Matthew 2:4-8

"When King Herod had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in..."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 2:4-6 -- ...for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.

"King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard [about the newborn king of the Jews from the wise men], as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a..."

"[As the prophet Micah has written:] "But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler..."

"[After learning that the king of the Jews was to be born in Bethlehem,] Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them..."

What difference does one twinkling star really make? Phil Ware reflects upon the star the Magi saw and puts it in its context of astrologers from Iran who recognized Jesus as King of the Jews and the religious leaders among the Jews who tried to kill him.

Am I more like the wise men who passionately sought to find Jesus or the religious leaders who chose their traditions, positions, and power over Jesus? Phil Ware reminds us that in the familiar story of the wise men is a challenging and life-changing question we must all answer with our choices and with our lives.

"Dear Partner in the Kingdom, People can speak in "God talk" and live in anti-God ways. Unfortunately, Christmas is a time when a lot of that happens...."

What gift at Christmas can get you in the most trouble? Rick Brown reminds us about dangerous Christmas gifts for kids and the most dangerous Christmas gift of all, Jesus.

Have you seen His star? Patrick Odum reflects on a Matthews who is a scientist who determined the star when Jesus was born and reminds us that it is not the star, but the one to whom it pointed, that is important.

Is this really the Christmas star? Patrick Odum talks about the Christmas star and how it may have been identified, but how that doesn't nearly as much as the One who was born being the One who made the stars.

"Dear Disciple, I love all people. That's why I came. At the same time, I have to tell you something — and yes, I'm sorry to have to do this..."

How in the world do we use Scripture to build a culture of honor? Phil Ware finishes his series on building a culture of honor by focusing on Jesus and his birth and the awful way Herod misuses Scripture and worship.

We sometimes forget that Jesus' birth, so wrapped in sentimentality at Christmas, was a real event when the Immortal God chose to wrap himself in the fragile face of a newborn child. Phil Ware continues his Christmas series, entitled "Give Me Jesus", focusing this week on the specific time, the then, of Jesus' coming.

Who would want to be born here? Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a grimy, corrupt little town not known for anything important.

When God chose to come into our world through a child, he chose a family line that was every bit as messed up as our world. Phil Ware is using December to remind us how to welcome Jesus during this special time and what Jesus' coming means for each of us.

12 days of Christmas are not about calling birds and lords a leaping, but about an extended celebration of Christmas. Phillip Morrison reminds us that the Magi, the Wise Men, came later on after Jesus was older; but rather than this putting a damper on our Christmas, we need to use this truth to extend our Christmas past the first of the year.

"Dear Friend, You just have to love the apostle Levi! You may know him better as Matthew since that is the name of the first gospel in your New..."

Come on! The New Year is coming, don't we need to move on and get ready for it! Phil Ware and James Nored introduce Heartlight.org readers to the grit of grace and the coming video series called, "My Story in God's Story."

God didn't come to our world as a heavenly tourist with special arrangements to keep him safe and to give him special treatment in his journey through mortality with all its grit and danger. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us to push past the glittering lights of Christmas and see that God came to be one of us in the gritty and dangerous birth of Jesus of Nazareth to a virgin named Mary and her faithful to Torah husband to be, Joseph the car

We desperately need to push past the glitz of the season and remember the gritty grace of the manger and the glory of God incarnate in a helpless baby who came to be one of us! James and Phil continue their series on The Story of Redemption by focusing on the birth of Jesus and what it means for us.

What can this old story powerfully say to our geopolitical messes of today? Phil Ware shares his series for December 2015 on welcoming Jesus and focuses on the Magi from the gospel of Matthew and lets that story remind us our need to reach out to the lost and foreigner and alien and refugee among us.