Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Reserve You Faith Bible Readings Daniel 3:13-27, Matthew 5:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Worship Folder John Melke Sermon text: Daniel 3:13-27 13In a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar said to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then these men were brought before the king. 14Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and that you do not worship the golden statue that I set up? 15Now, if you are ready, at the time when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, harp, triangular harp, drum, and all kinds of musical instruments, you must fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. What god will be able to save you from my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We have no need to answer you about this matter, 17Since our God whom we serve exists, he is able to save us from the blazing fiery furnace. So he may save us from your hand, Your Majesty. 18But if he does not, you should know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the statue of gold that you set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He said to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was usually heated. 20And he ordered some men, soldiers from his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in order to throw them into the blazing fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their robes, their pants, their turbans, and their clothes, and they were thrown into the middle of the blazing fiery furnace. 22Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace was extremely hot, those men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—the intense heat of the fire killed them. 23But these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who had been bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace. 24Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and immediately stood up. He said to his counselors, “Didn’t we throw three men who had been bound into the middle of the fire. They answered the king, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” 25He said, “Look! I see four men unbound and walking around in the middle of the fire unharmed. What is more, the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace. He said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the middle of the furnace. 27The satraps, the prefects, and the governors, and the royal counselors gathered and looked at these men. The fire had no power over their bodies. The hair on their head was not singed, their robes were not damaged, and the smell of fire had not stuck to them. From The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage VersionTM (EHVTM) copyright © 2016 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. Take a Moment to recall something from today’s message. Ask Jesus to create for you opportunities to use your words, activities and thoughts to glorify Him this week. We value your friendship and the opportunity to share the...