The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany February
3, 2013
Lessons for Epiphany 4
Jeremiah 1:4–10 (17–19) ~ God expressed His love for His people by choosing Jeremiah to turn
them back.
Psalm 71:1-6 (7-11) (Antiphon: v. 12)
1 Corinthians 12:31b—13:13 ~ When the gifts of the Spirit are used in love, they build up the body
of Christ.
Luke 4:31–44 ~ Jesus
healed many with His loving power and gathered people with the news of the
Kingdom.
GATHERING THE TEXTS: Let God's Love Have Its Way.
God's love is all-encompassing. God's love is beyond comprehension. It grasped Jeremiah before his birth and
claimed him for the difficult job of confronting God's people with their
waywardness. Jesus confronted demons and
healed the sick because God’s love compelled Him to share the good news of the
Kingdom in words and actions. Although
God's love is patient and kind, at times we will have to give up things we hold
dear because God looks beyond the moment and forms us for His eternal
purpose. Even when our lives are
threatened, God's love wins out.
PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: God of mercy and of grace, do not let me stumble
over words of correction or rebuke, but let me hear You speak in love through
Your law as You lead me to depend more and more on Christ my Savior. Guide me by Your Holy Spirit as I live
lovingly toward others. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has entrusted us with many material blessings
and has called us to use them in ways that are guided by His love for even the
least among us. If we use them without
love, they become demonic tools that tear apart the fellowship of Christ’s body.
OFFERING PRAYER: O gracious God, it is Your
way
to bless us from
above.
Grant us to care for
those each day
who need to know Your
love. Amen.
CONVICTION AND COMFORT: By His Spirit God gives us many gifts, which can be
used in many ways. Often we use them to
call attention or bring influence to
ourselves. Jesus has come to us in love
as a servant, healing us not only of diseases and destructive spirits, but also
of the selfish spirit that places us over and above others. Along with the gifts come responsibility to
exercise them in loving ways that build up the body of Christ, as well as trust
that sees God dealing in love with us through others in the faith even when
they point out our unloving actions to call us back to God’s mercy.
No comments:
Post a Comment