week of January 5, 2025

This Week’s Lectionary Scripture

Second Sunday After Christmas1

The Christmas season lasts twelve days, from Christmas Day to Epiphany on January 6. During this time, we celebrate the joy, love, hope, and peace of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3–14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

In the letter to the Ephesians we hear of conflicts and confusion about who belongs to Christ. Paul taught that Gentiles could be adopted into God’s special family and receive the same inheritance as the Jews without becoming Jewish and experiencing circumcision.

It’s not anything that makes sense according to the social norms and hierarchies of the time. All these years later, we easily might lose sight of the extent that this idea upended the social norms. Admitting Gentiles was so controversial that it nearly destroyed the early church. Ultimately the church decided Gentiles did not need to become Jews to become Christians. Gentiles could become children of God, not through circumcision, but because God wanted the world to work that way.

  • In Christ we tear down social divisions. Where do you see the need for equality, inclusivity, and acceptance of all?

  • When have you experienced hierarchy in a way that excluded or diminished you?

  • What would it look like to live as a radically inclusive community?

This Week’s Text from Sharing in Community of Christ

We Share A Mission2

Christ’s Mission is Our Mission

The mission of Jesus Christ is what matters most for the journey ahead.

—Doctrine and Covenants 164:9f

In Luke 4:18–19 NRSV, Jesus proclaimed his mission when he read from the writings of Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus is anointed for a divine mission:

  • Evangelism—sent to proclaim good news and invite others to join him in mission

  • Compassionate ministries—reaching the brokenhearted, the suffering, and those who need hope and Christ’s peace

  • Justice and peacemaking—release those held captive by unjust systems and the circumstances of life that devalue the worth of any person

The kingdom was present in Jesus’ ministry as described in the Gospels and his disciples’ actions as described in Acts. Those first believers continued Christ’s mission by proclaiming the Living Christ, inviting all people into community, valuing the worth of each person, generously and compassionately meeting their needs, and pursuing justice and peace for everyone.

  • Think of one person whose life would be dramatically changed by the message of Christ’s gospel. In what ways can you share that message?

  1. The scripture text is taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyrighted in 2021 by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States, and made available through these Licensing and Permission Guidelines. Other text is adapted from this week’s Sacred Space resource for small-group ministry, provided by Herald Publishing House. ↩︎

  2. This text is adapted from pp. 21-22 of the fourth edition of Sharing in Community of Christ: Exploring Identity, Mission, Message, and Beliefs, which was copyrighted in 2018 by Herald Publishing House. ↩︎