The Epiphany Of Our Lord
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
Lesson 1: Isaiah 60:1-6 (C, L, RC); Isaiah 60:1-6, 9 (E)
The light of God's glory has appeared.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12 (C, E, L); Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (RC)
The gospel is for all, including Gentiles.
Gospel:
Matthew 2:1-12 (C, E, L, RC)
The visit of the wise men.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 72:1-14 (L); Psalm 72 (E); Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (C) - "All kings shall bow down before him (v. 11)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory."
Theme Of The Day: Christ Is For All People
Gospel - The Gentile world worships the Christ - Matthew 2:1-12
Lesson 1 - Nations come to the light of God's servant - Isaiah 60:1-6
Lesson 2 - Gentiles are included in God's plan of salvation - Ephesians 3:1-12
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel:
Matthew 2:1-12
1. The sermon might focus on the wise men. Why are they called "wise?" As in the Gospel lesson for the day, the wise men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them wise men because they made a quest for God. Today, men are wise if they seek God in Christ. The foolish seek other gods - power, prestige, possessions. In addition, wise men follow guidance. They saw a result of humble acceptance of guidance, they reached the Christ-child. Moreover, wise men then and now worship the King.
2. In the Gospel for the Day we can see two kinds of worship. The one is a false worship based upon insincerity. Herod told the wise men "that I too may come and worship him (v. 8)." Out of fear for his position, Herod wanted to know where the new King was born. Today worship can be a guise for evil intentions. On the other hand, there is true worship practiced by the wise men: "They fell down and worshiped him (v. 11)." The sermon then can discuss what is true worship.
3. There is a sermon in the Gospel dealing with one's condition before and after Christ. Before the wise men came to Bethlehem, "they went their way (v. 9)." Before we are confronted with Christ, we too go our own way in life. Then the wise men came to the Child Jesus, worshiped and gave gifts. In verse 12, it is said, "they departed to their own country by another way." When one bows down in worship before Christ, life is never the same again. Christ makes a difference in your life. The sermon may go on to say just what difference that is.
4. Under what sign do you live your life? Consider verse 2: "We have seen his star in the East." The wise men were Babylonian astrologers who were watchers and interpreters of the stars. A new star for them was a sign of the birth of a great king. Under what sign were you born and do you live? According to a Gallup Poll, 32 million Americans, comprising 22 percent of the population, believe in astrology. Eight in 10 can tell you under what sign of the zodiac they were born. How many church people can say under what sign they were born? This is an opportunity to expose the un-Christian practice of believing in the zodiac for guidance. It is not a distant, silent star millions of miles from earth that has any influence on life, but the sign of the star of Christ.
5. Gifts. "They offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (v. 11)." At Christmas we receive the gift of God in Jesus. Epiphany is the time for believers to give a return gift to God by presenting gifts to Christ, as the wise men did. It is noteworthy that the wise men gave their gifts as a part of their worship. Giving something to God when we worship is a vital part of worship, an expression of faith and love. It should never be a collection we take in church but an offering, the offering of gifts to God in gratitude for the gift received. Note the price of the gifts the wise men offered - nothing cheap: "Opening their treasures (v. 11)." The gifts also were meaningful, full of symbolism: gold because he was a king, frankincense because he was a priest offering the perfume of prayer, myrrh because he was a redeemer who died to save the world. What can you offer to one who has everything? What can man give to God? For the affluent at Christmas, it is a problem what to give to one who has everything. The wise men had the answer. Their gifts were fit for a king.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 60:1-6
1. You are not the light of the world. Verse 1 : "Arise, shine; for your light has come." This may sound contradictory to Jesus' words, "You are the light of the world." You are the light of the world but only as a reflection. Man does not have in himself the light. He has no light to throw upon the dark places of the world. In fact, he is in the darkness along with the rest of humanity. The Lesson tells us that the light is in God, and that light came in Jesus to earth. Christians only reflect the light: "The Lord will arise upon you (v. 2)." The sermonic value in this is that it, for one thing, makes us realize that we are nothing in ourselves and leads us to humility. But, if we are to let our light shine, we must get in contact with the light of Jesus through personal devotions and public worship. The closer we come to Christ, the more we will reflect the light to those around us. The key to witnessing for Christ and doing good works is in drawing nigh and staying close to Christ, the light of the world. But, too, Christ can only be the light of the world to the extent that Christians reflect this light in their daily involvement with the world.
