We Have Come to Worship Him: The Wise Men
Matthew 2:1-12; Micah 5:2 New Testament PrincipleWorship
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men called Magi came from the east to Jerusalem. "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star and have come to worship Him." King Herod was upset, and his teachers told him the Scriptures said the King would be born in Bethlehem. The star led the wise men to the house where Jesus was. They were filled with joy, bowed down and worshiped Him, and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then God warned them in a dream to go home another way. Jesus is the true King, worthy of worship from every nation.
Worship is bowing before God and giving Him our best. Jesus is the true King, so people from every nation come to worship Him and give Him their treasures.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him.”
Matthew 2:11 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his family. When the wise men from the east bowed to Jesus, the nations began coming to the King God sent to rescue the whole world.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: My treasure
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Herod's mountain
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Follow the star
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus is King! I worship Him!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Follow the star, Color the star
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at church, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
After Jesus was born, wise men from far in the east saw His star. They came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the One born King of the Jews? We have come to worship Him." King Herod didn't like that one bit! His teachers said the King would be born in Bethlehem. The star led the wise men right to the house where Jesus was. They were filled with joy, bowed down and worshiped Him, and gave Him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Jesus is the King, and we worship Him.
Memory verse
“They saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him.”
Adapted from Matthew 2:11
Start here
Ask, "If you could give a gift to a king, what would you give?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today some wise men traveled a long way to give gifts to a King – and He was just a little child!"
Bible story 6 min
Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem. Far away in the east, some wise men saw a new star in the sky. They knew it meant a new King was born!
The wise men took a long trip to the big city. They asked, "Where is the baby who was born King of the Jews? We saw His star. We came to worship Him!"
King Herod heard this, and he was upset. He did not want a new king! He asked his Bible teachers, "Where will God's King be born?" They said, "In Bethlehem! The Bible says so."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Follow the star 10 min
You’ll need: A paper star or small toy figure, A small wrapped box
- Choose a narrator, three wise men, Herod, a scribe, Mary and Joseph.
- Act out the skit. The wise men follow the star around the room to "Bethlehem."
- Switch parts so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
Magi from the east saw the star of the newborn King of the Jews and traveled to Jerusalem to worship Him. King Herod was disturbed, and the chief priests and scribes told him from Micah's prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem – yet none of them went. Herod secretly plotted against the child, but the star led the Magi to the house where Jesus was. Overjoyed, they bowed down, worshiped Him and gave Him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Jesus is the true King, worthy of worship from every nation, and worship means coming to Him and giving Him our best.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Who came to Jesus?, Follow the star
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at church, at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Matthew's Christmas story is a contrast in responses to the newborn King. Foreign Magi follow a star hundreds of miles to worship Him. King Herod, threatened, plots to kill Him while pretending to want to worship. The chief priests and scribes know Micah's prophecy by heart but don't walk six miles to see if it came true. Only the Magi come, rejoice with great delight, fall down and offer their treasures. In Matthew's Gospel, the first people to worship Jesus are Gentiles – a preview of the King whose kingdom will include every nation. Worship isn't knowing the right answers; it's coming to Jesus and giving Him everything.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The nations come to the King, My treasures
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at church, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Worship
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Seeing God's WorldEvery Square InchColossians 1:15-20; Psalm 24:1; Colossians 3:17, 23From prison, Paul wrote to the church in Colossae that Jesus made all things, holds all things together and is first in everything. The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. There's no part of life that doesn't belong to Jesus, so everything we do can be worship.New TestamentWorship
Palm Sunday: Jesus Rides into JerusalemMatthew 21:1-11; Matthew 21:14-16Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had said the King would come. Crowds spread their cloaks and branches on the road and shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Even children praised Him in the temple. Hosanna means "Save us!" That same week, Jesus saved us by dying on the cross and rising again. Jesus is the King who deserves our worship.New TestamentWorship
Give Thanks to the LORD: David Brings Home the Ark1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36; 2 Samuel 6:12-19King David wanted the ark of God, the sign of God's presence, to come to Jerusalem. The first time, they didn't carry it God's way, and it went badly. So David studied God's Word, and this time the Levites carried the ark on poles on their shoulders, just as God had said. All Israel brought it up with shouting, trumpets, harps and cymbals, and David danced with all his might. When the ark was home, David gave everyone food and gave the Levites a song of thanks to sing, "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever." Worship is our glad, thankful answer to the God who comes to be with His people.Old TestamentWorship
Jesus Shines Like the Sun: The TransfigurationMatthew 17:1-9; Luke 9:28-36Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. There, Jesus was changed. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Him. Peter wanted to build three shelters. But a bright cloud covered them, and God's voice said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" The disciples fell down in awe. When they looked up, they saw only Jesus. Jesus is God's Son, and we worship Him by listening to Him.New TestamentWorship
With Building BricksSolomon Builds the Temple1 Kings 5:1-8:66; 2 Chronicles 3:1-7:3; John 2:19-21King Solomon built a beautiful temple for God, and God filled it with His glory. But even Solomon knew no building could hold God. God came to live with His people, and in Jesus He came closer than ever. So we worship Him.Old TestamentWorship
Kings and ProphetsElijah on Mount Carmel1 Kings 18:1-2; 1 Kings 18:17-39On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, and the LORD answered with fire from heaven, showing that He alone is the true God.Old TestamentWorship