Third Sunday Of The Epiphany
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
Lesson 1: Amos 3:1-8 (E)
Israel's sin is so terrible because God's love is so great.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4 (C, RC); Isaiah 9:1b-4 (L)
In the darkness of conquest, a light is seen bringing great joy. Today's Lesson is in part a repeat of Christmas Day. Then it was used as a fulfilled prophecy of the birth of the Messiah-king. Here it is used as fulfillment of the glorious time for the land, "Galilee of the nations." Matthew, in today's Gospel, sees the start of Jesus' ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of this promise. The historical background: In 734 B.C. Assyria takes into captivity Zebulon and Naphtali. It is a dark time of their history. But, the people see a light in the coming Messiah-king whose coming means great joy.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (C); 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (E, L); 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (RC)
Paul appeals for unity in the Corinthian church. 1 Corinthians falls into two parts: (1) Chapters 1-6 deal with the problems reported to Paul by "Chloe's people;" (2) Chapters 7-16 give Paul's answers to questions sent him. The first four chapters deal with disunity in the congregation. The dissention and quarreling have their source in loyalty to various leaders: Paul, Apollos, Peter and Christ. The solution to the problem is the realization that they were all baptized into Christ and not into a human. So Paul is glad he baptized only a few of them. His calling was to preach the gospel, not to baptize.
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23 (C, E, L, RC)
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee. Matthew here gives his account of where, how and why Jesus began his ministry.This follows his baptism which was his call to ministry and the temptation when Jesus decided how to fulfill his calling to be the Messiah. The immediate cause of his start was the end of John the Baptist's ministry through the arrest. Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum as the headquarters of his ministry. Matthew sees his coming to Lake Galilee as the fulfillment of Lesson 1. He begins his ministry by calling four disciples. His message is repentance. His ministry is threefold: preaching, teaching and healing.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 139: 1-17 (E); Psalm 27:1, 4-9 (C); Psalm 27:1-6 (L) - "The Lord is my light and salvation (v. 1.)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives."
Theme Of The Day: The Ministry Of Light
Lesson 1 - The promise of a light to people in darkness - Isaiah 9:1-4
Gospel - The Light has begun to shine in Jesus' ministry - Matthew 4:12-23
Since Lesson 2 is given in-course and deals with the problem of internal church division, it does not harmonize with the theme of the other Lessons. The Gospel fulfills the promise of a light coming to the people of Galilee. This fulfillment is in the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. It is cause for celebration. By his ministry of preaching, teaching and healing Jesus brings the light of truth and grace to the world. Psalm 27 harmonizes with the theme of light - "The Lord is my light ..." The Prayer asks for us to have a similar ministry of light.
EPIPHANY SEASON AND EPIPHANY 3
The Epiphany theme of light is evident in both Gospel and Lesson 1 - "have seen a great light." Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of that light. In Christ is the Epiphany (manifestation) of light. Epiphany deals with the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. God's glory is seen in the ministry of Jesus - he brings the kingdom to people through his threefold ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, a ministry to the whole person: soul, mind and body. Paul sees the glory of God revealed in the cross - the means of deliverance from the oppression of sin, Satan and death.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23
1. The fulfillment of prophecy (v. 14). Matthew sees Jesus beginning his ministry as a fulfillment of the Isaiah promise that deliverance would come to those taken captive by the Assyrians in Zebulon and Naphtali. Fulfillment implies that Jesus was more than a man, a prophet or a teacher; he was the Son of God, the Messiah.
2. Repentance (v. 17). For John the Baptist, repentance was a condition for entering the kingdom of God. For Jesus, repentance was accepting the salvation already offered and present. Repentance is not a condition of grace but a response to it. Repentance is acknowledging God's forgiveness and acceptance; it is a turning to God to accept his grace by faith.
3. The kingdom of heaven at hand (v. 17). The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God - the sovereignty and rule of God. Since Jesus is the king of the kingdom, his presence brings the kingdom of God in the here and now. To be in Christ is to be in the kingdom.
