Epiphany Sunday

EpiphanySunday

“Epiphany”

“To show, make known,

reveal, or to shine forth”

Celebrating the revelation of

God in the Incarnation of

Jesus Christ.

EpiphanySunday

Reflecting on the visit of the

Magi to the infant Jesus; who were following a new star that was

“shining forth” hope.

Matthew 2: 1-12 Magi track new star of the Messiah They meet King Herod in Jerusalem They Find Baby Jesus in Bethlehem Warned by God not to tell Herod, they return home on a different path

The Magi showed 3 Marks

Of True Commitment to Jesus.

Matthew 2:11a

“They bowed down and worshiped

him”---------------------------

Humbled themselves,

acknowledged Jesus as the new

“Lord”of their lives.

2 Timothy 3: 2-42 “People will be lovers of

themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,

disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without

love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,

not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than

lovers of God”

"If you keep on doing what you've always done,

you'll keep on getting what you've always got."

  -  W. L. Bateman

Matthew 2:11b

“They opened their treasures…”---------------------------Recognized that all of their resources were now to be available to the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 2:12b

“They returned to their country

by another route”

---------------------------They listen to and

heed God’s Direction and

are changed by their experience.

Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping

with repentance.”-----------------------------------------------Attitudes & Actions will change

when we keep a Repentant Heart.

The terrifying reality is that the Magi will return to their pagan

land with a transformed heart, but will have to intentionally work hard to stay connected to God’s

Plan for their lives.

These life changes will not be self-focused “resolutions” that

are fueled by their own will power and driven by guilty feelings.

This will be a God-led “revolution”!

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again,

but expecting different results."

-  Narcotics Anonymous

Starting next week,we will begin a new Sermon Series

that will help usfollow a New Path…

A Different Path where we are

freed up from the “clutter” of life and unleashed for

God’s Kingdom.

EpiphanySunday