Fixing Your Focus (Matthew 2:1-12)
Mark Pitman, December 14, 2014Part of the That Crazy Family of Yours series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
I. Be Sure the Object of Your Worship Deserves that Position.
II. Beware of the Tendency to Let Your Personal Agenda Crowd Out the Savior.
III. Let Fulfilled Prophecy Adjust Your Focus This Christmas.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Too Much Sugar, Too Many Presents | None | Loving your Outlaws » |
Matthew 2:1–12 (Listen)
2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
(ESV)
| Sunday | Theme | Message | Scripture | Special Events |
| 1/6/13 | Finding Hope | Why are We Here, Where are We Going, How Do You Fit in? | Romans 15:2 | |
| 1/13/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Superior in Every Way | Hebrews 1:1-14 | |
| 1/20/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Deserves your Attention | Hebrews 2:1-8 | Sanctity of Human Life |
| 1/27/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Soften Your Heart | Hebrews 3:1-19 | |
| 2/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Rest | Hebrews 4:1-5 | |
| 2/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Hope | Hebrews 5:10 | Valentine’s Day |
| 2/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Help You Draw Near to God | Hebrews 7:1-28 | |
| 2/24/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Offers You a Better Promise | Hebrews 8:1-13 | |
| 3/3/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Shed His Blood for You | Hebrews 9:1-28 | |
| 3/10/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Can Give You Confidence | Hebrews 10:1-39 | Daylight Savings begins; Gideon Speaker |
| 3/17/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus is Worthy of Your Faith | Hebrews 11:1-40 | |
| 3/24/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from 5 Surprises at the Cross | Matthew 27:27 | Palm Sunday |
| 3/31/13 | Finding Hope | Finding Hope from Inside the Tomb | Acts 2:1-42 | Easter |
| 4/7/13 | Guest Speaker—Scott Towers | |||
| 4/14/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Endure | Hebrews 12:1-29 | Camp Selah |
| 4/21/13 | Hope in Our Sufficient Savior | Jesus Taught Us to Change | Hebrews 13:1-25 | |
| 4/28/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Tears You Up | Matthew 6:25 | |
| 5/5/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Makes You Small | Matthew 6:25 | |
| 5/12/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Steals Your Hope | Matthew 6:26, 28-30 | Mother’s Day |
| 5/19/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Wastes You Time | Matthew 6:27 | |
| 5/26/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Offends Your Father | Matthew 6:26, 32 | Memorial Day Weekend |
| 6/2/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Leads You Astray | Matthew 6:32 | Honor Graduates |
| 6/9/13 | Guest Speaker–Christopher Avell | |||
| 6/16/13 | Finding Hope in Handling Worry | Worry Turns Your Head | Matthew 6:33-34 | Father’s Day; Baby Dedication |
| 6/23/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #1 Grace | Genesis 39:1-40:8 | |
| 6/30/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #2 Encouragement | Ephesians 4:29 | FOURTH OF JULY—5th Sunday at the Pavilion following service |
| 7/7/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #3 Loyalty | 2 Samuel 23:8-17 | |
| 7/14/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #4 Forgiveness | Matt 18:15-35 | Communion |
| 7/21/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #5 Transparency | 1 John 1:1-2:2 | |
| 7/28/13 | Finding Hope in Relationships | 6 Words Every Relationship Needs: #6 Perseverance | Hebrews 10:32-11:2; 12:1-3 | |
| 8/4/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Hope | 1 Cor 10:13 | |
| 8/11/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Finding Hope (or Ruin) in Becoming What We Worship | Isaiah 6 | |
| 8/18/13 | Guest Speaker—Mike and Carolyn Ballast (Missionaries) | I Cor 1 | VBS Sunday (Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride through God’s Word) | |
| 8/25/13 | Finding Hope in the Promises of God | Get in the Game | Eph 4:11-16 | Baptism & Family Night at PSR |
| 9/1/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Challenge of Hope | Ruth 1:1-15 | Labor Day |
| 9/8/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Contrast of Hope | Ruth 1:16-22 | |
| 9/15/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Providence of Hope | Ruth 2:1-13 | Randy and Adena Wildman (Missionaries)Men’s Outing (9/21)– Robert Houk’s home |
| 9/22/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Provision of Hope | Ruth 2:14-23 | SYATP (9/25) |
| 9/29/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Adventure of Hope | Ruth 3:1-13 | 5th Sunday—Harvest party at the Pavilion (Rides/camp fire, etc.); Shawn & Amanda (Missionaries); BCC 101 Class |
| 10/6/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Faithfulness of Hope | Ruth 3:14-18 | Communion |
| 10/13/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Resources of Hope | Ruth 4:1-12 | Columbus Day- 10/14 |
| 10/20/13 | Finding Hope in the God who Provides | The Prodigy of Hope | Ruth 4:13-22 | (10/19) Harvest Party at The Fethers. |
| 10/27/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Foundation of Stewardship | Mark 12:1-12 | Testimony |
| 11/3/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Giving | Luke 19:11-27 | Testimony |
| 11/10/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Serving | 1 Cor 12:12-27 | Veteran’s Day—11/11; Testimony |
| 11/17/13 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Commitment | Joshua 24:14-28 | Testimony |
| 11/24/113 | Finding Hope in the Stewardship of Life | The Stewardship of Thanksgiving | Ps 107 | Thanksgiving; Decorate Church |
| 12/1/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Wonder of Your Eternal Home | 2 Cor 5:1-21 | HOPE;Advent Scripture– Isaiah; Communion |
| 12/8/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | Bowing Down Wisely | Ps 95:6 | PEACE; Advent Scripture– Micah 5:2, 4-5; Children’s Program |
| 12/15/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Beauty of Your Eternal Home | Rev 21 | JOY; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 9:6 -7 |
| 12/22/13 | Finding Hope in our Eternal Home | The Gift that Overcomes Death | 1 Cor 15:50-58 | LOVE; Advent Scripture– Isaiah 52:7-10 |
| 12/24/13 | Christmas Eve | The Perfection of Heaven | Ps 24:3-4 | |
| 12/29/13 | Preparing to Live by Preparing to Die | 2 Kings 18:13-19 | 5th Sunday |