4. Discipleship (vv. 18-22). The calling of the four is a call to special discipleship. They are called to the ministry, not to a general ministry. It was a special discipleship with a special task, a special destiny, and a special promise. Jesus did not intend all followers to be full-time disciples like the 12. There is a fundamental difference between the clergy and the laity.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4
1. Light (v. 2). When Isaiah wrote these words, there was darkness in the land. Assyria conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness and forced labor. In today's world there is also much darkness: loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins his ministry.
2. Joy (v. 3). What is the joy of a Christian? It is basically the joy of having Christ. He is the Light of the world. To have Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of sin and from the consequences of sin - death. Joy is a by-product of Jesus' preaching the good news of salvation, his teaching the truth of God, and his ministry of healing to our bodies and minds. A true Christian cannot be a sad-sack.
3. Broken (v. 4). In today's society we often hear the word, "broken," to describe the human condition: families are broken up by divorce; parents' hearts are broken when rebellious children run away from home; nations are at war because of broken relations - embassies are closed, ambassadors are called home. In this verse, "broken" is a good word. Because of Christ the power of sin is broken. The broken relationship between God and humanity is healed.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
1. Church disunity (v. 10). Fractions, dissentions and cliques existed in the Corinthian church because there was a party spirit. A pastor (Apollos, Paul, Peter) was placed above Jesus. It was not Christ's church but Dr. So-and-So's church. Unity in a church is based upon the pre-eminence of Christ, not the personality of the pastor. Paul did not make a practice of baptizing people in order to avoid anyone's claim he belonged to Paul rather than to Christ. Baptism tends to establish a loyalty between the pastor and the candidate. Often it is heard, "He baptized me," in the sense of adulating the pastor. The closer people get to Christ, the closer they get to each other in harmony and peace.
2. The primacy of preaching (v. 17). Paul declares he was called to preach not to baptize. The chruch ordains clergy to do both. For Paul, preaching was the primary task of a minister. If it is more important than baptism, imagine how much more important it would be to Paul than today's pastoral role as administrator, visitor, counselor or teacher. Not only is preaching primary to Paul, but the cross in his preaching is foremost.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Publish Glad Tidings!
Need: In this season of Epiphany we are concerned with the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This can happen only if the good news is shared with all people. Why should we do this? Why not let the non-Christian peoples be content in the religion they now have? We do it because Christ has something infinitely better to offer. We do wrong by not sharing the blessing of Christ.
Outline: Publish the glad tidings of the gospel.
a. The gospel of the kingdom - Gospel.
b. The gospel of the cross - Lesson 2.
c. The gospel of victory - Lesson 1.
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23
1. Look At the Light! 4:12-23
Need: People need to see Jesus as the eternal light. To those in darkness, a light is a sign of life and hope. In our despair and doubt, we need to look at the light of Christ.
Outline: The Gospel tells us -
a. The light shines - through the preaching of the gospel - 4:12-17.
b. The light is accepted - the response of the disciples - 4:18-22.
c. The light is released - through the ministry - 4:23.
2. Get to Work! 4:12-23
Need: Most church members are drones. They do little or nothing. Most of the work of a congregation is done by the faithful 10 percent. The time has come for all members to put their hands to the plow and their shoulders to the chruch's wheels. The world - hungry, ignorant, suffering, sinful - needs help. Two billion souls need salvation. In today's Gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry; it is an appropriate time for church people to get to work.
Outline: It is time to go to work for Jesus.
a. A work of God - vv. 12-17. It is a work promised by the prophet and fulfilled in Christ. Working in the church is working for God.
b. A work of proclamation - v. 17. A layman can preach by his witness in word and life.
c. A work of Christ's followers - vv. 18-22.
d. A work of ministry - v.23. A ministry to the whole person: body (healing), mind (teaching), soul (preaching).
3. Jesus Needs You! 4:18-22
Need: At the very beginning of his public ministry Jesus realized he needed helpers to accomplish his work after he left the earth. Today's Jesus still needs helpers to complete his mission: to seek and save the lost, to bring knowledge and healing to the world. Jesus' calling of disciples, proves his need of co-workers.
Outline: How can you have a part in Jesus' ministry?
a. Be confronted by Christ - vv. 18, 21.
b. Be called by Christ - v. 19.
c. Be consecrated by Christ - vv. 20, 22.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4
1. Some Day You'll Be Glad! 9:1-4
Need: When we are in the midst of trouble, we cannot imagine things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fear and anxiety will change to joy. Here is the promise of God to a people living in the oppression of darkness. This sermon is designed to encourage and up-lift those who may have reason to despair their condition.
