The Epiphany Of Our Lord
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
The light of God's glory has appeared.
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12 (C, E); Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (RC);
Ephesians 3:2-12 (L)
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.
55
Lesson 2: Ephesians 3:1-12 (C, E); Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 (RC);
Ephesians 3:2-12 (L)
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.
55
