The Journey of Worship: Why the Wise Men Were Truly Wise
The Christmas Question:
Why were the Wise Men so wise?
Chris lays out one central idea:
The Wise Men pursued the promise, found the Savior, and responded with worship.
Their journey wasn’t accidental—it was shaped by expectancy, obedience, and sacrifice.
And their response is an invitation for us today.
1. Recognizing the Promise (Isaiah 9:6–7)
Isaiah prophesied a child-King—
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Wise Men knew the promise, but they didn’t stop at knowledge.
Wisdom is the application of truth.
2. Why Were They Wise?
The Wise Men modeled four distinct responses:
• They recognized the time
• They sought the Savior
• They gave sacrificially
• They worshiped Christ
Knowledge didn’t make them wise—their actions did.
3. Sacrifice: The Path of Wisdom
The Wise Men didn’t treat Jesus as an accessory or an add-on to their lives.
They reordered everything to seek Him.
Wisdom for us:
We don’t “fit Jesus in.”
We pursue Him first.
4. Aligning with God’s Promise
They didn’t wait for God to meet them where they were.
They moved their lives in the direction of the promise.
This alignment meant risk:
• Their status
• Their safety
• Their comfort
They bowed anyway.
Wisdom for us:
Knowing Scripture matters, but letting it shape your direction is what makes a life wise.
5. Discerning the Moment
Many saw the star.
Only the Wise Men understood its meaning.
Wisdom is discerning the times.
God often moves in inconvenient moments, but He always moves with purpose.
6. Obedience Makes Wisdom Visible
They traveled.
They searched.
They bowed.
They gave.
Their obedience made their knowledge come alive.
Wisdom for us:
The Bible isn’t proven by how much we quote, but by how much we obey.
7. Giving What Is Worthy of a King
Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.
Not leftovers. Not convenience.
They brought what was worthy.
Wisdom for us:
If Jesus is King, then He gets our best—
Our heart.
Our habits.
Our finances.
Worship is costly because love is costly.
8. Letting the Word Lead You
The Wise Men didn’t just know Isaiah 9—
They allowed it to determine their decisions.
Aligned with the promise.
Discerning the moment.
Responding with obedience.
That’s wisdom.
A Five-Question Wisdom Test
“How do I know if I’m applying God’s Word, not just reading it?”
Do I obey even when it’s inconvenient?
Do I reorder my life around God’s priorities?
Do I seek Him daily, not just during crisis?
Do I give generously, trusting His promises?
Do I respond to conviction with repentance, not excuses?
“Yes” reveals wisdom.
“No” is an invitation to repentance and renewal.
Five Practical Ways to Let God’s Promises Shape Your Life
Choose forgiveness over bitterness.
Say “yes” to God without knowing every detail.
Give generously even when it’s tight.
Trust His timing over your own timeline.
Respond to fear with faith, not control.
A Journey of Worship
The Wise Men didn’t just arrive and worship—
Their entire journey was worship.
Every step of faith… worship.
Every sacrifice… worship.
Every gift… worship.
And the same is true for us.
Christmas Invitation
This Christmas, let’s seek the Savior and worship Him with our whole lives.