Outline: Our text says to you in trouble -
a. God promises you'll be glad some day - v. 3.
b. There are good reasons for your hope.
1. Light will replace darkness - v. 2.
2. Liberation from oppression - v. 4.
2. More Light Please! "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." 9:2
Need: While Goethe was dying, he cried, "Light, give me more light! " This is the cry of a world that is dark, and threatened with death. It is the cry of those in the darkness of ignorance, sin, and doubt. What is the answer? Is there a way out?
Outline: In God's Word, we see -
a. The darkness of the world - "people who walked in darkness."
b. The light is here - "have seen a great light" (Christ).
c. The light overcomes the darkness - "on them has light shined."
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
1. The Empty Cross. 1:10-18
Need: When the cross is referred to as empty, people think of a cross without the body of Christ on it. In this sermon we mean a cross can be empty of its power. It can be helpless and meaningless.
Outline: We empty the cross of its power when -
a. We have internal church divisions - v. 10: "Dissensions among you."
b. We consider it of secondary importance - v. 17: "Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel."
c. We rely on our own wisdom - v. 17: "not with eloquent wisdom."
2. Toward a United Church. 1:10-18
Need: The ecumenical movement of this century seems to be in reverse. The movement toward church mergers has stalled. Churches are splitting on issues of women preachers, liturgical reforms, conservative theology, homosexuals and charismatics. This is the case not only in general church bodies but also in local congregations. The need today is to maintain peace and harmony among church members. This can be done by the proclamation of the gospel.
Outline: The gospel is the unifying factor.
a. The gospel of Christ - 1:10-16. The closer we come to Christ, the closer we are to each other.When we are in Christ, we share his peace and unity.
b. The gospel of the cross - 1:17. The cross is where we take our stand and the ground is level before the cross. We are one there - one as sinners, one as the redeemed, one as the family of God.
Israel's sin is so terrible because God's love is so great.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4 (C, RC); Isaiah 9:1b-4 (L)
In the darkness of conquest, a light is seen bringing great joy. Today's Lesson is in part a repeat of Christmas Day. Then it was used as a fulfilled prophecy of the birth of the Messiah-king. Here it is used as fulfillment of the glorious time for the land, "Galilee of the nations." Matthew, in today's Gospel, sees the start of Jesus' ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of this promise. The historical background: In 734 B.C. Assyria takes into captivity Zebulon and Naphtali. It is a dark time of their history. But, the people see a light in the coming Messiah-king whose coming means great joy.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (C); 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (E, L); 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (RC)
Paul appeals for unity in the Corinthian church. 1 Corinthians falls into two parts: (1) Chapters 1-6 deal with the problems reported to Paul by "Chloe's people;" (2) Chapters 7-16 give Paul's answers to questions sent him. The first four chapters deal with disunity in the congregation. The dissention and quarreling have their source in loyalty to various leaders: Paul, Apollos, Peter and Christ. The solution to the problem is the realization that they were all baptized into Christ and not into a human. So Paul is glad he baptized only a few of them. His calling was to preach the gospel, not to baptize.
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23 (C, E, L, RC)
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee. Matthew here gives his account of where, how and why Jesus began his ministry.This follows his baptism which was his call to ministry and the temptation when Jesus decided how to fulfill his calling to be the Messiah. The immediate cause of his start was the end of John the Baptist's ministry through the arrest. Jesus moves from Nazareth to Capernaum as the headquarters of his ministry. Matthew sees his coming to Lake Galilee as the fulfillment of Lesson 1. He begins his ministry by calling four disciples. His message is repentance. His ministry is threefold: preaching, teaching and healing.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 139: 1-17 (E); Psalm 27:1, 4-9 (C); Psalm 27:1-6 (L) - "The Lord is my light and salvation (v. 1.)."
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives."
