The First Sunday after the Epiphany

For the student: Read along, fill in the blanks, and write your answers on the lines. Your parent has the answers.

Step 1 · Understand the Collect

Most collects follow a five-part pattern: the address (the One to whom we pray), the reason (what God has done or promised), the petition (what we ask), the purpose (what we hope will result), and the ending (the closing that names the Trinity).

1. Mark each part of the collect. Which part is missing?

2. The purpose has two halves: knowing and doing. Why do we need God's help with both?

3. Why does the collect ask for "grace and power," not just "power"?

Step 2 · Understand the Gospel

Read the Gospel on your own.

Luke 2:41-52

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

1. How could Mary and Joseph travel a whole day without noticing Jesus was missing (v. 44)?

2. Mary says, "Your father and I," and Jesus answers, "My Father's house" (vv. 48-49). Whom does Jesus mean by "my Father"?

3. If Jesus is God's Son, why was He submissive to Mary and Joseph (v. 51)?

4. Verse 52 says Jesus "increased in wisdom." How can God grow in wisdom?

Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel

1. Find at least two places where the collect's words appear in the Gospel. Explain each one.

2. Today's Epistle says, "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). How does that echo the collect?

Step 4 · The Small Catechism

The Fourth Commandment. Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

Cross-reference. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'" (Ephesians 6:1-3)

1. Jesus had a Father in heaven and parents on earth. How did He honor both in this story?

2. Ephesians says to obey "in the Lord." When would obeying God come before obeying a parent?

3. Why is it good news for you that Jesus kept the Fourth Commandment?

Think about it. Did Jesus do something wrong by staying behind in the temple? Read Luke 2:49-51 and be ready to talk about it.

Step 5 · Wrap It All Up

1. Write a short collect of your own for this day. Use all five parts.

Pray today's collect together. Then answer:

2. What does Jesus do for you when you have not obeyed?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.