Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
Fourth Sunday After The Epiphany
Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time
Revised Common Micah 6:1--8 1 Corinthians 1:18--31 Matthew 5:1--12
Roman Catholic Zephaniah 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:26--31 Matthew 5:1--12a
3:12--13
Episcopal Micah 6:1--8 1 Corinthians 1:(18--25) Matthew 5:1--12
26--31
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8 (C, E)
Yahweh has a controversy with his people for their forgetting past blessings and what God requires of his people. This scene is a cosmic law court. Yahweh takes his people to court for he has something against them. The elements of nature are the witnesses to the trial. Yahweh has been offended and asks his people, "What have I done to you?" that you have deserted me. Since there is no answer, he reminds them of past blessings: freedom from slavery and entrance into the Promised Land. Then, the question is raised what is acceptable to God? Animal or human sacrifices? "No," the court replies. It is a life of justice, loyalty, and humility.
Lesson 1: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12--13 (RC)
God's coming judgment and how to escape it.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:18--31 (C); 1 Corinthians 1:26--31 (RC); 1 Corinthians 1:(18--25) 26--31 (E)
Divisions in the church are caused by the pride of wisdom and Christians have no reason to boast except in the Lord. Last Sunday Paul wrote about the divisions in the Corinthian church. Here he points to the cause: pride in their wisdom. Since they became Christians, they are boasting of superior knowledge and spiritual wisdom. Then Paul reminds them that most of them were not wise, healthy, or prestigious. They came from the dregs of society: poor, slaves, women, and children. They have really only one reason to boast: Christ who saved them by his death on the cross. The saved are not the rich, powerful, or wise, but they who believe in Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12 (C, E); Matthew 5:1--12a (RC)
The Beatitudes. The same passage is used on All Saints' Sunday, but with the emphasis on the second part of the beatitudes: comfort, mercy, etc. Today the emphasis falls on the first part: poor in spirit, meek, hungry, etc. For the remaining Sundays of the season, the Gospels consist of the fifth chapter of Matthew. According to current scholars, the Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings given over a period of time. Matthew gathered and edited them. The Sermon on the Mount is one of five collections of teachings in Matthew. It needs to be remembered that the Beatitudes are not rules for living and rewards for those who do. Rather they are the result of grace. People in the kingdom have three qualities and in the life to come they will be rewarded. The Beatitudes harmonize with Lessons 1 and 2 which deal with the lowliness of God's people and their moral and spiritual qualities.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 15 (C) - "O Lord, who may abide in your tent" (v. 1).
Psalm 146:7--10 (RC)
Psalm 37:1--18 (E) - "But the meek shall inherit the land ..." (v. 11).
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sins has brought upon us."
Hymn Of The Day
"Son Of God, Eternal Savior"
Theme Of The Day: The Ministry Of Light
Gospel - Blessed are those with spiritual qualities - Matthew 5:1--12
Lesson 1 - Blessed are they who walk with God - Micah 6:1--8
Lesson 2 - Blessed are the lowly and despised - 1 Corinthians 1:18--31
EPIPHANY SEASON AND EPIPHANY 4
Epiphany season continues its revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. We saw his glory at his baptism (Epiphany 1). John the Baptist witnessed to his glory as Messiah (Epiphany 2). Through his ministry, his glory was revealed as the light in a dark world. Now, we see the glory of God in Jesus by his attitude and grace toward the outcasts of society: the spiritually poor, the humble, and the despised. His glory is seen in his love and concern for sinners. Though he is the Son of God, he does not cater to the religious elite, the highly educated and the economically rich. What a glorious God we see in Christ who humbles himself to serve the unfortunate and the spiritually impoverished!
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12
1. The Beatitudes. They describe the condition of a person in a right relationship with God through faith in Christ. "Blessed" is often translated as "happy." It is more than what the world considers happiness - possessions, satisfaction, and peace. The blessed one is in favor with God and man. Though the Beatitudes are applicable to the present, their promises look to the future for fulfillment. The Beatitudes are God--oriented: kingdom of heaven, see God, on my account. The blessed estate does not depend upon secular well--being for its fulfillment. It is conceivable a Christian can be perfectly miserable on earth and yet blessed.
