Discussion questions

GETTING STARTED  

Before we dig into Scripture, let’s warm up with a few light questions. These aren’t “right or wrong” questions—just a way to get talking, laughing, and thinking about how we recognize authority, trust, and what really deserves our attention.​

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1. What’s the most obvious “fake version” of something you’ve ever played along with? (Mall Santa, knockoff brand, theme park castle, fake fireplace on Netflix, etc.)

2. Growing up, what was one thing you believed as a kid that you later realized wasn’t actually true? (Santa, Easter Bunny, quicksand, swallowing gum, etc.)

3. If you had to take a long road trip with the Magi today, what’s one thing you’d have to bring with you? (Music, snacks, podcasts, coffee, someone else to drive…)

4. What usually grabs your attention first during the Christmas season—traditions, decorations, music, food, family… or stress? Why do you think that is?

5. When someone says the word “king,” what image or feeling comes to mind for you? (Power, control, safety, authority, fear, respect, indifference?)

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DIGGING DEEPER

These questions help us slow down and look more carefully at the biblical story itself. Rather than asking what should I do, they invite us to ask what is really happening here—with the Magi, with Herod, and with the arrival of the true King.​

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Desire: What Moves the Magi

1. The Magi do not treat the star as a random curiosity. Based on Matthew’s account, what clues suggest they already had a biblical framework for interpreting what they saw?

2. The Old Testament had already connected a “star” with a coming ruler. Look up: Numbers 24:17. How does Balaam’s prophecy help explain why Gentile scholars might connect a star with a king in Israel?

3. Several Old Testament passages envision Gentiles being drawn to Israel’s light. Look up: Isaiah 60:1–3, 6. What details in this passage line up strikingly with Matthew’s description of the Magi?

4. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus was “born King,” not appointed King. How does this language connect the Magi’s search with God’s promises rather than political power?

5. The Magi respond to partial revelation by moving toward it. Look up: Psalm 119:105. How does this verse help explain why God often gives enough light to move forward—but not everything at once?

 

Resistance: When Power Feels Threatened

1. Matthew says Herod was “disturbed,” and that “all Jerusalem with him.” Why do you think the city shares Herod’s anxiety? What might they fear losing?

2. Herod knows Scripture exists but does not know it personally. Look up: Hosea 6:6. How does this verse help explain the difference between religious knowledge and genuine devotion in this scene?

3. The religious leaders correctly identify Bethlehem as Messiah’s birthplace—but they don’t go. What does this reveal about the limits of information without desire?

4. The sermon describes two kinds of resistance: apathy and antagonism. How do the scribes’ response and Herod’s response differ—and how are they similar?

5. Herod claims he wants to “worship” the child. Look up: Isaiah 29:13. How does this passage help expose what’s really happening when religious language is used without surrender?

 

Worship: When Seeking Becomes Surrender

1. The Magi worship a child in an ordinary house. Look up: Philippians 2:6–8. How does this passage help explain why the humble setting is not a problem—but the point?

2. Matthew records the gifts but doesn’t explain them. Look up: Hebrews 10:10–12. How does this passage deepen our understanding of why myrrh—associated with death—belongs in a Christmas story?

3. After worshiping Jesus, the Magi return home “by another route.” Look up: 2 Corinthians 5:17. How does this verse help us understand why Matthew includes that detail—and what kind of change he wants us to notice?

 

​LIVING IT OUT

These questions move from understanding the story to living inside it. They invite honest reflection about desire, resistance, and worship—not as abstract ideas, but as realities we face in real conversations, relationships, and decisions.​

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1. The Magi followed the light they had, not the light they wished they had. Where do you sense God inviting you to take a next step—even if you don’t feel fully ready or certain yet?

2. Herod resisted Jesus because Jesus threatened his control. What are some ways Jesus’ kingship can still feel threatening to us—not theoretically, but practically?

3. The religious leaders knew the Scriptures but didn’t move. What makes it easy to stay informed about Jesus without actually being moved by Him?

4. The Magi worshiped Jesus publicly, while Herod used religious language to protect himself. In everyday life, what’s the difference between talking about faith and actually surrendering to Christ?

5. The Magi returned home “by another route.” What might “going home a different way” look like in normal life—relationships, priorities, habits, or conversations?

6. Jesus drew unexpected people first—educated, wealthy outsiders. How does that challenge our assumptions about who is open to the gospel and who is not?

7. Sharing Jesus often involves both joy and resistance. What emotions come up for you when you think about pointing others to Christ—fear, hope, awkwardness, excitement—and how can the group support one another in that?