First Lutheran Church • 3 Epiphany • Sunday, January 25, 2026

The congregation is invited to stand in the tension between fear and hope, casting its cares into prayer and turning toward the light that Jesus brings into the world. In the face of violence, anxiety, and civic unrest, the community is called first to lament and intercede, using ancient prayers to name fear, seek wisdom, and ask for mercy. The narrative turns to Matthew’s portrait of Jesus stepping into public ministry: leaving a small hometown for Galilee, declaring that the kingdom of heaven has come near, and calling ordinary fishermen to follow. The call is simple and radical — drop the nets and walk after him — an invitation extended not to the gifted or powerful but to those willing to say yes.

Discipleship is described as gritty, embodied work. Like the narrator’s memory of carrying a single heavy beam up a Honduran mountain, following Jesus often exposes weakness, fatigue, and awkwardness. Yet weakness does not disqualify; even a single beam matters. The kingdom’s labor is not finished by human strength alone because it is Jesus’ mission; people are invited to contribute, to learn, and to be carried forward by the community.

The light Jesus brings is always personal and present in the shadowed places of life: illness, poverty, loneliness, fear, and injustice. Followers are urged to “go where the fish are” — to seek out the dark places rather than remain comfortable — bringing companionable presence, practical help, and the sacraments that convey healing and forgiveness. Practical examples are offered: visiting the homebound, providing meals, sheltering the vulnerable, and accompanying fearful neighbors. The call to follow is communal; Jesus sends disciples two by two so that the burdens are shared, courage multiplied, and the work sustained. The faithful are reminded that following Jesus means stepping into darkness with courage, relying on one another, and trusting that even small acts of service participate in God’s light-giving work.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Drop the nets; say yes. Saying yes is the essential credential for discipleship; gifts and expertise are secondary to a willing heart. The summons to leave familiar nets is an invitation into a new identity defined by proximity to Jesus and participation in his mission. Obedience becomes the soil in which transformation grows, not a performance standard to be met. [22:19]
• 2. Go where the darkness is. The mission of Christ is not to retreat from suffering but to enter it. Darkness—whether illness, poverty, fear, or isolation—is where the gospel meets people most immediately and urgently. To follow is to be oriented toward those edges, bringing presence, prayer, and practical care. [28:26]
• 3. One beam still advances mission. Humility about one’s contribution reframes value: a single, imperfect offering still participates in God’s work. The kingdom does not depend on human perfection but on faithful participation, however small or uneven. This frees disciples from performance anxiety and invites consistent, honest service. [23:33]
• 4. Follow together; carry beams together. Discipleship was never designed to be solitary; Jesus sent companions two by two so labor would be shared. Community provides resilience: mutual encouragement, correction, and help when strength fails. The church’s work is sustained by these relationships, making collective following both practical and sacramental. [33:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [05:20] - National grief and anxiety
• [05:56] - Prayers for civic life
• [08:57] - Confession and absolution
• [16:51] - Gospel reading: Matthew 4
• [18:28] - Honduras: learning to follow
• [21:29] - The call of the fishermen
• [24:02] - Jesus brings light to darkness
• [28:26] - Go where the fish are
• [33:12] - Follow together; carry beams together

1. According to the passage, what is the first thing Jesus does after John the Baptist is arrested? What is the first message he proclaims?
2. When Jesus calls the two sets of brothers (Peter and Andrew, James and John), what is their immediate response? What specific things do they leave behind to follow him?
3. After calling his first disciples, what three activities characterize Jesus’ ministry as he travels throughout Galilee?

1. Jesus begins his ministry in "Galilee of the Gentiles," a place described as sitting in "darkness" and the "shadow of death." [24:42] What does this location tell us about the nature of Jesus' mission and the kind of people he came to reach?
2. The only credential Jesus seemed to look for in his first disciples was a willingness to say yes and follow. [22:19] Why do you think he chose ordinary fishermen for this work instead of religious experts or powerful leaders? What does this imply about who is qualified to participate in his mission?
3. The image of carrying a single, heavy beam up a mountain suggests that following Jesus can be clumsy, tiring, and expose our weakness. [21:09] How does this picture of discipleship challenge common ideas about what it means to be a strong or successful Christian?

1. The first disciples were asked to "drop their nets" to follow Jesus. What are the "nets" in your own life—the familiar routines, securities, or identities—that might get in the way of saying a wholehearted "yes" to following Jesus today?
2. We are called to "go where the fish are," which means moving toward the dark places of suffering, fear, and need. [28:26] Where do you see darkness in your community, your workplace, or among your neighbors right now? What is one small, practical step you could take this week to bring a companionable presence or practical help into that darkness?
3. The story of carrying one beam reminds us that our contribution might feel small or weak, but it still matters in God's work. [23:33] Have you ever felt that your efforts for God's kingdom were too small to make a difference? How does the idea that "one beam still advances mission" free you to serve faithfully, even when you feel inadequate?
4. In times of civic unrest and anxiety, our first response can be to turn to God in prayer. [05:56] How does praying first, before acting or reacting, shape our response to the fearful news we hear? What is one specific prayer you can offer for our nation or community this week?
5. Following Jesus is not a solo journey; we are meant to "carry beams together." [33:12] Who are the people in your life that help you carry your beam when you feel like you can't go on? How can our small group be a place where we help each other when our strength fails on the path of discipleship?