The Temptation Of His Life
Sermon
The Man From Galilee
Sermons and Orders of Worship for Lent and Easter
Object:
Robert Penn Warren wrote a novel called All The King's Men. It was the story of a governor of Louisiana and his rise to power. His name was Willie Stark. At the end of his story he is shot down dead.1 Here was a man who gained a kingdom and lost all he ever had.
Two thousand years earlier a man from Galilee said, "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul?" Perhaps when He made that statement He was not only addressing it to those who heard Him, but also was looking back to a time of decision in His own life.
There is something so very curious about the man from Galilee. He has captivated the imaginations of people throughout twenty centuries. He transcends time and place, culture and custom, race and language. Something there is in Him that always speaks clearly to us. We see it throughout the gospels, everywhere He went, in everything He said and did. Son of God and Son of Man, we know He became one of us.
While He is the answer to all our struggles, we see Him struggling with the things He faced. And, as He finds the way for Himself He finds the way for us as well.
We see this truth at the very beginning of His ministry. He left His home up in beautiful Galilee, and went down the Jordan Valley to a place at the river. His cousin John the Baptist was there and he baptized Jesus in the river. And, a voice from Heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then, Matthew writes in the very next verse, the first of chapter four, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
Immediately following His baptism Jesus faces the temptations, the greatest temptations of His life. The issue was not whether He would rule the world, but how He would take it. So, out there in the wilderness of those barren Judean hills Jesus struggled with what He would do and how He would do it.
Sometimes we may not take this very seriously. We may not think Jesus was really tempted, not the way we are tempted, not our Jesus. But we need to understand that the temptations of Jesus were real temptations. Jesus was tempted. The New Testament clearly states this.
Matthew tells us plainly that Jesus was in the wilderness tempted by the devil. He did not say Jesus wondered, imagined, was charmed, or that He considered his options. He tells us He was tempted, and that He went there to be tempted.
Mark tells us He was tempted.
Luke tells us He was tempted.
John does not take time to mention it. He was in too big a hurry to get Jesus back up to Galilee.
However, the book of Hebrews tells us, "He was in all points tempted like as we are."
My wife Shirley and I have been to Jericho, not far from the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. You can stand there in Jericho and look up into the Judean hills to a place called the Mount of Temptation. It is easy to imagine Jesus being up there, by Himself, fasting for forty days, alone and hungry, struggling with what He would do and how He would do it.
Surely, He must have thought of some easy ways to do what He had to do. That was the temptation of His life.
So, there we see Him. He was tempted. Look at what He faced.
I.
Jesus was tempted by the wrong use of power. That was the first temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and said, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Then Matthew writes, "But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Jesus knew the answer was not in the wrong use of power. That would never relieve His hunger, for He must not live by bread, but by the word of God His Father.
Jesus understood that power He had. He knew how He could use this power. Here He was in a time of fasting, and the Tempter told Him He could use His power to get bread, to feed Himself.
What a temptation that must have been. But, Jesus knew He must not give in. He was not to use His power, the power God had given Him, to care for Himself, for any kind of personal gain or comfort.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to use what God had given Him, the correct use of who He was and what He had.
Isn't this a temptation we face: the wrong use of who we are and what we have, the wrong use of what God has given us? I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
God has blessed all of us abundantly.
A Sunday school teacher asked the children in her class what God had given the children of Israel to eat while they were in the wilderness. One little girl answered immediately, "Manna." The teacher said, "That's right, and what else?" After a long pause one boy replied, "Mountain Dew!"
God has blessed all of us. And, one of our temptations is how we use the power God has given us, who we are, and what we have.
The life, teachings, and examples of Jesus Christ all call us to the right use of who we are and what we have. We are called to respond the way Jesus did with the right use of all God has given us. And, we are called to do our best. That challenge always faces us.
It is said that General Stonewall Jackson once made this statement: "Do the best you can with what you have where you are."
Marshall Ney was one of Napoleon's commanders. When he had lost all of his men on the Russian front, he went back to see Napoleon. He told him he had tried and failed. Napoleon asked how he might know that he had done his best. Ney answered, "Sir, I would ask of you no more than I have done."2
Jesus asks no more of us than He has done Himself. It has to do with the right and best use of the power we possess, who we are, and what we have.