2. Poor in spirit. Luke omits "in spirit." Certainly Matthew is not neglecting the physically poor. There is no blessing in poverty. Poor people are not necessarily blessed. The economically poor can be godly or godless. "Poor in spirit," moreover, does not mean a lack of spirit. Rather, the phrase describes a state of being which we might call humility, unworthiness, a dependence on God for the fulfillment of needs. The New English Bible helpfully translates 5:3: "How blest are those who know their need of God."
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8
1. Controversy (v. 2). Micah pictures God as suing his people. He takes Israel to court. The people are the defendants. The prophet is God's defense attorney. The cosmos consists of the witness. God has something against his people: they have been unfaithful to the covenant, played the harlot with pagan gods, and broke his commandments. They have been a disobedient, faithless, and rebellious people. God has a right to a controversy with his people.
2. Remember (v. 5). God's complaint is that his people have forgotten what he has done for them in the past. Pathetically God asks his people, "What evil have I done to you? How have I wearied you?" It sounds as though God is to blame. He asks his people to remember his past dealings with them: acts of mercy, loyalty, and deliverance - brought out of the slavery of Egypt, the blessing of Balaam, the conquest of the Promised Land. These are the wonderful acts of God's faithfulness and love for his people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:18--31
1. The lowly and despised. Paul reminds the church at Corinth that God chose them when they were of no account in the sight of the world: slaves, women, and children. They had no education (wisdom), no political power, and no blue blood. This harmonizes with Jesus' example as friend of publicans and sinners. He did not choose wealthy, high class, or scholarly men for disciples, but peasants and publicans. Why is God interested only in "down--and--outers" and not in the "up--and--outers"? How can this truth be applied to today's church members who are generally from the middle to top class, have comfortable incomes, are college graduates and among the socially elite? It may be due to the fact that the educated are educated out of their need for God. The wealthy need nothing that money cannot buy. The powerful are too self--sufficient and sophisticated to humble themselves before God as suppliants and miserable sinners.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Three Lessons: Micah 6:1--8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--31, Matthew 5:1--12
God Bless You - Who, Me?
Need: Almost like saying, "Good morning" or "How are you?" or "Have a good day," the common phrase "God bless you" has become a meaningless expression. Will God bless the person to whom you say, "God bless you"? It is not that God does not will to bless every person, but the person may not be receptive to God's blessing. The Lessons for this day explain whom God can bless.
Outline: God blesses -
a. Those who know they have spiritual needs - Gospel.
b. Those who are obedient - Lesson 1.
c. Those who are despised by the world - Lesson 2.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12
1. The Habit Of Happiness. 5:1--12
Need: The Beatitudes describe God's people and tell what makes them happy. To be a blessed person is to be a happy person regardless of external circumstances. It is not an off--and--on experience, but a condition that continuously prevails as long as the habit is maintained - the habit of practicing certain spiritual qualities. All humans experience the need for happiness. Are Christians happier than non--Christians?
Outline: Form the habit of happiness -
a. By hungering for righteousness - v. 6; Psalm 1.
b. By showing mercy - v. 7.
c. By making peace - v. 11.
d. By suffering for Jesus - v. 11.
2. If You Wanted To Be Blessed. 5:1--12
Need: Who does not want or need God's blessing? In the congregation there are people with many problems, questions, and needs. Is it conceivable that there is not one person who does not need God's favor? Probably most are in church to receive the blessing of God. It is obvious that not all people are blessed though they may need God's blessing. Why not? Is it God's unwillingness or our lack of receptivity? The answer is in the Beatitudes -
Outline: God's blessing comes to those -
a. Who have spiritual needs - vv. 3--6.
b. Who practice virtues - vv. 7--9.
c. Who suffer for a good cause - vv. 10--12.
