This document provides the readings for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, including passages from Deuteronomy, 1 Corinthians, and Matthew. The theme is how Christ sets life before us so we can walk in his ways. Deuteronomy promises life and blessing for obeying God's commandments by loving him. 1 Corinthians addresses divisions in the church and how believers are like God's field and building. Matthew has Jesus explaining how the law against murder also prohibits anger, and how divorce and oaths should be understood. The readings call believers to unity and following Christ's example in thought, word and deed.

1. Sixth Sunday in Epiphany: Christ Sets Life
before Us so that We Can Walk in His Ways
Deuteronomy 30:15–20; 1 Corinthians 3:1–9;
Matthew 5:21–37; Psalm 119:1–8

2. THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Deuteronomy 30:15–20
1 Corinthians 3:1–9
Matthew 5:21–37
Christ Sets Life before Us so that We Can Walk in His Ways
The God who reveals Himself in His incarnate Son promises life and blessing to all who obey
His commandments “by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his
commandments and his statutes and his rules” (Deut. 30:16). However, we are “people of the
flesh” and “infants in Christ” (1 Cor. 3:1) among whom “there is jealousy and strife” (1 Cor.
3:3). Jesus must instruct us against the human ways of anger, adultery, divorce, and false
witness (Matt. 5:21-37), because all who live in these ways “shall surely perish” (Deut. 30:18).
On the cross He died to forgive our sins and free us from the ways of curse and death. Since
Jesus Christ is our “life and length of days” (Deut. 30:20), we can be reconciled to our brother,
live in chastity and marital faithfulness, and speak with honesty. He who serves from His cross
also offers His gift of reconciliation at His altar, and we can be at peace with our brothers and
sisters in Christ who are “God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9).

3. How do we walk in his ways?

4. 1 Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David's stem
In Thy birth at Bethlehem:
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
2 Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana wedding guest
In the God-head manifest;
Manifest in pow'r divine,
Changing water into wine;
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
3 Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil's might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill;
Anthems be to Thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.
4 Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heav'ns shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
All will see His glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the Judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.
5 Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word-Grace to imitate Thee now
And be pure, as pure art Thou;
That we might become like Thee
At Thy great epiphany
And may praise Thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.

5.  Use your prayer notes.
 Use a verse from the
bible to reflect on.
 Pray about following
Jesus.
 P raise
R epentance
A ppreciation
Y ou
E veryone
R esolve
Let us pray for the whole Church of preserve us in the faith. Heal divisions
God in Christ Jesus and for all people in Your Church that flow from selfish
according to their needs.
ambitions, conflicts and factions.
Grant to all Your people unity in the
Almighty God, when Your Son takes faith once delivered to the saints and
in hand the Law and explains it, our zeal in sharing the Gospel with those
mouths are stopped and our shame is who do not yet know its peace.
exposed. We are completely unable to Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
save or help ourselves. Despairing of
our own powers, let us know the sure Almighty God, You governed Israel
and certain confidence of our Lord‘s through judges and kings, and You
flawless obedience on our
continue to rule the kingdoms of the
behalf, rejoicing that His perfect
world through
righteousness forever avails for us
governments, presidents, kings and
before You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear other rulers. Give courage to those
our prayer.
who have been placed in secular
authority over us, that they might
Gracious Father, You send laborers
protect the vulnerable — particularly
into the field, some to sow, some to the unborn and the aged — and
water, all relying on You to grant
restrain wickedness for the good of all
growth. We give You thanks for
people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our
faithful pastors whom You have sent prayer.
to serve us, who baptized and absolved
us, who proclaimed Your Gospel to us.
And we rejoice that through these
imperfect men, You work to call and

