I have lost the plot…
I have totally gotten out of the habit of keeping up my blog. I miss it. This also means that my bible study has fallen off the wayside as well. I somehow need to write what I am studying as much as I need to pray while I’m walking in the morning…that too has been abandoned. What is going on? I wish I knew. I am attempting to get it all back in sync however.
I teach the 6-12 grade Sunday School class and we are studying parts of the book
HOW TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE FROM MARTIN LUTHER’S ON CHRISTIAN
FREEDOM Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition Adapted by Paul Strawn
I will begin to share our lessons here, weekly to start. But first I wanted to post the Epiphany lesson we did on January 13.
Epiphany - A moment of sudden understanding or revelation. In a more traditional sense, the Christian church celebrates this at the end of the “Twelve Days Of Christmas.” It is when we remember the Magi finding the Christ Child. You can read the whole story in Matthew 2.
The star that the magi followed was a sign. God has used signs throughout history for many things. They always have great importance. Many times they are a way to remember a covenant or promise.
Here are just a few:
● Genesis 9:14-17 - The Rainbow
● Exodus 12:13 - The Blood on the Door Posts
● (Exodus 31:17 - The Sabbath
● Isaiah 7:14 -The Virgin Birth
● Luke 2:12 - The Baby in a Manger
● Matthew 24:30 - The Sign of Christ’s Second Return in the Sky
● Romans 4:11 -Circumcision
A great star was the sign of Christ’s birth. It is interesting to see when reading the story of the star which led the Magi is that the people of Jerusalem didn’t seem to notice and were concerned upon hearing about it…Matthew 2:1-3.
Also noteworthy, is that the men came from a distance – I don’t think anyone is sure of how far they came - but they did make an effort to follow the star from their country to another. They knew what that star meant too and even though it is not known how God revealed it to them they knew it would lead them to the location of the King of the Jews and that he would be a child (I wonder why they went to Jerusalem first? They knew that He was in Bethlehem). Never-the-less, these men would not have been Jewish therefore they would be gentiles. We tend to think of the gifts being the important part. But the fact that God showed Gentiles the way to the King as well as Jews is equally important. Think of how His plan to invite others to be reconciled with Himself is being fulfilled in this part of the story. Think of the fact that all of Jerusalem was concerned about the news. Think back to another part of the Christmas story that the angels revealed themselves and announced His birth to lowly shepherds. God’s plan includes everyone, The Messiah was to be King of all.
Epiphany is all about LIGHT, The Light Of The World shining into the darkness of humankind. Christ is called a the Light and a Star as well and is revealing Himself everyday even now to people in darkness. Numbers 24:17 ; Isaiah 9:2 ‘ 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16.
Look up these verses then write something about how it affects you:
- Acts 10:45 -
- Acts 15:14
- Galatians 2:15-16
- Luke 2:31, 32
- 3 John 1
- Matt 4:15-16 - Darkness was on all
- Act 11:1
- Act 14:27 – Gentiles
- Act 21:19
- Romans 11:11-25
- 1 Cor. 12:12, 13
See if you can find any verses from the Old Testament that prophesy about the fact that gentiles will be granted grace along with the Jews. Here are a few to get you started:
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. Isaiah 60:1-6
Now some Camel Art:
