Bible Study: Epiphany 5 (C) – February 9, 2025

RCL: Isaiah 6:1-8; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church.

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

Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah is overwhelmed by the majesty of God. The seraphim’s cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory,” reveals the unmatched holiness of God. Confronted with God’s splendor, Isaiah is painfully aware of his sinfulness, exclaiming, “Woe is me! I am lost.” 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’s call: “Here am I; send me!”

Isaiah reminds me of our own lives, especially those moments when we feel unworthy in the face of God’s 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.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Paul’s life is a true testimony to the power of God’s grace to redeem and repurpose. Although once a persecutor of the church, Paul humbly declares, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

Paul’s story not only confirms that Christ’s death and resurrection bring salvation to all who believe but also invites us to reflect on the ways God’s grace has worked in our lives, shaping us to bear witness to the Good News.

Luke 5:1-11

Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus mirrors Isaiah’s experience. After witnessing the miraculous catch of fish, Peter falls at Jesus’ feet, acknowledging his sinfulness: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” But Jesus, embodying the grace of God, reassures him: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” Peter, along with James and John, leaves everything to follow Jesus.

There is a parallel between Peter’s call and that of Isaiah above. Someone once said, “God does not call the qualified, but qualifies those that he calls.” 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’s transformative grace.

Both Isaiah’s purification and Peter’s 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’s glory, forgiveness, and grace are not distant ideals but transformative realities. Will we, like Isaiah, say “Here am I; send me,”or like Peter and Paul, leave behind what holds us back and wholeheartedly follow Christ?

Discussion Questions

• How does God’s grace free you to respond to his call?
• In what ways can you, like Peter, become a “fisher of people” in your daily life?
• How do the holiness and love of God inspire both awe and action in you?

The Rev. Shadrack Owuor was born in Kakamega County of western Kenya. He grew up in a large Christian family, the eleventh of twelve children. His father, a retired Anglican minister, and mother, a primary school teacher, instilled in him a deep love for God. Shadrack’s call to ministry began in high school, where he served in Christian Union fellowship leadership, and was strengthened when he joined youth leadership teams in his diocese, culminating in his ordination as a transitional deacon in 2008 and as a priest in 2012. Shadrack has served in pastoral and teaching roles across East Africa, including his home diocese of Butere, Uganda Martyrs Seminary in Namugongo-Uganda, and Carlile College in Nairobi. He served as director of the African Institute for Contemporary Mission and Research (AICMAR) in Kenya and as a chaplain resident at Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, Michigan. His academic achievements include a Master of Sacred Theology from Trinity School for Ministry, a Master of Arts in Theology, and a Bachelor of Divinity from Uganda Christian University. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Bexley Seabury Seminary. Shadrack is married to his wife, Acclyne, and together they remain dedicated to serving God’s people. He is the rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Port Huron Michigan, in the newly formed Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes.

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