The Magi’s Guide To The Galaxy Series

THE MAGI’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

A CHRISTMAS STORY PART II

INTRO:

1. BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 2:2b SEE THE STAR

We saw his star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Evidence of God Around Us: I hear story after story of people who say “God never did anything for me.” The say “God never showed me anything.” But yet, here we are. Pagan magicians from thousands of miles away, no Sunday School, no Church, no youth group, no Super Summer, no dodgeball league. They just looked up into the stars, and saw EVIDENCE OF GOD.

What About Those Who Never Heard?

A. God Reveals Himself Through Nature: Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

B. God Reveals Himself Through Hearts: Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Back to the Star…

Once They Saw It THEY DIDN’T TURN AWAY: They could have ignored it. They could have ignored the calling they felt from God and ignored it.

Famous Celebrity Testimony: I was reading a biography lately, it was about one of these teen music sensations (honestly, if I could remember the name, I would tell you). But while I was reading her biography, it said that she had been a born again Christian for 3 years in HS before stopping church attendance. Her answer for stopping was “the church kept judging me for the clothes I wore, and they kept judging me for my view on homosexuality. If only the church wasn’t so judgmental, maybe it would be for me.” See, this celebrity saw the star, but that is it. Like the seed choked out along the path, so was her faith also choked out.

Young Girl in our Youth Group: There was a young middle school girl who was sold out for Christ. Legit! Then her parents got unplugged, said there was nothing this church could offer them, nothing any church could offer them. She begged and pleaded them to come, but they stopped. Then they moved away to follow a career—Dad was going to be a life coach. When success didn’t come, he divorced his wife, and has returned back to faith. But NOT the daughter. The last time I talked with her she said, “there really isn’t a belief for what I believe, so I am trying to find one that fits.” Do you see the difference here. People see the star, the indicators of Christ, but want to make Him fit their lives—not make their lives fit His.

2. BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 2:1b FOLLOW THE STAR

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.

A. THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHERE THE STAR WENT: Who the heck goes anywhere when they don’t know where to go? These guys saw a star, and went.

Trip to Kansas City: On Friday, I will be in a 12 passenger van going to Grandma’s house for Christmas. I will spend a whole day packing up the children, getting the van cleaned out, packing the van, loading up 2 dogs including one that doesn’t really walk anymore. Then the kids will follow along the trip by the map I will color for them: Wentzville, Warrenton, High Hill, Kingdom City, and it goes on and on. We will arrive perfectly in time for dinner, and we will be fine.

But not these guys, they don’t have a clue. Not about how much money, how much food, how much clothes, nothing. They didn’t just move, they moved a lot. They followed after the star with a reckless abandon, and they didn’t even know God! What is our excuse my friends, what is our excuse?

B. THEY REARRANGED THEIR LIVES: Did work stop them? Did school stop them? Did popularity stop them?

Popular Opinion: Just for curious sake—I took a look at what the “popular” people were doing:

Paris Hilton: Just showed up to a party wearing a Halloween costume of a cop—in December!

‘Lil Wayne: Just got busted for drugs near the Mexican border, 100s of ounces, and he is going to come to St. Louis for a concert in January.

Miley Cyrus: Just turned 16 years old: she didn’t get her Mercedes, just a Porsche.

Jennifer Anniston: Just took the cover of GQ magazine (if MS, don’t mention specifically what the picture is of, but for the record, she is nude wearing only a tie, but that is for HS only).

Popular Opinion: Says life is about fashion, drugs, style, & cars. Life should be about ME, about WHAT I WANT, but not to these Magi! They gave up their fortune for A CHANCE TO FIND THE NEW KING!!!