Theme Of The Day: The Ministry Of Light
Lesson 1 - The promise of a light to people in darkness - Isaiah 9:1-4
Gospel - The Light has begun to shine in Jesus' ministry - Matthew 4:12-23
Since Lesson 2 is given in-course and deals with the problem of internal church division, it does not harmonize with the theme of the other Lessons. The Gospel fulfills the promise of a light coming to the people of Galilee. This fulfillment is in the beginning of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. It is cause for celebration. By his ministry of preaching, teaching and healing Jesus brings the light of truth and grace to the world. Psalm 27 harmonizes with the theme of light - "The Lord is my light ..." The Prayer asks for us to have a similar ministry of light.
EPIPHANY SEASON AND EPIPHANY 3
The Epiphany theme of light is evident in both Gospel and Lesson 1 - "have seen a great light." Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of that light. In Christ is the Epiphany (manifestation) of light. Epiphany deals with the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus. God's glory is seen in the ministry of Jesus - he brings the kingdom to people through his threefold ministry of preaching, teaching and healing, a ministry to the whole person: soul, mind and body. Paul sees the glory of God revealed in the cross - the means of deliverance from the oppression of sin, Satan and death.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23
1. The fulfillment of prophecy (v. 14). Matthew sees Jesus beginning his ministry as a fulfillment of the Isaiah promise that deliverance would come to those taken captive by the Assyrians in Zebulon and Naphtali. Fulfillment implies that Jesus was more than a man, a prophet or a teacher; he was the Son of God, the Messiah.
2. Repentance (v. 17). For John the Baptist, repentance was a condition for entering the kingdom of God. For Jesus, repentance was accepting the salvation already offered and present. Repentance is not a condition of grace but a response to it. Repentance is acknowledging God's forgiveness and acceptance; it is a turning to God to accept his grace by faith.
3. The kingdom of heaven at hand (v. 17). The kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of God - the sovereignty and rule of God. Since Jesus is the king of the kingdom, his presence brings the kingdom of God in the here and now. To be in Christ is to be in the kingdom.
4. Discipleship (vv. 18-22). The calling of the four is a call to special discipleship. They are called to the ministry, not to a general ministry. It was a special discipleship with a special task, a special destiny, and a special promise. Jesus did not intend all followers to be full-time disciples like the 12. There is a fundamental difference between the clergy and the laity.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4
1. Light (v. 2). When Isaiah wrote these words, there was darkness in the land. Assyria conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness and forced labor. In today's world there is also much darkness: loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins his ministry.
2. Joy (v. 3). What is the joy of a Christian? It is basically the joy of having Christ. He is the Light of the world. To have Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of sin and from the consequences of sin - death. Joy is a by-product of Jesus' preaching the good news of salvation, his teaching the truth of God, and his ministry of healing to our bodies and minds. A true Christian cannot be a sad-sack.
3. Broken (v. 4). In today's society we often hear the word, "broken," to describe the human condition: families are broken up by divorce; parents' hearts are broken when rebellious children run away from home; nations are at war because of broken relations - embassies are closed, ambassadors are called home. In this verse, "broken" is a good word. Because of Christ the power of sin is broken. The broken relationship between God and humanity is healed.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
1. Church disunity (v. 10). Fractions, dissentions and cliques existed in the Corinthian church because there was a party spirit. A pastor (Apollos, Paul, Peter) was placed above Jesus. It was not Christ's church but Dr. So-and-So's church. Unity in a church is based upon the pre-eminence of Christ, not the personality of the pastor. Paul did not make a practice of baptizing people in order to avoid anyone's claim he belonged to Paul rather than to Christ. Baptism tends to establish a loyalty between the pastor and the candidate. Often it is heard, "He baptized me," in the sense of adulating the pastor. The closer people get to Christ, the closer they get to each other in harmony and peace.
2. The primacy of preaching (v. 17). Paul declares he was called to preach not to baptize. The chruch ordains clergy to do both. For Paul, preaching was the primary task of a minister. If it is more important than baptism, imagine how much more important it would be to Paul than today's pastoral role as administrator, visitor, counselor or teacher. Not only is preaching primary to Paul, but the cross in his preaching is foremost.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Publish Glad Tidings!
Need: In this season of Epiphany we are concerned with the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth. This can happen only if the good news is shared with all people. Why should we do this? Why not let the non-Christian peoples be content in the religion they now have? We do it because Christ has something infinitely better to offer. We do wrong by not sharing the blessing of Christ.
