Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Collect

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament

Jonah 3:1–5 ESV

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

Jonah 3:10 ESV

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Psalm

Psalm 62:5–12 ESV

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

New Testament

1 Corinthians 7:29–31 ESV

This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Gospel

Mark 1:14–20 ESV

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Connections To Consider

"Gospel engine” - our repentance and belief resulting in God’s peace and love. It’s a self-replicating engine.

God calls for an active gospel engine working 24/7 in every one of His followers.

You can tell it is not on and working when you are stuck in fear, anger, and hopelessness in light of what’s happening around you.

The gospel engine powers us through times like this, not around or from times like this.

You can tell it is on and working when you experience and produce in others God’s peace and love in spite of the fear, anger, and hopelessness around you.

We don’t always choose to have it switched on. We sabotage it ourselves by focusing externally on the stresses of the world. Instead of and internal focus on repentance and belief we are externally focused on fear, anger, and hopelessness. The gospel engine is broken.

Yet we still cry out for God’s love and peace, but with a broken understanding of those. We want peace from the turmoil in our lives and a warm fuzzy version of God’s love for us. God’s peace is not from turmoil, but through it. God’s love is not only for us, it is supposed to be through us into the lives of those around it.

When the gospel engine is working, the result is gospel-engine-action taking place in the lives of others. Others being to repent and believe, and experience God’s peace and love.