II.
Jesus was also tempted by the wrong way to popularity. That was the second temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and said, as he showed Him a view from the pinnacle of the Temple, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge of you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.' " The temptation was to do something spectacular and win a following from that. But Jesus knew He could not do that, and Matthew tells us He replied, "It is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "
Jesus understood there were no shortcuts to easy popularity. Popularity and acceptance were not even what He sought. He sought only to serve His Father God, and establish His kingdom.
What a temptation that must have been. But Jesus knew He must not give in. He was not to seek this kind of popularity easily won.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to go about His ministry, how He was to give Himself, and not hold Himself up. His Father God would do that later on the cross. He knew if He was lifted up in this way He would draw all people unto Himself.
Isn't this a temptation we face: the wrong way to popularity and acceptance? I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
Sometimes we will do almost anything to gain popularity and acceptance.
A woman was all caught up in the Christmas rush. Finally, she had everything done on Christmas Eve, but then she remembered she had not sent cards to some people on one of her lists. She ran out to the store, bought fifty cards, came home and addressed and stamped 49 of them, and rushed to the post office to mail them. She came back home, and after dinner sat down for a moment and looked at the one card left over. She opened it and read the words on the inside, "This card is just to say a special gift is on the way." She had to spend the few days left in that week getting caught up.
Sometimes we would do anything to gain popularity and acceptance. Young people face it. We call it peer pressure. Adults face it. We call it keeping up. But the call of God in our lives is not to do that. It is instead a call to be faithful followers who, like Jesus, seek to serve God and establish His kingdom.
One of the leaders of the early church was Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. He was brought to trial by the authorities and told he must renounce his Christian faith. He replied, "Fourscore and six years have I served Him, and He never did me wrong: how then can I revile my King, my Savior?" They took him out and put him to death. Later when the Christians wrote their history of that period they said, "Polycarp was martyred, Statius Quadratus being proconsul of Asia, and Jesus Christ being King forever!"3
We are called today to be the people who are faithful, who seek to serve God and His kingdom.
III.
Finally, Jesus was tempted by the wrong kind of partnership. That was the third temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth and said, "All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me." But Jesus answered, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve!' " Jesus knew He could never be partners with the devil. He could never compromise who He was and what He was about.
Jesus understood there could never be a partnership with the devil. He already had a covenant with His Father God. The Tempter told Him He could have the whole world. All Jesus had to do was worship him and He could take the world.
What a temptation that must have been. But Jesus knew He must not give in. He was to have no such partnership or compromise with anyone.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to worship and serve His Heavenly Father.
Isn't that a temptation we face: the wrong kind of partnership and the compromise of who we are? We want a partnership sometimes instead of a covenant. I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
So, we have to remember our covenant with God. And we have to hear the call of God to come and live in His covenant and be His children.
Do you know why Jesus made it through those temptations? It was because He remembered who He was. He had known it all along. And in between His Baptism and His temptations He had heard the voice of God: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He never forgot it, the voice of His Father calling Him.
There was a boy whose behavior was terrible. But his mother noticed a change in him. He seemed to be making an effort to be thoughtful and kind. One day she decided to ask him what was going on. He said, "The other day at church the preacher put his hand on my head and said, 'You are a fine boy.' I knew he would be disappointed if he found out I wasn't, so I decided to try to be one." He never forgot it. It was like the voice of God calling him.
Harry Emerson Fosdick was one of the greatest American preachers of this century. He described his preaching as counseling on a large scale. Few people knew that as a young seminary student he reached the breaking point after working one summer in a New York Bowery mission. He went home and was overcome by deep depression. One day he stood in the bathroom with a straight razor to his throat. He thought about taking his own life. And then -- and then he heard his father in the other room calling his name, "Harry! Harry!"4 It called him back. He never forgot it. It was like the voice of God calling him.
So I want to remind you today that in those times when you are in the wilderness, trying to find your way through, and when temptation comes and offers you the wrong answer, the wrong choice -- the wrong use of power, the way to popularity, the wrong kind of partnership -- then you remember that God has called your name: "This is my beloved son, my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased." And, you remember that because God has called your name He will see you through.
