The  risky nature of Christian discipleship.  For “Repentance,”  “Metanoia,” is what we are called to do.

Collect: Third Sunday after the Epiphany

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Jonah 3:1-5 . . . The prophet Jonah obeys God’s call to preach to the people of Nineveh, who repent and believe.

Psalm 62:6-14 . . . A Prayer for Protection: An expression of pain, condemnation of external foes, and asking for God’s help

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 . . . Paul urges believers to give priority to God’s mission instead of the passing concerns of this world.

Mark 1:14-20 . . . When Jesus calls his first disciples, they abandon their jobs and homes—in short, their security—to follow him.

Sermon 1: Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, preaches a sermon called, “Oh, Jonah He Lived in a Whale.”  But he did so much more than that.  He preached repentance to the Ninevites, the enemies of Israel.  Apparently God wanted the people of Ninevah to change their ways and experience his forgiveness.  What does God want for your enemies?

Sermon 2: The Rev. Dr. Gary Charles is pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.  In this sermon from Mark 1:14-20 he says, “I’m often astonished at how many people see following Jesus as optional equipment in life, like buying an extended warranty on a car.  ‘Yes, I’d like to purchase the Jesus option, just in case there’s something to this Jesus I’ll be covered.’  Yet from the first chapter of his Gospel Mark introduces us to a Jesus who is not interested in our occasional curiosity or our arm-length respect, he is interested in claiming and transforming our lives right now.