SERMON OUTLINE FOR Sunday, December 27, AM, 2009


Pastor Peter Hogeterp

Covenant Christian Reformed Church

Winnipeg, Canada

          

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-12
Sermon Title: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM: The Wise Men (Evangelism)

Introduction:
If you’re always sorry that Christmas seems to end so abruptly at the stroke of midnight on Dec. 25, then you’re going to be happy this morning, because the Christmas story actually carries on for a bit. This morning we’re going to observe stars with scientists who come to some startling conclusions and decide to take some dramatic action

  1. Who the Wise Men were not (but what we “know” from non-biblical sources)

a) they were “kings” (as in “We Three Kings…”)
b) they were “magicians” (from the term “Magi”); cf. Simon the Sorcerer
c) there were three of them (we even have their names: Melchior, Gaspar, and Belthasar—8th Century); usually caravans numbered about 14 people

  1. Who the Wise Men were (from the biblical source, found only in Matthew)

a) they were Gentiles, non-Israelite, foreigners
b) they were Magi: scholars, scientists, astrologers
c) they were from the East (Near East, not Far East)
d) they were wealthy (look at those gifts)

  1. What the Wise Men saw
    1. The data: a cosmic event
    2. That data had to be interpreted
    3. Then they needed to check out their theory; that’s what scientists do

 

  1. What the Wise Men did
    1. They set out for Jerusalem, to inquire of Herod
    2. His scholars told them that “the anointed one from God” would be born in Bethlehem
    3. The star re-appeared and led them to the house where the family was now staying
    4. You will never see a more stunning picture than what happens next
    5. And then they gave them their gifts
  1. The lesson: the relationship between faith and scientific exploration
    1. The great divide between faith and science is Satan’s ploy
    2. aided and abetted by the church, perhaps even more than by science
    3. It takes intellectual respectability to examine both the biblical data and scientific data and act on it with integrity

 

Conclusion:
We are, by and large, sophisticated, well-educated people. We’ve done our research and see no great divide between science and faith. In fact, intellectual integrity requires us to worship the Christ child, for it is He who gives us faith, life, joy, hope and peace!