____________
1. Robert Penn Warren, All The King's Men (Random House: New York, 1960), p. 131.
2. Ernest A. Fitzgerald, Keeping Pace: Inspirations In The Air (Pace Communications Inc.: Greensboro, North Carolina, 1988), p. 14.
3. James S. Stewart, The Wind Of The Spirit (Abingdon Press: Nashville and New York, 1968), p. 55.
4. Robert Moats Miller, Harry Emerson Fosdick (Oxford University Press: New York and Oxford, 1985), p. 44.
Morning Prayer
Lent 1
O God, our Father, who created us to be Thy children and called us to be Thy people, accept our worship today as we call upon Thee, our help, our hope, our strength and shield.
Here at the beginning of this season of Lent we know we begin a journey which will carry us with Thy Son along the way of the cross. As we journey with Him may we come to know all He suffered through, for He was tempted as we are, and today we remember the temptations of His life.
We thank Thee, gracious God, for all Thy blessings upon us, for Thy merciful hand at work in our lives, and for Thy goodness we see surrounding us in so many ways.
And as we thank Thee, Father, we express our gratitude by giving ourselves back to Thee as we seek to be Thy children in every way and serve Thee as the people of God. Enable us to follow after the example of Thy Son and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Mold us, shape us, make us into Thy own image so that we will not make Thee into our images. Forgive us, redeem us, empower us, and give us great visions so that we would give ourselves to Thee.
Finally, Lord, we ask that, whatever our life situation, whatever our own individual calling, Thou would give us a sense of belonging to the great family of God, that we may be young in commitment, mature in service, and growing older in our faith in Thee.
Bless the sick and sorrowful of our church and community and all the great people of the world, for we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.
Children's Message
Lent 1
The Boy And The Apples
Good morning, boys and girls. I am so glad you have come to worship today. It is good to see all of you here.
Today is a really special day. It is the First Sunday in the season of Lent. This is a time that leads up to Easter Sunday. On these Sundays we are thinking about Jesus going toward Jerusalem, and the things He did along the way.
Now, look at this apple. It's a good-looking apple, isn't it? I bet it would taste really good.
One time a boy about your age went to the store. He was standing at the door looking at a big barrel of apples. The man who ran the store saw him. He walked over to the boy and said, "Son, are you trying to steal an apple?" The little boy answered, "No, sir. I'm trying to keep from it."
In our scripture lesson today we will read about what we call the temptations of Jesus. Who knows what the word "temptation" means? One way to put it is this. It is seeing a way or an opportunity to do something that is wrong. It is thinking about doing something we should not do.
Jesus was tempted not to be as good as God made Him to be.
Sometimes all of us are tempted to do something God would not want us to do. There is a way for us to handle that. And that is to ask God to help us. We can ask God to help us remember to be the boys and girls He wants us to be. We are His children and He is our Father. And He wants us to be like Him and live like His Son Jesus.
So, when you are tempted to do something that is wrong, ask God to help you do what is right. And God will do just that. He will help you.
Let's bow our heads for our time of prayer. Father, help us always to do the things you want us to do and to remember we are your children. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Discussion Questions
Lent 1
1. Begin with a prayer led by a member of the group.
2. Have someone read Matthew 4:1-11.
3. Having asked them ahead of time, let members of the group share various sections of the chapter.
4. What is the significance of this time for Jesus?
5. What were the things Jesus was tempted to do?
6. How did Jesus face these temptations?
7. What are the things which tempt us today?
8. How do we overcome these temptations?
9. Close with each person saying a sentence prayer and then a benediction by the leader.
Order Of Worship
11:00 a.m.
First Sunday In Lent
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Prelude
Chiming the Hour
Introit
Greeting
Leader: Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord;
People: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow.
Hymn of Praise
"Lift High The Cross"
Affirmation of Faith
The Apostles' Creed
Welcome and Sharing
Children's Message
"The Boy And The Apples"
WE TURN TO GOD IN PRAYER
Joys and Concerns
Morning Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
WE GIVE TO GOD
Prayer of Dedication
Offertory
Doxology
WE HEAR GOD'S WORD
Hymn of Preparation
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
Anthem
Reading of the Scriptures
Matthew 4:1-11
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Message
"The Temptation Of His Life"
WE RESPOND TO GOD
The Invitation to Christian Discipleship
Hymn of Invitation
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
Benediction
Congregational Response
WE DEPART TO SERVE GOD
Postlude
Two thousand years earlier a man from Galilee said, "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost his soul?" Perhaps when He made that statement He was not only addressing it to those who heard Him, but also was looking back to a time of decision in His own life.
