Sermon Discussion Questions

Matthew 2:13-18 | The Promise Through Pain

Sunday, October 18, 2026 - Jamie Smid

1. God’s Promise Foretold. What is the main argument presented by Matthew regarding Jesus and the fulfillment of prophecy? What is the significance of the specific prophetic fulfillments related to Jesus' early life?

2. God’s Promise Preserved. What do Joseph's immediate actions in verses 13–14 teach us about trusting and obeying God when we don't know the whole picture? How does God's preservation of Jesus in this passage demonstrate that human opposition cannot thwart God's promises?

3. God’s Promise Amid Sorrow. Jeremiah 31:15 describes Rachel weeping for her children, but the larger chapter also speaks of hope and restoration. How does that broader context help us understand the relationship between grief and hope? How can we hold on to the faithfulness of God when we see real suffering that Scripture does not fully explain to us?

4. Application - How does the fulfillment of Scripture in this passage strengthen our confidence in God's Word? What is the difference between believing that God's promises are true and expecting that He will always protect us from earthly suffering?

Matthew 2:1-12 | Seeking The King

Sunday, October 11, 2026 - Jamie Smid

1. Seeking Rightly. Who were the wisemen and why did they come seeking Jesus? What does the wise men's journey teach us about seeking Christ?

2. Seeking Wrongly. Why do you think Herod was so troubled by the birth of another king? What might it look like for us to resist Christ's authority in our daily lives?

3. Not Seeking. How could the religious leaders identify the Messiah's birthplace yet fail to seek Him themselves? What is the difference between knowing biblical truth and responding to it?

4. The Marks of A True Seeker - The wise men’s pursuit of Jesus was marked by persistence, joy, worship, and obedience (vv. 9–12). Why do you think seeking Jesus brought them so much joy? What are some practical ways we can persist in seeking Christ when we face discouragement, uncertainty, or spiritual distractions?

Matthew 1:18-25 | The King is born

Sunday, October 4, 2026 - Jamie Smid

1. The King Comes Supernaturally. What details in verses 18–25 make it clear that Jesus’ birth was different from an ordinary human birth? Why is the virgin birth important to our understanding of who Jesus is?

2. The King Comes To Save. In verse 21, the angel says Jesus will “save his people from their sins.” What does this tell us about what our greatest problem actually is? Why is it significant that Jesus came to save us from our sins, rather than merely from the consequences or circumstances of our sins?

3. The King Comes To Be With Us. What does “Immanuel—God with us” add to our understanding of who Jesus is? How would you explain to someone why Jesus had to be both truly God and truly man in order to be our Savior?

4. Responding To The King’s Coming - What stands out to you about Joseph's response after the angel speaks to him? What does Joseph teach us about the distinction between believing God's Word and actually obeying God's Word?