6. Gracious Father, You provide daily His body and blood, the very
bread sufficient to support body
medicine of immortality, will not
and life for each day that You give be abandoned to the grave but will
us in our pilgrimage. Grant relief tobe raised bodily on the day of His
those who suffer afflictions of
return. Keep us steadfast in the
 Use your prayer notes. sickness, pain, injury or sorrow.
faith until that day. Give comfort to
 Use a verse from the [Remember especially
[_____________ and all] those
bible to reflect on.
______________________ and all who mourn the death of loved
 Pray about following who have requested our prayers.] ones, that they might grieve in the
Give them comfort in suffering and certain hope of the resurrection.
Jesus.
hope in the day of Your Son‘s
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our
 P raise
return, the day when full
prayer.
R epentance
resurrection and restoration of
A ppreciation
health and strength will belong to Into Your hands, O Lord, we
Y ou
Your people forever. Lord, in Your commend all for whom we pray,
E veryone
mercy, hear our prayer.
trusting in Your mercy; through
R esolve
Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.
Almighty God, Your Son promised Amen.
that the gates of hell and death
would never prevail against His
Church. In the face of death, give
us this confidence that those who
belong to Jesus, who have fed on

7. Christ Sets Life before Us so that We Can
Walk in His Ways
 Meet w/teams
3-5 min per box
 What are the major points of your text?
 How does your topic fit the pericope
theme?
 How does it connect to the other texts?
How is it unique?

8. Deuteronomy 30:15-20
to you today, that you shall
15 ―See, I have set before you
surely perish. You shall not live
today life and good, death and long in the land that you are
going over the Jordan to enter
evil. 16 If you obey the
and possess. 19 I call heaven and
commandments of
earth to witness against you
the LORD your God[a] that I
command you today, by loving today, that I have set before you
the LORD your God, by walking life and death, blessing and
in his ways, and by keeping his curse. Therefore choose life, that
commandments and his statutes you and your offspring may
[b] then you shall
live, 20 loving theLORD your
and his rules,
God, obeying his voice and
live and multiply, and
holding fast to him, for he is your
the LORD your God will bless
life and length of days, that you
you in the land that you are
may dwell inthe land that
entering to take possession of
it. 17 But if your heart turns away, the LORD swore to your fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
and you will not hear, but are
Jacob, to give them.‖
drawn away to worship other
gods and serve them, 18 I declare

9. 5 What then is Apollos? What is
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Paul?Servants through whom
Divisions in the Church
you believed, as the Lord
3 But I, brothers,[a] could not
assigned to each. 6 I
address you as spiritual people,
planted,Apollos watered, but
but as people of the flesh,
as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you God gave the
growth. 7 So neither he who
with milk, not solid food, for you
were not ready for it. And even plants nor he who waters is
now you are not yet ready, 3 for anything, but only8 God who
gives the growth. He who plants
you are still of the flesh. For
while there is jealousy and strife and he who waters are one, and
among you, are you not of the each will receive his wages
according to his labor.9 For we
flesh and behaving only in a
human way?4 For when one says, are God's fellow workers. You
―I follow Paul,‖ and another, ―I are God's field, God's building.
follow Apollos,‖ are you not
being merely human?

10. Matthew 5:21-37
than that your whole body be thrown
intohell. 30 And if your right hand causes you
Anger
to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is
21 ―You have heard that it was said to those of
better that you lose one of your members than
old, ‗You shall not murder; and whoever
that your whole body go into hell.
murders will be liable to judgment.‘ 22 But I
say to you thateveryone who is angry with his Divorce
brother[a]will be liable to judgment; whoever 31 ―It was also said, ‗Whoever divorces his
insults[b] his brother will be liable to the
wife, let him give her a certificate of
council; and whoever says, ‗You fool!‘ will be divorce.‘ 32 But I say to you that everyone who
liable to the hell[c] of fire. 23 So if you are
divorces his wife, except on the ground of
offering your gift at the altar and there
sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery,
remember that your brother has something
and whoever marries a divorced woman
24 leave your gift there before the commits adultery.
against you,
altar and go. First be reconciled to your
Oaths
brother, and then come and offer your
33 ―Again you have heard that it was said to
gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your
accuser while you are going with him to court, those of old, ‗You shall not swear falsely,
lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, but shall perform to the Lord what you have
34
and the judge to the guard, and you be put in sworn.‘ But I say to you, Do not take an oath
either by heaven, for it is the throne of
prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get at all,35
God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or
out until you have paid the last penny.[d]
by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great
Lust
King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head,
27 ―You have heard that it was said, ‗You shall for you cannot make one hair white or
not commit adultery.‘ 28 But I say to you
black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‗Yes‘ or
that everyone who looks at a woman with
‗No‘; anything more than this comes from
lustful intent has already committed adultery evil.[e]
with her in his heart.29 If your right eye causes
you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it
is better that you lose one of your members