There is something so very curious about the man from Galilee. He has captivated the imaginations of people throughout twenty centuries. He transcends time and place, culture and custom, race and language. Something there is in Him that always speaks clearly to us. We see it throughout the gospels, everywhere He went, in everything He said and did. Son of God and Son of Man, we know He became one of us.
While He is the answer to all our struggles, we see Him struggling with the things He faced. And, as He finds the way for Himself He finds the way for us as well.
We see this truth at the very beginning of His ministry. He left His home up in beautiful Galilee, and went down the Jordan Valley to a place at the river. His cousin John the Baptist was there and he baptized Jesus in the river. And, a voice from Heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then, Matthew writes in the very next verse, the first of chapter four, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."
Immediately following His baptism Jesus faces the temptations, the greatest temptations of His life. The issue was not whether He would rule the world, but how He would take it. So, out there in the wilderness of those barren Judean hills Jesus struggled with what He would do and how He would do it.
Sometimes we may not take this very seriously. We may not think Jesus was really tempted, not the way we are tempted, not our Jesus. But we need to understand that the temptations of Jesus were real temptations. Jesus was tempted. The New Testament clearly states this.
Matthew tells us plainly that Jesus was in the wilderness tempted by the devil. He did not say Jesus wondered, imagined, was charmed, or that He considered his options. He tells us He was tempted, and that He went there to be tempted.
Mark tells us He was tempted.
Luke tells us He was tempted.
John does not take time to mention it. He was in too big a hurry to get Jesus back up to Galilee.
However, the book of Hebrews tells us, "He was in all points tempted like as we are."
My wife Shirley and I have been to Jericho, not far from the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. You can stand there in Jericho and look up into the Judean hills to a place called the Mount of Temptation. It is easy to imagine Jesus being up there, by Himself, fasting for forty days, alone and hungry, struggling with what He would do and how He would do it.
Surely, He must have thought of some easy ways to do what He had to do. That was the temptation of His life.
So, there we see Him. He was tempted. Look at what He faced.
I.
Jesus was tempted by the wrong use of power. That was the first temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and said, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Then Matthew writes, "But He answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Jesus knew the answer was not in the wrong use of power. That would never relieve His hunger, for He must not live by bread, but by the word of God His Father.
Jesus understood that power He had. He knew how He could use this power. Here He was in a time of fasting, and the Tempter told Him He could use His power to get bread, to feed Himself.
What a temptation that must have been. But, Jesus knew He must not give in. He was not to use His power, the power God had given Him, to care for Himself, for any kind of personal gain or comfort.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to use what God had given Him, the correct use of who He was and what He had.
Isn't this a temptation we face: the wrong use of who we are and what we have, the wrong use of what God has given us? I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
God has blessed all of us abundantly.
A Sunday school teacher asked the children in her class what God had given the children of Israel to eat while they were in the wilderness. One little girl answered immediately, "Manna." The teacher said, "That's right, and what else?" After a long pause one boy replied, "Mountain Dew!"
God has blessed all of us. And, one of our temptations is how we use the power God has given us, who we are, and what we have.
The life, teachings, and examples of Jesus Christ all call us to the right use of who we are and what we have. We are called to respond the way Jesus did with the right use of all God has given us. And, we are called to do our best. That challenge always faces us.
It is said that General Stonewall Jackson once made this statement: "Do the best you can with what you have where you are."
Marshall Ney was one of Napoleon's commanders. When he had lost all of his men on the Russian front, he went back to see Napoleon. He told him he had tried and failed. Napoleon asked how he might know that he had done his best. Ney answered, "Sir, I would ask of you no more than I have done."2
Jesus asks no more of us than He has done Himself. It has to do with the right and best use of the power we possess, who we are, and what we have.
II.
Jesus was also tempted by the wrong way to popularity. That was the second temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and said, as he showed Him a view from the pinnacle of the Temple, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge of you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.' " The temptation was to do something spectacular and win a following from that. But Jesus knew He could not do that, and Matthew tells us He replied, "It is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "
Jesus understood there were no shortcuts to easy popularity. Popularity and acceptance were not even what He sought. He sought only to serve His Father God, and establish His kingdom.
