This is the weekly bulletin insert from Sermons That Work.

Epiphany Bible Study: Week 4

During the season of Epiphany, The Episcopal Church’s Office of Global Partnerships is offering a weekly Bible study prepared by writers across the church and Anglican Communion. Each piece, consisting of the Sunday readings, can be studied alone, in small groups, or even with a congregation. You can find the whole study for each week at www.sermonsthatwork.org.

This week’s study for the Presentation was written by the Rev. Cn. Wadie N. Far, a priest from Jordan serving in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

Hebrews 2:14-18

¹⁴ Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. ¹⁶ For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Commentary from Wadie Far

While for some, God is far and distant, that should not be the case for us Christians. We believe that God came down to earth to be with us, to guide, to teach, to heal, and to give us salvation. In this belief, we should find great strength, for our God is not a distant, far away God, who does not understand our problems and challenges. Rather, God is the one who humbled himself and took on flesh for us. We believe in a God who wants to dwell in our hearts and wants to be close to us. Jesus paid our debt on the wood of the cross, and gave us life; in return, we are asked to believe in him, and that faith, if it is a living faith, should lead us to care for others as he has cared for us. We are to walk humbly with people, teaching and guiding them, listening to them, proclaiming the gift of salvation to them, and reminding them that our Lord and Savior knows what they are going through. He is not far from their suffering, and he has given them life.

Discussion Questions

• Have you opened your heart for Jesus to dwell in it?
• Do you trust Jesus with your sufferings and challenges, or are you still trying to take care of them by yourself?
• Do you lead others to Christ, so that they can find their comfort in him?

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Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.