Humans often think we are so smart… but in our perceived wisdom, we have so often missed God. But God still wants to reveal himself… and he does it in unexpected ways.
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. … For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. … But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. —1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 25, 27 (NIV)
Christmas seems foolish
What are some of the seemingly foolish things Christians believe about the Christmas story?
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” —Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)
(Continue reading through verse 11)
What do we know about these “Magi”?… What can we assume about them?
These men travel about 2,000 miles, to a country that despises their race and their profession… to worship a baby. This seems like foolishness… but in reality, it is unexpected wisdom (or even a wise foolishness).
WISE FOOLISHNESS believes
How was the star that the wise men followed a miracle?
How many other people saw this star and just dismissed it? How many people saw this star and tried to explain it away? But these wise men saw the star and followed it.
How do we often dismiss miracles today?
Why don’t we let the supernatural guide us today?
WISE FOOLISHNESS believes
The Magi didn’t come to worship a baby… they came to worship the King.
What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings?
*Why do we struggle to let Jesus be King of our lives?*
WISE FOOLISHNESS believes that
The story of the magi shows us that Christmas, from the very start, has been bringing people together that would not normally get together.
How does our world try to divide us?
The unexpected wisdom of Christmas says that only the Prince of Peace can turn this crazy world right-side up. And Christ calls us to sacrifice our perceived intelligence for the foolishness of God becoming a man to save us… This is unexpected wisdom.