What a temptation that must have been. But Jesus knew He must not give in. He was not to seek this kind of popularity easily won.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to go about His ministry, how He was to give Himself, and not hold Himself up. His Father God would do that later on the cross. He knew if He was lifted up in this way He would draw all people unto Himself.
Isn't this a temptation we face: the wrong way to popularity and acceptance? I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
Sometimes we will do almost anything to gain popularity and acceptance.
A woman was all caught up in the Christmas rush. Finally, she had everything done on Christmas Eve, but then she remembered she had not sent cards to some people on one of her lists. She ran out to the store, bought fifty cards, came home and addressed and stamped 49 of them, and rushed to the post office to mail them. She came back home, and after dinner sat down for a moment and looked at the one card left over. She opened it and read the words on the inside, "This card is just to say a special gift is on the way." She had to spend the few days left in that week getting caught up.
Sometimes we would do anything to gain popularity and acceptance. Young people face it. We call it peer pressure. Adults face it. We call it keeping up. But the call of God in our lives is not to do that. It is instead a call to be faithful followers who, like Jesus, seek to serve God and establish His kingdom.
One of the leaders of the early church was Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. He was brought to trial by the authorities and told he must renounce his Christian faith. He replied, "Fourscore and six years have I served Him, and He never did me wrong: how then can I revile my King, my Savior?" They took him out and put him to death. Later when the Christians wrote their history of that period they said, "Polycarp was martyred, Statius Quadratus being proconsul of Asia, and Jesus Christ being King forever!"3
We are called today to be the people who are faithful, who seek to serve God and His kingdom.
III.
Finally, Jesus was tempted by the wrong kind of partnership. That was the third temptation. Matthew tells us the Tempter came to Jesus and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth and said, "All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me." But Jesus answered, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve!' " Jesus knew He could never be partners with the devil. He could never compromise who He was and what He was about.
Jesus understood there could never be a partnership with the devil. He already had a covenant with His Father God. The Tempter told Him He could have the whole world. All Jesus had to do was worship him and He could take the world.
What a temptation that must have been. But Jesus knew He must not give in. He was to have no such partnership or compromise with anyone.
Instead, Jesus found out how He was to worship and serve His Heavenly Father.
Isn't that a temptation we face: the wrong kind of partnership and the compromise of who we are? We want a partnership sometimes instead of a covenant. I tell you that is a temptation which comes up before us every day.
So, we have to remember our covenant with God. And we have to hear the call of God to come and live in His covenant and be His children.
Do you know why Jesus made it through those temptations? It was because He remembered who He was. He had known it all along. And in between His Baptism and His temptations He had heard the voice of God: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He never forgot it, the voice of His Father calling Him.
There was a boy whose behavior was terrible. But his mother noticed a change in him. He seemed to be making an effort to be thoughtful and kind. One day she decided to ask him what was going on. He said, "The other day at church the preacher put his hand on my head and said, 'You are a fine boy.' I knew he would be disappointed if he found out I wasn't, so I decided to try to be one." He never forgot it. It was like the voice of God calling him.
Harry Emerson Fosdick was one of the greatest American preachers of this century. He described his preaching as counseling on a large scale. Few people knew that as a young seminary student he reached the breaking point after working one summer in a New York Bowery mission. He went home and was overcome by deep depression. One day he stood in the bathroom with a straight razor to his throat. He thought about taking his own life. And then -- and then he heard his father in the other room calling his name, "Harry! Harry!"4 It called him back. He never forgot it. It was like the voice of God calling him.
So I want to remind you today that in those times when you are in the wilderness, trying to find your way through, and when temptation comes and offers you the wrong answer, the wrong choice -- the wrong use of power, the way to popularity, the wrong kind of partnership -- then you remember that God has called your name: "This is my beloved son, my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased." And, you remember that because God has called your name He will see you through.
____________
1. Robert Penn Warren, All The King's Men (Random House: New York, 1960), p. 131.
2. Ernest A. Fitzgerald, Keeping Pace: Inspirations In The Air (Pace Communications Inc.: Greensboro, North Carolina, 1988), p. 14.
