Bible Study – Third Sunday after Epiphany “A Light Has Dawned”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Accept the light we have received and shine it forth! It is not about shining the light in other’s faces, blinding them, but holding the light in open hands.
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And what does Jesus say? The kingdom of heaven has come near. What is this kingdom of heaven and how do we get ready to receive it?
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, that we have many people to tell us the story of Jesus so we may see you from many different sides. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 4:12-23 and read or read the scriptures below.
Matthew 4:12-23
John Testifies About Jesus
Jesus Begins to Preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”[a]
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Reflection Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
- What did you notice in this reading? What was interesting for you?
- What were you curious about as we read this?
- When did the moods change in the passage?
- What does this passage tell us Jesus was considering?
- What does this passage tell us is the conclusion that Jesus has come to?
- What do you think “the kingdom of heaven” means?
- What does Jesus do next?
Bible Memory Verse: Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Jesus Calls His First Disciple Fishers of Men Matthew 4:12-23: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiuoChM0UJc or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrFXJywGJgs
Book of Matthew Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI
Song: I Will Make You Fishers of Men - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLxQFr6gK0s&list=RDtLxQFr6gK0s&start_radio=1
Activities:
Choose a person to identify with from our stories – John the Baptist, the disciples Jesus is calling, Jesus, or a bystander who is witnessing all of this. Review the wonder statements below and write down your thoughts:
- I wonder how John the Baptist felt and what he was doing now that Jesus was around?
- I wonder what Jesus saw in the fishermen to call them to follow?
- I wonder what made the fishermen drop their nets and follow Jesus?
- I wonder what you would give up if Jesus called you to follow?
- I wonder what qualities Jesus saw in them that he sees in us?
After writing you thoughts, create a response poster. It can be a reflection about the final question, it can be a response to who you chose to identify with, or it can be a combination. If you are stuck with what to do, you can list qualities that you see, you can draw a picture of a disciple and label the things that Jesus may have wanted in a disciple, you can do a combination, etc.
Fishing for People- Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/fishing-for-people-10
Fishing for People - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/fishing-for-people-1
Fishing for People – Jumble: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/fishing-for-people-15
Fishing for People – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/fishing-for-people-14
Fishing for People – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/fishing4people-1
Prayer: Thank you, God, that you call us, too, to follow. Help us to be your disciples that we may follow you faithfully. Amen.
Answers to the Reflection Questions:
- What did you notice in this reading? What was interesting for you?
- What were you curious about as we read this?
- When did the moods change in the passage? (From Jesus considering what he was being called to do to his decision in verse 17, to his actions from verse 18 on.)
- What does this passage tell us Jesus was considering? (Verse 12, John is now in prison. Verse 13, he goes back home to think and because that is how he understands what Isaiah had said in verses 15-16).
- What does this passage tell us is the conclusion that Jesus has come to? (Verse 17)
- What do you think “the kingdom of heaven” means? (Jesus knows that God is not “off somewhere” but right here. It would be Jesus’ task to try to help people stop doing what was not helping them, and turn to God.)
- What does Jesus do next? (He calls some people to help him do the work.)