2. Scatter to gather. The Lesson teaches us that the light must first be scattered before there can be a gathering of people to Christ. The light of God must be scattered into the world as the light is reflected in us. How is this done? It involves the church's program of evangelism and missions. The rest of the Lesson tells us what will happen when the world sees the light of God in us. The nations will come to the light, to God. They will bring honor, gifts and praise to God. We cannot expect people or nations to become Christian until the light of Christ is cast abroad to the world through Christ.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12
1. Now it can be told (vv. 4-6). God reveals to the church through the author of Ephesians what his plan is for the world. Heretofore, the Jews were the chosen people of God, called out to be his portion.Through the Jews, God promised to bless the rest of the world. Salvation was considered to be only for the chosen people of God. This was the position of Jonah. Now, it is revealed that God wants the Gentiles to share in the kingdom. Christ is for all men; he died for all. This implies that the church has an obligation to spread the gospel to all nations that all might come into God's realm.
2. Can the church be exclusive? If it is the will of God, as the Second Lesson claims, to include all people (Jews and Gentiles) in the kingdom, the church must fulfill that will. Thus, the unity of humankind should be a reality in the church, for both Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. If they are one in Christ, they must be one in the body of Christ, the church. A true church then is not the church which excludes people because of race, class or condition in life. God's house is a place of prayer for all peoples.
This has implications for preaching, probably uncomfortable preaching in some churches. It simply means that membership in a church cannot be limited to one race or class of people. Jimmy Carter's Baptist church in Plains faced this problem when a black sought membership which was at first denied. Under pressure from the new president and national publicity, a majority of members later voted to allow non-whites to apply for membership.
Another implication is that a church's outreach must not be limited to one race or class. Evangelistic efforts should be made to the church's immediate neighborhood even if the people are different from the church's constituency.
The light of God's glory has appeared.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12 (C, E, L); Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (RC)
The gospel is for all, including Gentiles.
Gospel:
Matthew 2:1-12 (C, E, L, RC)
The visit of the wise men.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 72:1-14 (L); Psalm 72 (E); Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 (C) - "All kings shall bow down before him (v. 11)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Lord God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory."
Theme Of The Day: Christ Is For All People
Gospel - The Gentile world worships the Christ - Matthew 2:1-12
Lesson 1 - Nations come to the light of God's servant - Isaiah 60:1-6
Lesson 2 - Gentiles are included in God's plan of salvation - Ephesians 3:1-12
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Gospel:
Matthew 2:1-12
1. The sermon might focus on the wise men. Why are they called "wise?" As in the Gospel lesson for the day, the wise men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them wise men because they made a quest for God. Today, men are wise if they seek God in Christ. The foolish seek other gods - power, prestige, possessions. In addition, wise men follow guidance. They saw a result of humble acceptance of guidance, they reached the Christ-child. Moreover, wise men then and now worship the King.
2. In the Gospel for the Day we can see two kinds of worship. The one is a false worship based upon insincerity. Herod told the wise men "that I too may come and worship him (v. 8)." Out of fear for his position, Herod wanted to know where the new King was born. Today worship can be a guise for evil intentions. On the other hand, there is true worship practiced by the wise men: "They fell down and worshiped him (v. 11)." The sermon then can discuss what is true worship.
3. There is a sermon in the Gospel dealing with one's condition before and after Christ. Before the wise men came to Bethlehem, "they went their way (v. 9)." Before we are confronted with Christ, we too go our own way in life. Then the wise men came to the Child Jesus, worshiped and gave gifts. In verse 12, it is said, "they departed to their own country by another way." When one bows down in worship before Christ, life is never the same again. Christ makes a difference in your life. The sermon may go on to say just what difference that is.