3. James S. Stewart, The Wind Of The Spirit (Abingdon Press: Nashville and New York, 1968), p. 55.
4. Robert Moats Miller, Harry Emerson Fosdick (Oxford University Press: New York and Oxford, 1985), p. 44.
Morning Prayer
Lent 1
O God, our Father, who created us to be Thy children and called us to be Thy people, accept our worship today as we call upon Thee, our help, our hope, our strength and shield.
Here at the beginning of this season of Lent we know we begin a journey which will carry us with Thy Son along the way of the cross. As we journey with Him may we come to know all He suffered through, for He was tempted as we are, and today we remember the temptations of His life.
We thank Thee, gracious God, for all Thy blessings upon us, for Thy merciful hand at work in our lives, and for Thy goodness we see surrounding us in so many ways.
And as we thank Thee, Father, we express our gratitude by giving ourselves back to Thee as we seek to be Thy children in every way and serve Thee as the people of God. Enable us to follow after the example of Thy Son and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Mold us, shape us, make us into Thy own image so that we will not make Thee into our images. Forgive us, redeem us, empower us, and give us great visions so that we would give ourselves to Thee.
Finally, Lord, we ask that, whatever our life situation, whatever our own individual calling, Thou would give us a sense of belonging to the great family of God, that we may be young in commitment, mature in service, and growing older in our faith in Thee.
Bless the sick and sorrowful of our church and community and all the great people of the world, for we pray in the name of Christ. Amen.
Children's Message
Lent 1
The Boy And The Apples
Good morning, boys and girls. I am so glad you have come to worship today. It is good to see all of you here.
Today is a really special day. It is the First Sunday in the season of Lent. This is a time that leads up to Easter Sunday. On these Sundays we are thinking about Jesus going toward Jerusalem, and the things He did along the way.
Now, look at this apple. It's a good-looking apple, isn't it? I bet it would taste really good.
One time a boy about your age went to the store. He was standing at the door looking at a big barrel of apples. The man who ran the store saw him. He walked over to the boy and said, "Son, are you trying to steal an apple?" The little boy answered, "No, sir. I'm trying to keep from it."
In our scripture lesson today we will read about what we call the temptations of Jesus. Who knows what the word "temptation" means? One way to put it is this. It is seeing a way or an opportunity to do something that is wrong. It is thinking about doing something we should not do.
Jesus was tempted not to be as good as God made Him to be.
Sometimes all of us are tempted to do something God would not want us to do. There is a way for us to handle that. And that is to ask God to help us. We can ask God to help us remember to be the boys and girls He wants us to be. We are His children and He is our Father. And He wants us to be like Him and live like His Son Jesus.
So, when you are tempted to do something that is wrong, ask God to help you do what is right. And God will do just that. He will help you.
Let's bow our heads for our time of prayer. Father, help us always to do the things you want us to do and to remember we are your children. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Discussion Questions
Lent 1
1. Begin with a prayer led by a member of the group.
2. Have someone read Matthew 4:1-11.
3. Having asked them ahead of time, let members of the group share various sections of the chapter.
4. What is the significance of this time for Jesus?
5. What were the things Jesus was tempted to do?
6. How did Jesus face these temptations?
7. What are the things which tempt us today?
8. How do we overcome these temptations?
9. Close with each person saying a sentence prayer and then a benediction by the leader.
Order Of Worship
11:00 a.m.
First Sunday In Lent
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Prelude
Chiming the Hour
Introit
Greeting
Leader: Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord;
People: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow.
Hymn of Praise
"Lift High The Cross"
Affirmation of Faith
The Apostles' Creed
Welcome and Sharing
Children's Message
"The Boy And The Apples"
WE TURN TO GOD IN PRAYER
Joys and Concerns
Morning Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
WE GIVE TO GOD
Prayer of Dedication
Offertory
Doxology
WE HEAR GOD'S WORD
Hymn of Preparation
"Fairest Lord Jesus"
Anthem
Reading of the Scriptures
Matthew 4:1-11
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
The Message
"The Temptation Of His Life"
WE RESPOND TO GOD
The Invitation to Christian Discipleship
Hymn of Invitation
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
Benediction
Congregational Response
WE DEPART TO SERVE GOD
Postlude
