Epiphany, Part 1

Epiphany reminds us that Jesus didn’t just come to make a brief appearance in human history; He came to change everything. The birth of Jesus wasn’t the end of the story; it was the beginning of God’s redemptive work in a broken world. And as we reflect on the journey of the Magi in Matthew 2, we see the profound truth of Epiphany unfold—God revealing Himself to those who seek Him, offering the gift of His presence to all.

Praise
Elevation Worship

Take You at Your Word
Cody Carnes

King of Kings
Hillsong Worship

O Praise the Name
Hillsong Live

Epiphany
The season of piercing awareness and insight that captures and awakens (or reawakens) you to the good news of Jesus.

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Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

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Max Lucado
“God did everything necessary to get Herod’s attention. He sent messengers from the East and a message from the Torah. He sent wonders from the sky and words from Scripture. He sent the testimony of the heavens and the teaching of the prophets. But Herod refused to listen. He chose his puny dynasty over Christ. He died a miserable old man.”

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1. Are you posturing or are you pursuing as a follower of Jesus?

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2. Are you continuing as your own king or bowing to the King?

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3. Is your heart open or closed to the transforming power of Jesus?

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Mark #1
A follower of Jesus is one who finds their identity in Jesus.

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Romans 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

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