4. Under what sign do you live your life? Consider verse 2: "We have seen his star in the East." The wise men were Babylonian astrologers who were watchers and interpreters of the stars. A new star for them was a sign of the birth of a great king. Under what sign were you born and do you live? According to a Gallup Poll, 32 million Americans, comprising 22 percent of the population, believe in astrology. Eight in 10 can tell you under what sign of the zodiac they were born. How many church people can say under what sign they were born? This is an opportunity to expose the un-Christian practice of believing in the zodiac for guidance. It is not a distant, silent star millions of miles from earth that has any influence on life, but the sign of the star of Christ.
5. Gifts. "They offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (v. 11)." At Christmas we receive the gift of God in Jesus. Epiphany is the time for believers to give a return gift to God by presenting gifts to Christ, as the wise men did. It is noteworthy that the wise men gave their gifts as a part of their worship. Giving something to God when we worship is a vital part of worship, an expression of faith and love. It should never be a collection we take in church but an offering, the offering of gifts to God in gratitude for the gift received. Note the price of the gifts the wise men offered - nothing cheap: "Opening their treasures (v. 11)." The gifts also were meaningful, full of symbolism: gold because he was a king, frankincense because he was a priest offering the perfume of prayer, myrrh because he was a redeemer who died to save the world. What can you offer to one who has everything? What can man give to God? For the affluent at Christmas, it is a problem what to give to one who has everything. The wise men had the answer. Their gifts were fit for a king.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 60:1-6
1. You are not the light of the world. Verse 1 : "Arise, shine; for your light has come." This may sound contradictory to Jesus' words, "You are the light of the world." You are the light of the world but only as a reflection. Man does not have in himself the light. He has no light to throw upon the dark places of the world. In fact, he is in the darkness along with the rest of humanity. The Lesson tells us that the light is in God, and that light came in Jesus to earth. Christians only reflect the light: "The Lord will arise upon you (v. 2)." The sermonic value in this is that it, for one thing, makes us realize that we are nothing in ourselves and leads us to humility. But, if we are to let our light shine, we must get in contact with the light of Jesus through personal devotions and public worship. The closer we come to Christ, the more we will reflect the light to those around us. The key to witnessing for Christ and doing good works is in drawing nigh and staying close to Christ, the light of the world. But, too, Christ can only be the light of the world to the extent that Christians reflect this light in their daily involvement with the world.
2. Scatter to gather. The Lesson teaches us that the light must first be scattered before there can be a gathering of people to Christ. The light of God must be scattered into the world as the light is reflected in us. How is this done? It involves the church's program of evangelism and missions. The rest of the Lesson tells us what will happen when the world sees the light of God in us. The nations will come to the light, to God. They will bring honor, gifts and praise to God. We cannot expect people or nations to become Christian until the light of Christ is cast abroad to the world through Christ.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12
1. Now it can be told (vv. 4-6). God reveals to the church through the author of Ephesians what his plan is for the world. Heretofore, the Jews were the chosen people of God, called out to be his portion.Through the Jews, God promised to bless the rest of the world. Salvation was considered to be only for the chosen people of God. This was the position of Jonah. Now, it is revealed that God wants the Gentiles to share in the kingdom. Christ is for all men; he died for all. This implies that the church has an obligation to spread the gospel to all nations that all might come into God's realm.
2. Can the church be exclusive? If it is the will of God, as the Second Lesson claims, to include all people (Jews and Gentiles) in the kingdom, the church must fulfill that will. Thus, the unity of humankind should be a reality in the church, for both Jew and Gentile are one in Christ. If they are one in Christ, they must be one in the body of Christ, the church. A true church then is not the church which excludes people because of race, class or condition in life. God's house is a place of prayer for all peoples.
This has implications for preaching, probably uncomfortable preaching in some churches. It simply means that membership in a church cannot be limited to one race or class of people. Jimmy Carter's Baptist church in Plains faced this problem when a black sought membership which was at first denied. Under pressure from the new president and national publicity, a majority of members later voted to allow non-whites to apply for membership.
Another implication is that a church's outreach must not be limited to one race or class. Evangelistic efforts should be made to the church's immediate neighborhood even if the people are different from the church's constituency.
