The Epiphany Of Our Lord
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII Cycle C
Seasonal Theme
Jesus calling his disciples and it dawning on them who this person is they are following. Light into a dark world.
Theme For The Day
The visit of the Wise Men to see the baby Jesus and how people reacted to the coming of the Savior into the world.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 60:1-6
Radiance Of God's Presence
What marvelous poetry! It's all about light and glory. Into a world of despair and darkness (ch. 59) comes the radiance of God's presence. The light is a spiritual word for being in God's presence and the dark is life apart from God. So you have a new day of light and its dawning over Jerusalem. Verse 1 says, "Your new day is dawning." The brightness of the New Jerusalem attracts many to come into this dawning light, which is reflected in the faces of those who come to it. And their hearts beat with the excitement of the dawning.
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 3:1-12
Gospel To Be Shared
Paul claims to be one of those to whom the mystery about Christ had been revealed. Because of Christ, the gospel is also to be shared with us Gentiles. This gift of grace involved a certain stewardship which he fulfilled in his proclamation to the Gentile people. Since Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, we have a share in the promise God made to the Jews. We too are a part of the body.
Then in humility, Paul said that he was the least of those chosen -- nevertheless he was chosen -- to share the gospel. No wonder Paul is often considered one of the greatest humans ever to live. Here he revealed how convinced he was of being God-chosen for a divine task -- and he lived out of that conviction. The confidence of calling gave him a courage and confidence that we can have as well.
The Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
Arrival Of The Wise Men
To question whether there were actual Wise Men is to miss the point. It is a marvelously valuable story which Matthew presents as a gift to the Christ Child. It tells us that people have come from far and near to worship Jesus. It tells us there was a sense of awe about this thing God was beginning that would eventually lead to our salvation. So tell it with all its majesty and amazement and reverence. It is a lovely and inspirational tale.
There are interesting characters in the passage: the cunning, powerful, and cruel king Herod; the chief priest and teachers of the law who were completely indifferent; and the Wise Men who knelt down and worshiped him. The gifts were symbolic:
1. Gold was a gift given to kings.
2. Frankincense was a gift for a priest.
3. Myrrh was a gift of embalming fluid for someone dying.
The gifts were foretelling that this Bethlehem baby would be our king and perfect priest who would go to the cross and die for us.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The familiarity and attractiveness of the visit of the Wise Men on this day will almost compel us to preach on the Gospel.
B. The Old Testament Isaiah passage, however, can be used first to introduce the theme for this new season of the liturgical year -- light into darkness and the dawning of that light into our own lives. It's an opportunity for transition from the Christmas theme of light coming to those who lived in darkness to the dawning of that light into the individual lives of people in the Gospel readings for the entire Epiphany season. It culminates in the Transfiguration of Jesus when the disciples saw Jesus in a whole new light.
C. There is the possibility of a series of Epiphany sermons based on verse 1 of Isaiah 60: "your new day is dawning," speaking in turn of the new day dawning for each person each week of Epiphany and always bringing it close to the ground with what our new day filled with God's light might look like.
Epiphany
-- Wise Men
Baptism of our Lord
-- Jesus
Epiphany 2
-- John the Baptist
Epiphany 3
-- Peter and Andrew
Epiphany 4
-- The Disciples
But for this day the hearers will want to experience again the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and revel in its beauty. The challenge will be to make the quaint message close to the ground and relevant for this new millennium and for those who would romanticize it.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: One of the most familiar stories connected with Jesus' birth is the arrival of these Wise Men Matthew writes about.
B. Move to sharing your early memories of the Wise Men when you were a child growing up.
C. Show your people Christmas cards you received this year which have the Wise Men on them.
D. Move to retelling the story of the arrival of the Wise Men in your own words.
E. Move to stating that certain signs like a new star in the sky indicated the Messiah had arrived. Now what signs might indicate the Messiah's arrival in our day and community?
