Isaiah 9:1-4 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will soon be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. 2The people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. 3Israel will again be great, and its people will rejoice as people rejoice at harvest time. They will shout with joy like warriors dividing the plunder. 4For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the army of Midian with Gideon's little band. (NLT) Psalm 27:1, 5-13 . L. The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? C. The Lord protects me from danger—so why should I tremble? L. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. C. Then I will hold my head high, above my enemies who surround me. L. At his Tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. C. Listen to my pleading, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! L. My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming." C. Do not hide yourself from me. Do not reject your servant in anger. L. You have always been my helper. Don't leave me now; don't abandon me, O God of my salvation! C. Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. L. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall. C. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done and breathe out violence against me. L. Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. (NLT) The second lesson 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11For some members of Chloe's household have told me about your arguments, dear brothers and sisters. 12Some of you are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Peter," or "I follow only Christ." 13Can Christ be divided into pieces? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. 16(Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. I don't remember baptizing anyone else.) 17For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speeches and high-sounding ideas, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.18I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Matthew 4:12-23 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (NIV)