Sermon ideas for the time after Christmas can center around Epiphany, which begins twelve days after Christmas, on January 6. By preaching about Epiphany, the incarnation of Christ is shown to be more than the cute, mild-natured baby in the manger. It is a vision of God’s glory to the nations of the world. Preaching topics for this day can center around the meaning of the word epiphany, which comes from a Greek word meaning “manifestation or appearance” and has historically been closely associated with the revelation of Christ in connection with the visit of the Magi.
Consider preaching on a variety of these themes, as found throughout Scripture:
A sermon on Psalm 72 could speak of the manifestation of God’s kingship: “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations” (Ps. 72:1–5).
A preacher could consider using Isaiah 49:5–7 to speak of how the kings of the nations will bow down to the Lord. “Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, ‘Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you’” (Isa. 49:7).
Sermons for Epiphany and the season of Epiphany could center around Isaiah 60, which speaks of the light of God. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isa. 60:1–3).
Preaching on Matthew 2:1–12, the story of the Magi visiting Jesus, would continue the story of Christ’s birth and childhood. “When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road” (Matt. 2:9–12).
A preacher could also consider preaching on the narrow gate in Luke 13:22–30. “Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29).
There are many places throughout Scripture that focus on the light. John 8:12 speaks of the light of the world and would make for a good Epiphany passage. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).
A sermon could focus on the gospel for Jews and Gentiles, as found in Romans 15:5–13. “And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope’” (Rom. 15:12).
Another sermon text on the light of Jesus Christ is found in 2 Corinthians 4:4–6. “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4–6).
Following the call to spread the gospel, a preacher could choose Ephesians 3:1–12, which focuses on Paul bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. “This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:1–6).
A sermon could also focus on waiting for the manifestation of Christ, as found in Titus 2:11–14. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:11–14).
Following the theme of the full manifestation of Christ, a preacher could also focus on Revelation 21:22–26. “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations” (Rev. 21:22–26).