{"id":926923,"date":"2025-01-02T15:33:46","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T20:33:46","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-23T17:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T21:24:46","slug":"bible-study-epiphany-5-c-february-9-2025","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-epiphany-5-c-february-9-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Epiphany 5 (C) \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8<\/strong>; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11<\/strong>; Luke 5:1-11<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships<\/a> of The Episcopal Church.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The readings for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany guide us through moments of awe, confession, and transformative grace, inviting us to encounter God\u2019s glory and respond to his call. Find discussion questions at the end of this Bible study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah 6:1-8<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah is overwhelmed by the majesty of God. The seraphim\u2019s cry, \u201cHoly, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,\u201d reveals the unmatched holiness of God. Confronted with God\u2019s splendor, Isaiah is painfully aware of his sinfulness, exclaiming, \u201cWoe is me! I am lost.\u201d Yet God does not leave him in despair. The seraph cleanses him with a live coal, a powerful symbol of forgiveness and purification. Set free from guilt, Isaiah responds eagerly to God\u2019s call: \u201cHere am I; send me!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah reminds me of our own lives, especially those moments when we feel unworthy in the face of God\u2019s holiness. However, through Christ, we are encouraged that our sins are blotted out, freeing us to embrace our calling as messengers of his love. We cannot encounter the holy God and remain the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Corinthians 15:1-11<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Paul\u2019s life is a true testimony to the power of God\u2019s grace to redeem and repurpose. Although once a persecutor of the church, Paul humbly declares, \u201cBy the grace of God I am what I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul\u2019s story not only confirms that Christ\u2019s death and resurrection bring salvation to all who believe but also invites us to reflect on the ways God\u2019s grace has worked in our lives, shaping us to bear witness to the Good News.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luke 5:1-11<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Simon Peter\u2019s encounter with Jesus mirrors Isaiah\u2019s experience. After witnessing the miraculous catch of fish, Peter falls at Jesus\u2019 feet, acknowledging his sinfulness: \u201cGo away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!\u201d But Jesus, embodying the grace of God, reassures him: \u201cDo not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.\u201d Peter, along with James and John, leaves everything to follow Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a parallel between Peter\u2019s call and that of Isaiah above. Someone once said, \u201cGod does not call the qualified, but qualifies those that he calls.\u201d This gives me the encouragement that, although I am an ordinary, flawed individual, God can use me to do extraordinary missions. Like Peter, we are not called because of our worthiness but because of God\u2019s transformative grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Isaiah\u2019s purification and Peter\u2019s commissioning show how God liberates his people from sin and fear, calling us into a new life of purpose and joy. These readings remind us that God\u2019s glory, forgiveness, and grace are not distant ideals but transformative realities. Will we, like Isaiah, say \u201cHere am I; send me,\u201dor like Peter and Paul, leave behind what holds us back and wholeheartedly follow Christ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussion Questions<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n