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8 (C)
1. Get Right With God. 6:1--8
Need: How are things between you and God? This is the basic concern of God even if we do not think about it. In this text, it is God who brings up the subject. He raises the question of his people's relationship with him. Because of our sin, the relationship is not good. A person's most fundamental need is to get right with God and to please him with good behavior.
Outline: How are things with you and God?
a. What have you done to God? - vv. 1--2.
b. What has God done for you? - vv. 3--5.
c. What should you do for God? - vv. 6--8.
1. What you should not do - vv. 6--7.
2. What you should do - v. 8.
2. God Can Sue You For Malpractice! 6:1--8
Need: It seems today that a person can be sued on every hand. Physicians are sued by patients for malpractice. Vehicle manufacturers are sued by vehicle owners for faulty construction. Many states require us to carry liability insurance in case we injure someone who may take us to court. But, whoever thinks of being sued by God for malpractice of life? In this text God calls his people into court and sues them for not rendering to God his due. Each of us needs to know and to fulfill God's requirements of us.
Outline: See God and people in controversy.
a. God's charges against you - v. 2.
b. God's witnesses against you - vv. 1--2.
c. God's requirements of you - vv. 6--8.
Lesson 1: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12--13 (RC)
1. Escape The Coming Doom. 2:3
Need: Zephaniah, speaking for God, tells the people of his day how to escape the judgment of the coming Day of the Lord. Yahweh promises that wicked nations like Ethiopia and Assyria will be destroyed. How does this apply to our modern world? The principle and truth remain for every generation. Wickedness brings the judgment of God. Today nations face the possibility of destruction due to terrorism, war, overpopulation, hunger, and poverty. How can we escape the inevitable?
Outline: Escaping is in seeking -
a. Seek the Lord - v. 3.
b. Seek righteousness - v. 3.
c. Seek humility - v. 3.
Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time
Revised Common Micah 6:1--8 1 Corinthians 1:18--31 Matthew 5:1--12
Roman Catholic Zephaniah 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:26--31 Matthew 5:1--12a
3:12--13
Episcopal Micah 6:1--8 1 Corinthians 1:(18--25) Matthew 5:1--12
26--31
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8 (C, E)
Yahweh has a controversy with his people for their forgetting past blessings and what God requires of his people. This scene is a cosmic law court. Yahweh takes his people to court for he has something against them. The elements of nature are the witnesses to the trial. Yahweh has been offended and asks his people, "What have I done to you?" that you have deserted me. Since there is no answer, he reminds them of past blessings: freedom from slavery and entrance into the Promised Land. Then, the question is raised what is acceptable to God? Animal or human sacrifices? "No," the court replies. It is a life of justice, loyalty, and humility.
Lesson 1: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12--13 (RC)
God's coming judgment and how to escape it.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:18--31 (C); 1 Corinthians 1:26--31 (RC); 1 Corinthians 1:(18--25) 26--31 (E)
Divisions in the church are caused by the pride of wisdom and Christians have no reason to boast except in the Lord. Last Sunday Paul wrote about the divisions in the Corinthian church. Here he points to the cause: pride in their wisdom. Since they became Christians, they are boasting of superior knowledge and spiritual wisdom. Then Paul reminds them that most of them were not wise, healthy, or prestigious. They came from the dregs of society: poor, slaves, women, and children. They have really only one reason to boast: Christ who saved them by his death on the cross. The saved are not the rich, powerful, or wise, but they who believe in Jesus.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12 (C, E); Matthew 5:1--12a (RC)
The Beatitudes. The same passage is used on All Saints' Sunday, but with the emphasis on the second part of the beatitudes: comfort, mercy, etc. Today the emphasis falls on the first part: poor in spirit, meek, hungry, etc. For the remaining Sundays of the season, the Gospels consist of the fifth chapter of Matthew. According to current scholars, the Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus' teachings given over a period of time. Matthew gathered and edited them. The Sermon on the Mount is one of five collections of teachings in Matthew. It needs to be remembered that the Beatitudes are not rules for living and rewards for those who do. Rather they are the result of grace. People in the kingdom have three qualities and in the life to come they will be rewarded. The Beatitudes harmonize with Lessons 1 and 2 which deal with the lowliness of God's people and their moral and spiritual qualities.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 15 (C) - "O Lord, who may abide in your tent" (v. 1).