1. The unlovely are loved intentionally.
2. Justice is practiced with grace and mercy.
3. The Gospel is shared with enthusiasm.
4. Our practice of discipleship is taken seriously.
F. Move to these Wise Men and tell of their response to coming into Jesus' presence. Read verse 11 then explain the symbolism of the gifts:
1. Gold was a gift for a king.
2. Frankincense was a gift for a priest.
3. Myrrh was a gift of embalming fluid for someone who will die.
G. Ask the question what gifts would (should) wise people offer to Jesus born into our congregation and community?
1. Perhaps a regular tithe in the offering. Or a tithe of the amount spent on celebrating Jesus' birthday this year.
2. Perhaps a son or daughter encouraged to go into the ordained ministry.
3. Perhaps something you can do well in service to the church and the Christ.
4. Perhaps attendance at his birthday party of bread and wine in communion.
H. Move to one more question: Where do you think the star might stop in your community "... over the place where the child is" now?
1. Our own home where Christ's presence is acknowledged.
2. Our own church where Christ is actually present in the sacrament and preaching and ministry to others.
3. An institution of mercy run by the church like a hospital, treatment center, mission station, etc.
I. Frame your sermon by returning to your memory of Christmas and Wise Men when you were young.
J. Finish by reading verse 12.
Prayer For The Day
Dear God, we rejoice with those wise people of old that you have come in flesh to understand and be with us. May your star shine brightly over this church, community, and the homes represented here in your sanctuary. And show us the proper way to respond with offerings to that Christ here. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In the Batak language of Sumatra, Indonesia, there is a word which means professional jealousy or even worse -- elat. It reflects an attitude of not really wanting some plan or program to go well so they don't try very hard. Elat describes King Herod in today's Gospel.
At the O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois, there are two neon tubes which help the pilot know where to park the plane so the jetway will work well. They are about two feet apart and one is orange and the other red. When they come together, the pilot stops. She is where she is supposed to be. These Wise Men had a signal as to where they should be also. It was a long way from home and in a little house where the infant Jesus was (John 2:11).
Have you ever wondered what happened to the gifts given to Jesus by the Wise Men? I have. There is never an indication that Jesus ever accumulated any wealth. My guess is that he gave them away to those who needed them! He has done that with thousands of gifts offered to him since then by faithful Christians. The Wise Men had guarded them, but Jesus found a way for them to be used for others.
In Shakespeare's Richard III we read the words: "When our brief light has set, there's the kingdom of perpetual night" (Carmina I).
In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Beatrice is speaking of her gift of happiness and says, "There was a star danced, and under that was I born."
Jesus calling his disciples and it dawning on them who this person is they are following. Light into a dark world.
Theme For The Day
The visit of the Wise Men to see the baby Jesus and how people reacted to the coming of the Savior into the world.
Old Testament Lesson
Isaiah 60:1-6
Radiance Of God's Presence
What marvelous poetry! It's all about light and glory. Into a world of despair and darkness (ch. 59) comes the radiance of God's presence. The light is a spiritual word for being in God's presence and the dark is life apart from God. So you have a new day of light and its dawning over Jerusalem. Verse 1 says, "Your new day is dawning." The brightness of the New Jerusalem attracts many to come into this dawning light, which is reflected in the faces of those who come to it. And their hearts beat with the excitement of the dawning.
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 3:1-12
Gospel To Be Shared
Paul claims to be one of those to whom the mystery about Christ had been revealed. Because of Christ, the gospel is also to be shared with us Gentiles. This gift of grace involved a certain stewardship which he fulfilled in his proclamation to the Gentile people. Since Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, we have a share in the promise God made to the Jews. We too are a part of the body.
Then in humility, Paul said that he was the least of those chosen -- nevertheless he was chosen -- to share the gospel. No wonder Paul is often considered one of the greatest humans ever to live. Here he revealed how convinced he was of being God-chosen for a divine task -- and he lived out of that conviction. The confidence of calling gave him a courage and confidence that we can have as well.
The Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
Arrival Of The Wise Men
To question whether there were actual Wise Men is to miss the point. It is a marvelously valuable story which Matthew presents as a gift to the Christ Child. It tells us that people have come from far and near to worship Jesus. It tells us there was a sense of awe about this thing God was beginning that would eventually lead to our salvation. So tell it with all its majesty and amazement and reverence. It is a lovely and inspirational tale.
There are interesting characters in the passage: the cunning, powerful, and cruel king Herod; the chief priest and teachers of the law who were completely indifferent; and the Wise Men who knelt down and worshiped him. The gifts were symbolic:
1. Gold was a gift given to kings.
2. Frankincense was a gift for a priest.
3. Myrrh was a gift of embalming fluid for someone dying.
The gifts were foretelling that this Bethlehem baby would be our king and perfect priest who would go to the cross and die for us.