11. 8 I will keep your statutes;
Psalm 119:1-8
do not utterly forsake me!
Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Aleph
119 [a] Blessed are those whose way is
blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2 Blessed are those who keep
histestimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded yourprecepts
to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your
commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.[b]

12.  Seventh Sunday in
Epiphany: God Manifests
His Perfect Holiness in
Christ through Compassion
and Forgiveness
 Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18 Various
Laws
 1 Corinthians 3:10–23 The
Church and His Leaders
 Matthew 5:38–48 Eye for an
Eye; Love for Enemies
 Psalm 119:33-40 Teach me the
way of your decrees

13. Leviticus 19:1–2, 9–18; 1 Corinthians 3:10–23;
Matthew 5:38–48; Psalm 119:33-40
foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is
who asks you, and do not turn away from the one
building on it. But each one should build with
who wants to borrow from you.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than Love for Enemies
care.
43 ―You have heard that it was said, ‗Love your
Leviticus 19:1-2
the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 If
Various Laws
anyone builds on this foundation using
neighbor[b] and hate your enemy.‘ 44 But I tell
19 The LORD said to Moses, 2 ―Speak to the entire gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or
you, love your enemies and pray for those who
assembly of Israel and say to them: ‗Be holy because straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it
persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your
I, the LORD your God, am holy.
is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be
Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil
Leviticus 19:9-18
revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
9 ―‗When you reap the harvest of your land, do not
each person‘s work. 14 If what has been built
unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what
15 If it is reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors
reap to the very edges of your field or gather the
survives, the builder will receive a reward.
gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your
burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own
vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that
saved—even though only as one escaping through people, what are you doing more than others? Do not
have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the
the flames.
even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your
16 Don‘t you know that you yourselves are God‘s
foreigner. I am theLORD your God.
heavenly Father is perfect.
11 ―‗Do not steal.
temple and that God‘s Spirit dwells in your
Psalm 119:33-40
―‗Do not lie.
midst? 17 If anyone destroys God‘s temple, God will He
―‗Do not deceive one another.
destroy that person; for God‘s temple is sacred, and 33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
12 ―‗Do not swear falsely by my nameand so
you together are that temple.
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your
profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
13 ―‗Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
are wise by the standards of this age, you should
law
―‗Do not hold back the wages of a hired
become ―fools‖ so that you may become wise. 19 For and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands,
worker overnight.
the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God‘s
14 ―‗Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in sight. As it is written: ―He catches the wise in their
for there I find delight.
front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD. craftiness‖[a]; 20 and again, ―The Lord knows that the 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes
15 ―‗Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to thoughts of the wise are futile.‖[b] 21 So then, no more
and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your
boasting about human leaders! All things are
neighbor fairly.
yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the
preserve my life according to your word.[b]
16 ―‗Do not go about spreading slanderamong your
world or life or death or the present or the future—all 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
people.
are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of
so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread,
―‗Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor‘s God.
life. I am the LORD.
Matthew 5:38-48
for your laws are good.
17 ―‗Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your
40 How I long for your precepts!
Eye for Eye
heart. Rebuke your neighbor franklyso you will not 38 ―You have heard that it was said, ‗Eye for eye, and In your righteousness preserve my life.
share in their guilt.
tooth for tooth.‘[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an
18 ―‗Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against
evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right
anyone among your people, but love your
cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.40 And if
neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand
1 Corinthians 3:10-23
over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a
one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one