Psalm 146:7--10 (RC)
Psalm 37:1--18 (E) - "But the meek shall inherit the land ..." (v. 11).
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sins has brought upon us."
Hymn Of The Day
"Son Of God, Eternal Savior"
Theme Of The Day: The Ministry Of Light
Gospel - Blessed are those with spiritual qualities - Matthew 5:1--12
Lesson 1 - Blessed are they who walk with God - Micah 6:1--8
Lesson 2 - Blessed are the lowly and despised - 1 Corinthians 1:18--31
EPIPHANY SEASON AND EPIPHANY 4
Epiphany season continues its revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. We saw his glory at his baptism (Epiphany 1). John the Baptist witnessed to his glory as Messiah (Epiphany 2). Through his ministry, his glory was revealed as the light in a dark world. Now, we see the glory of God in Jesus by his attitude and grace toward the outcasts of society: the spiritually poor, the humble, and the despised. His glory is seen in his love and concern for sinners. Though he is the Son of God, he does not cater to the religious elite, the highly educated and the economically rich. What a glorious God we see in Christ who humbles himself to serve the unfortunate and the spiritually impoverished!
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12
1. The Beatitudes. They describe the condition of a person in a right relationship with God through faith in Christ. "Blessed" is often translated as "happy." It is more than what the world considers happiness - possessions, satisfaction, and peace. The blessed one is in favor with God and man. Though the Beatitudes are applicable to the present, their promises look to the future for fulfillment. The Beatitudes are God--oriented: kingdom of heaven, see God, on my account. The blessed estate does not depend upon secular well--being for its fulfillment. It is conceivable a Christian can be perfectly miserable on earth and yet blessed.
2. Poor in spirit. Luke omits "in spirit." Certainly Matthew is not neglecting the physically poor. There is no blessing in poverty. Poor people are not necessarily blessed. The economically poor can be godly or godless. "Poor in spirit," moreover, does not mean a lack of spirit. Rather, the phrase describes a state of being which we might call humility, unworthiness, a dependence on God for the fulfillment of needs. The New English Bible helpfully translates 5:3: "How blest are those who know their need of God."
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8
1. Controversy (v. 2). Micah pictures God as suing his people. He takes Israel to court. The people are the defendants. The prophet is God's defense attorney. The cosmos consists of the witness. God has something against his people: they have been unfaithful to the covenant, played the harlot with pagan gods, and broke his commandments. They have been a disobedient, faithless, and rebellious people. God has a right to a controversy with his people.
2. Remember (v. 5). God's complaint is that his people have forgotten what he has done for them in the past. Pathetically God asks his people, "What evil have I done to you? How have I wearied you?" It sounds as though God is to blame. He asks his people to remember his past dealings with them: acts of mercy, loyalty, and deliverance - brought out of the slavery of Egypt, the blessing of Balaam, the conquest of the Promised Land. These are the wonderful acts of God's faithfulness and love for his people.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:18--31
1. The lowly and despised. Paul reminds the church at Corinth that God chose them when they were of no account in the sight of the world: slaves, women, and children. They had no education (wisdom), no political power, and no blue blood. This harmonizes with Jesus' example as friend of publicans and sinners. He did not choose wealthy, high class, or scholarly men for disciples, but peasants and publicans. Why is God interested only in "down--and--outers" and not in the "up--and--outers"? How can this truth be applied to today's church members who are generally from the middle to top class, have comfortable incomes, are college graduates and among the socially elite? It may be due to the fact that the educated are educated out of their need for God. The wealthy need nothing that money cannot buy. The powerful are too self--sufficient and sophisticated to humble themselves before God as suppliants and miserable sinners.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Three Lessons: Micah 6:1--8, 1 Corinthians 1:18--31, Matthew 5:1--12
God Bless You - Who, Me?