Preaching Possibilities
A. The familiarity and attractiveness of the visit of the Wise Men on this day will almost compel us to preach on the Gospel.
B. The Old Testament Isaiah passage, however, can be used first to introduce the theme for this new season of the liturgical year -- light into darkness and the dawning of that light into our own lives. It's an opportunity for transition from the Christmas theme of light coming to those who lived in darkness to the dawning of that light into the individual lives of people in the Gospel readings for the entire Epiphany season. It culminates in the Transfiguration of Jesus when the disciples saw Jesus in a whole new light.
C. There is the possibility of a series of Epiphany sermons based on verse 1 of Isaiah 60: "your new day is dawning," speaking in turn of the new day dawning for each person each week of Epiphany and always bringing it close to the ground with what our new day filled with God's light might look like.
Epiphany
-- Wise Men
Baptism of our Lord
-- Jesus
Epiphany 2
-- John the Baptist
Epiphany 3
-- Peter and Andrew
Epiphany 4
-- The Disciples
But for this day the hearers will want to experience again the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem and revel in its beauty. The challenge will be to make the quaint message close to the ground and relevant for this new millennium and for those who would romanticize it.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
A. Introduction: One of the most familiar stories connected with Jesus' birth is the arrival of these Wise Men Matthew writes about.
B. Move to sharing your early memories of the Wise Men when you were a child growing up.
C. Show your people Christmas cards you received this year which have the Wise Men on them.
D. Move to retelling the story of the arrival of the Wise Men in your own words.
E. Move to stating that certain signs like a new star in the sky indicated the Messiah had arrived. Now what signs might indicate the Messiah's arrival in our day and community?
1. The unlovely are loved intentionally.
2. Justice is practiced with grace and mercy.
3. The Gospel is shared with enthusiasm.
4. Our practice of discipleship is taken seriously.
F. Move to these Wise Men and tell of their response to coming into Jesus' presence. Read verse 11 then explain the symbolism of the gifts:
1. Gold was a gift for a king.
2. Frankincense was a gift for a priest.
3. Myrrh was a gift of embalming fluid for someone who will die.
G. Ask the question what gifts would (should) wise people offer to Jesus born into our congregation and community?
1. Perhaps a regular tithe in the offering. Or a tithe of the amount spent on celebrating Jesus' birthday this year.
2. Perhaps a son or daughter encouraged to go into the ordained ministry.
3. Perhaps something you can do well in service to the church and the Christ.
4. Perhaps attendance at his birthday party of bread and wine in communion.
H. Move to one more question: Where do you think the star might stop in your community "... over the place where the child is" now?
1. Our own home where Christ's presence is acknowledged.
2. Our own church where Christ is actually present in the sacrament and preaching and ministry to others.
3. An institution of mercy run by the church like a hospital, treatment center, mission station, etc.
I. Frame your sermon by returning to your memory of Christmas and Wise Men when you were young.
J. Finish by reading verse 12.
Prayer For The Day
Dear God, we rejoice with those wise people of old that you have come in flesh to understand and be with us. May your star shine brightly over this church, community, and the homes represented here in your sanctuary. And show us the proper way to respond with offerings to that Christ here. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
In the Batak language of Sumatra, Indonesia, there is a word which means professional jealousy or even worse -- elat. It reflects an attitude of not really wanting some plan or program to go well so they don't try very hard. Elat describes King Herod in today's Gospel.
At the O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois, there are two neon tubes which help the pilot know where to park the plane so the jetway will work well. They are about two feet apart and one is orange and the other red. When they come together, the pilot stops. She is where she is supposed to be. These Wise Men had a signal as to where they should be also. It was a long way from home and in a little house where the infant Jesus was (John 2:11).
Have you ever wondered what happened to the gifts given to Jesus by the Wise Men? I have. There is never an indication that Jesus ever accumulated any wealth. My guess is that he gave them away to those who needed them! He has done that with thousands of gifts offered to him since then by faithful Christians. The Wise Men had guarded them, but Jesus found a way for them to be used for others.
In Shakespeare's Richard III we read the words: "When our brief light has set, there's the kingdom of perpetual night" (Carmina I).
In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Beatrice is speaking of her gift of happiness and says, "There was a star danced, and under that was I born."
