The Magic of Christmas #3 - Finding Jesus in All the Wrong Places // Chris Holm

Sermon Summary:
We explored the fascinating story of the Magi – not the three kings of Christmas card fame, but Persian astrologers who practiced a form of wisdom that God's people were actually told to avoid. Yet mysteriously, God invited these pagan scholars to witness something extraordinary. These educated stargazers could get themselves to Jerusalem through their learning, but they needed Scripture's wisdom to find Jesus in tiny Bethlehem. Their journey shows us three key insights about wisdom: true wisdom comes from God, human understanding has real limits, and worldly wisdom often misses what matters most. While their education and star charts could point them toward a king, only God's revelation could bring them to their knees before a baby in a humble home. The Magi remind us that no matter how educated or accomplished we become, our hearts are restless until they find their rest in worship of Jesus. Their story challenges our cultural assumptions about success, status, and what truly matters in God's kingdom.
Discussion Questions:

1. How has your own journey of seeking truth been similar to or different from the Magi's journey?
2. Where do you see tensions between worldly wisdom and God's wisdom in your own life?
3. What "stars" (sources of guidance) are you following, and how do they compare to Scripture's guidance?
4. Why do you think God chose to reveal Jesus to pagan astrologers rather than to the religious experts in Jerusalem?
5. How might God be inviting you to look beyond conventional wisdom to find deeper truth?
6. What would it look like in your life to trade human wisdom for divine wisdom?