TOPIC INDEXEpiphany (12)

  1. Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 (Epiphany 5: Series B)

    book
    01/31/21
    11 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    What is Jesus' conception of, “How is God’s kingship made effective?” It would happen through preaching.

  2. Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37 (Epiphany 6: Series A)

    book
    02/10/20
    9 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus establishes a whole new standard for what it means to live as one of His people.

  3. Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20 (Epiphany 5: Series A)

    book
    02/03/20
    11 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    The followers of Jesus have a function to perform. When they do not perform it—that is, when they are not being themselves—the world suffers.

  4. Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 (Epiphany 4: Series A)

    book
    01/27/20
    12 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    Our first mistake in thinking about the blessed life is we expect to experience it fully in this life.

  5. Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 (Epiphany 7: Series C)

    book
    02/17/19
    10 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    This week Jesus continues by discussing the behavior of his people. He’s particularly interested in the way his people treat others—especially those who mistreat them. Like last week, the only way to describe it is backwards.

  6. Gospel: Luke 6:17-26 (Epiphany 6: Series C)

    book
    02/10/19
    8 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    Backwards. That is the only way to describe the world Jesus portrays in Luke 6. Consider what He says about blessings. The blessed, He says, are the poor, the hungry, those who weep. It is those who are hated, excluded, reviled, spurned. Who among us wants to be “blessed” like that?

  7. Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 (Epiphany 5: Series C)

    book
    02/03/19
    10 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    Much like the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, Luke helps us consider discipleship by inviting us to identify with an individual.

  8. Gospel: Luke 4:31-44 (Epiphany 4: Series C)

    book
    01/27/19
    7 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    During Epiphany we reflect on the things God has revealed about the world and Himself through His Son. The Gospel readings, which come from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, serve as introductions to Jesus—both for the people of His day and ours.

  9. Gospel: Luke 4:16-30 (Epiphany 3: Series C)

    book
    01/20/19
    9 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    This text reminds us that Jesus was a preacher. He also healed and worked wonders, delivered from danger and forgave sins. But here, immediately following his baptism, Jesus came to his own people in the synagogue of his hometown, and he preached.

  10. Gospel: John 2:1-11 (Epiphany 2: Series C)

    book
    01/13/19
    12 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    And there is Jesus to save the day. With a little prodding from His mother, and some help from obedient servants, He swoops in and solves the problem before anyone even knew it existed. That is what we are looking for from God, right? To swoop in. To save the day. These are good reasons to like this text, but they all miss the point.

  11. Gospel: Luke 3:15-22 (Epiphany 1: Series C)

    book
    01/06/19
    8 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    The first Sunday after Epiphany is traditionally a time to think about the baptism of Jesus. It is common on this Sunday for preachers to make connections between Jesus’ baptism and our own. That seems like a natural move, for most sermons are directed primarily to the baptized.

  12. Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 (Epiphany: Series C)

    book
    12/30/18
    10 mins
    By Peter Nafzger
    On Christmas morning many congregations sang Isaac Watts’ familiar hymn, “Joy to the World.” My home congregation was among them. I was already thinking about Epiphany and Matthew’s account of the magi as I sang, which is probably why the third verse caught my attention.