step one

This Weekly Bible Passage will be the basis of next Sunday’s sermon. Spend some time studying it prior to Sunday and see what God is revealing to you in it.

Matthew 2:1-12 csb

Wise Men Visit the King

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.

5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:

6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

Micah 5

From Defeated Ruler to Conquering King

1 Now, daughter who is under attack,
you slash yourself in grief;
a siege is set against us!
They are striking the judge of Israel
on the cheek with a rod.
2 Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from ancient times.
3 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return
to the people of Israel.
4 He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live securely,
for then his greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
5 He will be their peace.
When Assyria invades our land,
when it marches against our fortresses,
we will raise against it seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.
6 They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade.
So he will rescue us from Assyria
when it invades our land,
when it marches against our territory.

The Glorious and Purified Remnant

7 Then the remnant of Jacob
will be among many peoples
like dew from the Lord,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
or linger for mankind.
8 Then the remnant of Jacob
will be among the nations, among many peoples,
like a lion among animals of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which tramples and tears as it passes through,
and there is no one to rescue them.
9 Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,
and all your enemies will be destroyed.

10 In that day—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
I will remove your horses from you
and wreck your chariots.
11 I will remove the cities of your land
and tear down all your fortresses.
12 I will remove sorceries from your hands,
and you will not have any more fortune-tellers.
13 I will remove your carved images
and sacred pillars from you
so that you will no longer worship
the work of your hands.
14 I will pull up the Asherah poles from among you
and demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
against the nations that have not obeyed me.

Step two

Join us on Sunday for this critical second step in encountering God through His word as we gather together as a church family.

This Christmas series through Matthew 1–2 invites us to celebrate the astounding truth that God stepped into our world as Emmanuel — God with us. From Jesus’ miraculous birth to the guiding star and the holy family’s journey,

Matthew reveals a Savior who enters our real, imperfect lives with power and compassion. In every moment of uncertainty or joy, we are reminded that the King has come near, and His presence changes everything.

Please join us for Christmas at Collective.

step three

Questions to discuss and process as a Discipleship Group, based on the previous Weekly Bible Passage and Sunday Sermon.

Encourage one another towards a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Jesus.

These discussion questions are based on the talk on December 7th, 2025:

1. Mary and Joseph humbly submit to God's direction even when it contradicts their own plans and costs them personally. How do you typically respond when God interrupts your plans? Is there an area of your life right now where you sense God challenging your direction?

2. Jesus’ mission to save His people from their sins didn’t match many expectations of the Messiah. In what ways are you tempted to place your own expectations on Jesus instead of receiving Him as He is?

3. Emmanuel means God with us. How does knowing you were made to be with God affect the way you relate to Him? Are there any areas of your life right now where you uniquely feel a need to be with God?