By Ronald Burcham

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Epiphany 1 Gospel.

Text: Luke 3:15–22 for the First Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Series C

OBJECTIVE

Participants will realize the significance of their own baptism because of Jesus’ baptism.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Bibles

GROUP GUIDELINES

Form small groups of 5-6 people.  The person with the largest shoe size is the leader.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

  1. Have each member of the group complete one of the following sentences.
    1. One thing that I enjoy about being part of a large extended family is . . .
    2. One thing that I would enjoy about a large extended family is . . .
  2. The leaders should let each person share how they completed their sentence.
  3. Bring the groups together for a minute and let several groups share some of the joys of being part of an extended family.

LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD

  1. The leader should assign each person one of the following Scripture passages to read. Each person should read their passage as soon as the person before them is finished.
    Luke 3:15-16                    Galatians 4:4-5    Luke 3:17          Romans 6:1,2
    Luke 3:21-23                    Romans 6:3-11     Galatians 4:6-7
  1. What are some of the connections between the passages read?
  2. Who was Jesus’ father?
  3. According to the passages read from Romans, what is the special bond we have with Jesus? How was the bond established?
  4. What special gift was given to us in our Baptism? Why is that gift so important?
  5. According to the Galatians passages, besides your biological father, who is your father?

REINFORCING WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED

  1. Martin Luther, in his explanation of the introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, picked up on this special relationship we have with God as our Father. Test your memory and fill in the blanks to his explanation.

“With these word God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true                           and that we are His true       ___________________, so that with all                              and confidence we may ask                            as dear children ask their                                                         .”

  1. When Jesus was baptized a dove came down from the heavens and a voice said; “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” In a very real way, when you were baptized God spoke those same words.  Does this cause you to look at your baptism in a different way?  How so?

CLOSING

Close with a prayer thanking God for claiming you as His son or daughter at your Baptism.

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies.

Updated for youthESource in December 2015