Podcast Summary: The Church of Eleven22

Episode: Magi – Real Men of Christmas: Week 3
Date: December 21, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Joby Martin

Episode Overview

This sermon dives into the story of the Magi (wise men) from Matthew 2, exploring what it means to approach Christmas as a "real man." Pastor Joby Martin uses humor, personal anecdotes, and biblical teaching to unpack the deeper spiritual significance of giving, worship, and generosity at Christmas, exhorting listeners to participate in Compassion International’s child sponsorship as a tangible way to honor Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christmas Spirit & Traditions (01:16 – 08:25)

• Pastor Joby’s Passionate Embrace of Christmas:
  He shares affection for every aspect of the holiday – from movies and sweaters to decorations and gifts – highlighting that the joy and festivity can point back to the Gospel.

  "I'm not a curmudgeon. I'm not a scrooge. I'm not the kind of preacher that bashes all the commercialization...I love all the things." (01:26)

• A Humorous Take on Christmas Lights:
  Jokes about families who keep Christmas decorations up all year and tells personal family stories to illustrate the theme, “you can’t hide money” and embracing the festive spirit.

2. The True Gift-Giving Tradition (08:25 – 11:45)

• Why Christians Give Gifts at Christmas:
  Explains the origin of gift-giving in church tradition:

  "Christmas was that time of the year when God so loved the world that he gave a gift...Jesus Christ, to do for us what we could not do for ourselves." (08:59)

• The Magi's Gifts as Inspiration:
  The wise men’s act of bringing gifts to Jesus is mirrored by Christians' generosity today.

3. The Magi: Who Were They Really? (11:45 – 21:12)

• Correcting Nativity Myths:
  The Magi weren't kings (despite the carol "We Three Kings") and there likely were more than three; they were educated, government-appointed men from Babylon/Persia.

• Historical and Biblical Backstory:
  Traces how Old Testament passages (Numbers 24, Daniel) would have spiritually prepared the Magi to seek the Jewish Messiah based on prophecy about a “star out of Jacob.”

  "For 600 years, they begin to teach the Bible that they have been taught by Daniel the prophet." (10:39)

4. Responses to Jesus: The Three Kinds of People (21:12 – 36:17)

A. Herod – Threatened Pride and Self-Centering

• Herod’s fear and ego blinded him:

  "Herod can't see King Jesus because Herod can't see past Herod." (21:46)

• Applies this to listeners who resist surrendering control to Christ, cautions against being “throne-sitters” in their own lives.

B. Religious Leaders – Comfort, Tradition, and Spiritual Apathy

• Scribes and chief priests had knowledge but lacked hunger to meet Jesus.

  "They were so comfortable in their traditions...they didn't give a crap about going to find the king." (28:32)

• Warns against letting religiosity or routines blind us to seeking Jesus authentically.

C. The Magi – Searching, Sacrifice, and Joyful Pursuit

• Gentile outsiders who responded to minimal info with maximum faith and effort.

  "God has a special place in his heart for the person that's not sure, for the person that's searching." (34:03)

• Encourages seekers: "Wise men still seek him. Don’t ever give up on a God who has not given up on you because he sent his son Jesus to prove that he loves you." (35:55)

5. The Gifts of the Magi: Symbolism (36:17 – 41:17)

• Gold: For a king
• Frankincense: For a priest (symbolizing prayer)
• Myrrh: For a savior (used for burial, foreshadowing Jesus’ death)

• "This king did not simply come to rule and reign some sort of temporary kingdom. He came to rule and reign in the hearts of humanity and for all time." (40:02)

• The Magi’s response sets a pattern: bowing in worship, giving sacrificially.

6. What Does Jesus Want for Christmas? (41:17 – 48:26)

• Moves the question from gifts for one another to gifts for Christ.

• Cites Matthew 25:
  Jesus is blessed when we serve “the least of these”—feeding the hungry, caring for the vulnerable.

  "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these...you did it to me.” (44:52)

• Compassion International Partnership:
  Sponsors support children with food, education, and Gospel teaching—a direct response to what Jesus desires, according to Matthew 25.

7. Testimony and Impact of Compassion Sponsorship (48:26 – 50:27)

• A moving story from a Compassion graduate about the life change sponsorship brought, both physically and spiritually.

  "If my sponsor was watching me...I just want to hug him for changing my life...releasing me from poverty and releasing me from spiritual poverty." (50:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christmas Movies & the Gospel:
  "If Kevin can fight his way through the Wet Bandits and make it to church on a snowy night, you can make it to church. Amen." (02:04)

• On Herod’s Self-Centeredness:
  "You live in the kind of world where you are the center of everything...Pay attention to what it does to your marriage...because we refuse to bow down to Jesus Christ." (24:26)

• On the Evidence of Faith:
  "The evidence of whether you know me or not is do you recognize me in the face of the least of these?" (45:48)

• On Generosity:
  "When you see Jesus for who he actually is, then this is how you respond...they bowed down, they worshiped, and they brought gifts." (41:01)

Key Timestamps

• [01:16 – 08:25]: Humor, personal Christmas stories, and reflections on Christmas traditions
• [08:25 – 11:45]: The meaning behind Christmas gift giving & origins in scripture
• [11:45 – 21:12]: The Magi’s historical, biblical lineage
• [21:12 – 28:32]: Three responses to Jesus at Christmas—Herod, religious leaders, and Magi
• [36:17 – 41:17]: The significance of the three gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh
• [41:17 – 44:52]: What Jesus wants for Christmas—blessing “the least of these”
• [48:26 – 50:27]: Compassion graduate’s testimony; the real-world impact of generosity

Takeaways & Calls to Action

• Examination: Examine which of the three characters you resemble (Herod, religious leader, Magi) in approaching Christmas and Christ.
• Worship in Action: True worship overflows into generosity—respond to Christ’s kingship by giving sacrificially.
• Sponsor a Child: The practical outworking of the message is to bless Jesus this Christmas by sponsoring a child through Compassion International, embodying Matthew 25.

Closing Tone

Pastor Joby’s storytelling is humorous, heartfelt, practical, and urgent. He weaves doctrinal clarity with a strong call to personal and congregational action, emphasizing authenticity and love for Jesus expressed through tangible acts of mercy.

Recommended Next Step for Listeners:
Reflect on your Christmas traditions and generosity. Pray about sponsoring a child or finding ways to serve the vulnerable, blessing Jesus by serving “the least of these” in your community or globally.