Were there really three wise men? Did they show up at the manger? And what kind of star leads someone 1,500km across deserts? In this festive yet theologically rich episode, Rohan Bell and Adrian Galea break open the real story behind the Magi—and why their long walk of worship still speaks powerfully today.

🧐 This episode cuts through the tinsel to explore:

✅ The real timeline of the Magi’s visit—spoiler: not Christmas night!

✅ How tradition shapes (and sometimes skews) our nativity scenes

✅ The significance of Herod’s violent reaction

✅ Whether Jesus was really a refugee or not

✅ The value and limits of dreams, visions, and spiritual direction

✅ Why wise men—and women—still seek Him today

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – December release, July recording: welcome to podcast time-travel

02:00 – How many Magi were there? (Hint: not necessarily three)

04:30 – What Nativity scenes often get wrong—and why it matters

07:00 – Was Jesus a toddler when the Magi visited?

09:30 – Following the star: supernatural GPS or ancient astronomy?

12:20 – A 1,500km journey of faith (and no Christmas carols)

15:10 – A political threat: why Herod was so disturbed

18:00 – Was Jesus a refugee? Thinking carefully about the claim

21:00 – Herod's madness, history, and the slaughter of the innocents

25:00 – Dreams in the New Testament—what’s real and what’s risky?

32:00 – Discerning God’s will without over-spiritualising it

36:00 – “It seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit…”: how Acts 15 still leads us

37:50 – Final takeaway: Walk in wisdom and trust God to lead your path

🙋‍♂️ Reflection Questions

Have you ever taken a costly journey just to worship Jesus? What did it look like?

How has tradition shaped your faith in ways that aren’t always accurate?

What role should dreams or ‘hearing from God’ play in your life decisions?

Are you open to God leading you through unexpected means—even stars or strangers?

📲 This Christmas, let’s go deeper than sentimentality. Learn from the Magi—and worship with both our hearts and our minds.

#talkinbible #christmastruth #anchorpointchurch #wearec3 #matthew2 #nativityunplugged #wisemenstillseekhim #biblicalaccuracy #herodhistory #jesusrefugee

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