December 7, 2025

Advent 2025 - Peace for Everyone

Icebreaker
When you go on a long journey, what is one item you would absolutely bring with you?

Study Questions

1. Read Matthew 2:1-12.
2. In Matthew’s Gospel, the first people to worship Jesus are foreign astrologers. Why do you think God chose them to appear in the story?
3. The Magi (think "magistrate" not "magical") were shaped by Daniel’s teachings (as cultural and academic descendants of Daniel), especially Daniel 9:20-27, and watched the heavens in expectation. What does their long search teach us about what it means to seek God today?
4. Understanding the astronomical signs (Jupiter, Regulus, Leo, Virgo) gives depth to the phrase “we saw his star.” How does this enrich your understanding of how God speaks?
5. The prophets pictured a Messiah who would bring peace to all nations, not just Israel. How does this theme show up in Matthew 2?
6. What does the fulfillment of these prophecies tell us about Jesus’ identity and the kind of kingdom He came to establish?

Application Questions

1. Peace begins by looking for Jesus. Where do you typically look first when life becomes stressful, and how can you redirect your gaze toward Christ?
2. The Magi followed the light they had even without knowing the exact destination. Where might God be inviting you to take a step of obedience without full clarity?
3. When Christ rules in us, peace flows through us into our relationships. Who is one person you sense God prompting you to move toward in peace this week?
4. The Magi remind us that Jesus’ peace is for the whole world. Where do you see a need for His peace today, and how might God want to use you in that place?

Prayer
Pray that Christ’s peace would fill your life so deeply that it reshapes your thoughts, attitudes, and relationships. Then ask God to show you the one person or place where He wants that peace to flow through you this week.