the Jewish King? Where is He of whom angels sing? Where is the One that shepherds seek? Where is He of whom wise men speak? Where is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Tags: Christmas Poems, Christmas, Advent, Birth Of Christ, Poetry, Presents  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Herod The Great

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 15, 2023

"In modern research on Herod, the most discussed issue concerns the impact of his reign on his Jewish subjects. Opinions vary. Some scholars paint a picture of a cruel tyrant, even a maniac suffering from a personality disorder, who introduced the ancient version of a Gestapo state with an ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-13

Tags: Christmas, Herod The Great, King Herod, Wisemen, Wiseman  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Star In The East

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Dec 19, 2023

On November 28 of this year, I was driving west from my house at about 7 in the evening. It was quite dark already. As I looked through the windshield of my vehicle, I saw a line in the sky. A bright white line. Because it was so far away, this line in the sky must’ve been half a kilometre long. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-18, Numbers 24:17

Tags: Birth Of Jesus, Wiseman, Christmas, Bethlehem, Magi, Star  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Silent Night Holy Night

Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Dec 20, 2023

"Silent Night" is one of the most beloved Christmas carols, known for its serene and tranquil melody. The story behind the song begins in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in 1818. The lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr, a young priest, and the music was composed by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25, Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:4-20

Tags: Silent Night Holy Night, Stille Nacht, Christmas, Christmas Season, Carols, Birth Of Jesus Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational