have used for many years, and I recommend them to you. The first question is this: What is the major theme of this passage? The Bible is a profoundly rich book, and we can learn many things from one passage; therefore, we must be careful to focus first on the major themes. One Christmas Sunday, I heard a preacher announce Matthew 2:1–12 as his text—the visit of the magi to the baby Jesus—and he proceeded to preach a sermon on tithing. Although the magi gave gifts and we are to tithe our gifts, the