COMPANION RESOURCES
Lesson for Dec. 20, 2020: Fulfilled through Promise (Matthew 2:1-15)
“The Day I Visited a King’s Palace” by David Faust (Lesson Application)
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Study Questions for Groups
By Michael C. Mack
1. What challenge did you face last week?
2. In what way did you tell others about Jesus (“the Lord saves”) and Immanuel (“God is with us”) last week?
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 2:1-15 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions.
Ask the third person to retell the story as if sharing it with a group of adults and kids gathered in front of a fireplace.
3. The rest of you: What would you change or add to that retelling?
4. Let’s dig more deeply into the passage.
• Discuss the five Ws from this narrative: (a) Who is involved? (b) What is happening? (c) When did these events happen? (Be as specific about timing of events as possible.) (d) Where did these events take place? (e) Why did each of these events occur as they did?
• What evidence do you see in this text that these events likely occurred a couple years after Jesus’ birth? (Also see v. 16.)
• What roles do supernatural events (including dreams) play in this narrative?
• What role does worship (both real and feigned) play?
5. What do you learn about God from this passage?
6. What do you learn about people?
7. What do you learn from the Magi about obeying God and the results of doing so?
• What do you learn from Joseph about faithfulness and obedience?
8. The Magi made innumerable personal sacrifices that enabled them to worship Jesus. What are you willing to surrender to worship him and to tell others about him?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
10. As Christmas approaches, what challenges or blessings might you experience this week?
For Next Week: Over the next week, read and reflect on Matthew 12:1-23. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
Image: Detail of “Adoration of the Magi” by II Pordenone (1520); courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Author: Michael C. Mack
Michael C. Mack is editor of Christian Standard. He has served in churches in Ohio, Indiana, Idaho, and Kentucky. He has written more than 25 books and discussion guides as well as hundreds of magazine, newspaper, and web-based articles.