Outline: Publish the glad tidings of the gospel.
a. The gospel of the kingdom - Gospel.
b. The gospel of the cross - Lesson 2.
c. The gospel of victory - Lesson 1.
Gospel:
Matthew 4:12-23
1. Look At the Light! 4:12-23
Need: People need to see Jesus as the eternal light. To those in darkness, a light is a sign of life and hope. In our despair and doubt, we need to look at the light of Christ.
Outline: The Gospel tells us -
a. The light shines - through the preaching of the gospel - 4:12-17.
b. The light is accepted - the response of the disciples - 4:18-22.
c. The light is released - through the ministry - 4:23.
2. Get to Work! 4:12-23
Need: Most church members are drones. They do little or nothing. Most of the work of a congregation is done by the faithful 10 percent. The time has come for all members to put their hands to the plow and their shoulders to the chruch's wheels. The world - hungry, ignorant, suffering, sinful - needs help. Two billion souls need salvation. In today's Gospel, Jesus begins his public ministry; it is an appropriate time for church people to get to work.
Outline: It is time to go to work for Jesus.
a. A work of God - vv. 12-17. It is a work promised by the prophet and fulfilled in Christ. Working in the church is working for God.
b. A work of proclamation - v. 17. A layman can preach by his witness in word and life.
c. A work of Christ's followers - vv. 18-22.
d. A work of ministry - v.23. A ministry to the whole person: body (healing), mind (teaching), soul (preaching).
3. Jesus Needs You! 4:18-22
Need: At the very beginning of his public ministry Jesus realized he needed helpers to accomplish his work after he left the earth. Today's Jesus still needs helpers to complete his mission: to seek and save the lost, to bring knowledge and healing to the world. Jesus' calling of disciples, proves his need of co-workers.
Outline: How can you have a part in Jesus' ministry?
a. Be confronted by Christ - vv. 18, 21.
b. Be called by Christ - v. 19.
c. Be consecrated by Christ - vv. 20, 22.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 9:1-4
1. Some Day You'll Be Glad! 9:1-4
Need: When we are in the midst of trouble, we cannot imagine things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fear and anxiety will change to joy. Here is the promise of God to a people living in the oppression of darkness. This sermon is designed to encourage and up-lift those who may have reason to despair their condition.
Outline: Our text says to you in trouble -
a. God promises you'll be glad some day - v. 3.
b. There are good reasons for your hope.
1. Light will replace darkness - v. 2.
2. Liberation from oppression - v. 4.
2. More Light Please! "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." 9:2
Need: While Goethe was dying, he cried, "Light, give me more light! " This is the cry of a world that is dark, and threatened with death. It is the cry of those in the darkness of ignorance, sin, and doubt. What is the answer? Is there a way out?
Outline: In God's Word, we see -
a. The darkness of the world - "people who walked in darkness."
b. The light is here - "have seen a great light" (Christ).
c. The light overcomes the darkness - "on them has light shined."
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
1. The Empty Cross. 1:10-18
Need: When the cross is referred to as empty, people think of a cross without the body of Christ on it. In this sermon we mean a cross can be empty of its power. It can be helpless and meaningless.
Outline: We empty the cross of its power when -
a. We have internal church divisions - v. 10: "Dissensions among you."
b. We consider it of secondary importance - v. 17: "Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel."
c. We rely on our own wisdom - v. 17: "not with eloquent wisdom."
2. Toward a United Church. 1:10-18
Need: The ecumenical movement of this century seems to be in reverse. The movement toward church mergers has stalled. Churches are splitting on issues of women preachers, liturgical reforms, conservative theology, homosexuals and charismatics. This is the case not only in general church bodies but also in local congregations. The need today is to maintain peace and harmony among church members. This can be done by the proclamation of the gospel.
Outline: The gospel is the unifying factor.
a. The gospel of Christ - 1:10-16. The closer we come to Christ, the closer we are to each other.When we are in Christ, we share his peace and unity.
b. The gospel of the cross - 1:17. The cross is where we take our stand and the ground is level before the cross. We are one there - one as sinners, one as the redeemed, one as the family of God.