Need: Almost like saying, "Good morning" or "How are you?" or "Have a good day," the common phrase "God bless you" has become a meaningless expression. Will God bless the person to whom you say, "God bless you"? It is not that God does not will to bless every person, but the person may not be receptive to God's blessing. The Lessons for this day explain whom God can bless.
Outline: God blesses -
a. Those who know they have spiritual needs - Gospel.
b. Those who are obedient - Lesson 1.
c. Those who are despised by the world - Lesson 2.
Gospel: Matthew 5:1--12
1. The Habit Of Happiness. 5:1--12
Need: The Beatitudes describe God's people and tell what makes them happy. To be a blessed person is to be a happy person regardless of external circumstances. It is not an off--and--on experience, but a condition that continuously prevails as long as the habit is maintained - the habit of practicing certain spiritual qualities. All humans experience the need for happiness. Are Christians happier than non--Christians?
Outline: Form the habit of happiness -
a. By hungering for righteousness - v. 6; Psalm 1.
b. By showing mercy - v. 7.
c. By making peace - v. 11.
d. By suffering for Jesus - v. 11.
2. If You Wanted To Be Blessed. 5:1--12
Need: Who does not want or need God's blessing? In the congregation there are people with many problems, questions, and needs. Is it conceivable that there is not one person who does not need God's favor? Probably most are in church to receive the blessing of God. It is obvious that not all people are blessed though they may need God's blessing. Why not? Is it God's unwillingness or our lack of receptivity? The answer is in the Beatitudes -
Outline: God's blessing comes to those -
a. Who have spiritual needs - vv. 3--6.
b. Who practice virtues - vv. 7--9.
c. Who suffer for a good cause - vv. 10--12.
Lesson 1: Micah 6:1--8 (C)
1. Get Right With God. 6:1--8
Need: How are things between you and God? This is the basic concern of God even if we do not think about it. In this text, it is God who brings up the subject. He raises the question of his people's relationship with him. Because of our sin, the relationship is not good. A person's most fundamental need is to get right with God and to please him with good behavior.
Outline: How are things with you and God?
a. What have you done to God? - vv. 1--2.
b. What has God done for you? - vv. 3--5.
c. What should you do for God? - vv. 6--8.
1. What you should not do - vv. 6--7.
2. What you should do - v. 8.
2. God Can Sue You For Malpractice! 6:1--8
Need: It seems today that a person can be sued on every hand. Physicians are sued by patients for malpractice. Vehicle manufacturers are sued by vehicle owners for faulty construction. Many states require us to carry liability insurance in case we injure someone who may take us to court. But, whoever thinks of being sued by God for malpractice of life? In this text God calls his people into court and sues them for not rendering to God his due. Each of us needs to know and to fulfill God's requirements of us.
Outline: See God and people in controversy.
a. God's charges against you - v. 2.
b. God's witnesses against you - vv. 1--2.
c. God's requirements of you - vv. 6--8.
Lesson 1: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12--13 (RC)
1. Escape The Coming Doom. 2:3
Need: Zephaniah, speaking for God, tells the people of his day how to escape the judgment of the coming Day of the Lord. Yahweh promises that wicked nations like Ethiopia and Assyria will be destroyed. How does this apply to our modern world? The principle and truth remain for every generation. Wickedness brings the judgment of God. Today nations face the possibility of destruction due to terrorism, war, overpopulation, hunger, and poverty. How can we escape the inevitable?
Outline: Escaping is in seeking -
a. Seek the Lord - v. 3.
b. Seek righteousness - v. 3.
c. Seek humility - v. 3.
