Welcome to Sunday Fuel! This series of questions is designed to assist your personal reflection and fellowship with others about the sermon from this past Sunday.

Go to This Sunday’s Sermon (start 31:57)

1. As this new year begins, is there a particular area you wish to live under the Kingship of Christ as a faithful citizen? Are you aware of a “pretend king” that is ruling you? Where do you long for change: a difficult struggle that hasn’t changed? a hope you need to surrender to the Lord? a fear or sin that lingers? Bring this to the Lord in prayer.

2. Are there “pretend kings” that you are living for right now? How do you believe it will make your life right or help you find happiness? Confess these to the Lord. 

3. Take time to meditate on truths highlighted in the sermon’s passage, choosing one to focus on:

• Reflect on Christ, the greater King who is loving (vv. 13-15), faithful (vv. 16-18), and humble (vv. 19-23). Praise Him for His sacrificial death for you to serve you, bringing salvation and hope.
• Reflect on how Christ called you out of slavery to sin. (Matt. 2:15, quoting Isaiah 11:1). How has Christ, the new Moses and new David rescued you? Take time to praise Him and let the promise that He will one day return to complete our journey home bring you comfort.                  
• Reflect on Jeremiah 31 (verse 15 is quoted in this week’s passage in Matt. 2:17-18). Though this verse doesn’t sound helpful, the general tone of Jeremiah 31 is actually full of hope—good news for people in exile. How does this reminder that our King is faithful and will ultimately rescue us from our exile help you in your difficulties or time of deep mourning? What changes, to your hope, if not your current circumstances, does this build in you? 

4. As you reflect on Christ our King, how will you worship, love and trust Him more, even if your problems remain the same or the challenges haven’t gone away in this new year? How does your loving, faithful, and humble King give you courage to address the “pretend kings” in your life? Faithfully persevere with endurance in those difficulties that do not end? Commit to growing in godliness as you sacrificially worship, love, and serve Him and others? What might that look like?