The Temptations of Jesus
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
The Community Gathers
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the Christ who was tempted in every way as we are. Yes, that's what the Scripture says. Today, we examine those temptations of popularity, power, prestige. So, now that Epiphany has ended, are you ready to begin the season of Lent? We begin our Lenten journey.
P: The call of God in Christ is the call to life.
M: It is the call to live with love and hope, and with a deep sense of our own worth.
P: I invite us to respond in the name of the Christ, who was tempted in every way as we are tempted, and live as his forgiven, empowered people.
M: We celebrate the life that he has given us, and rejoice in its unlimited possibilities.
Hymn of Praise
Many of the Lenten hymns are subjective; select an objective hymn, one in which God is the focal point, not in which the worshiper is the focal point.
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
We will examine Jesus' temptations in the light of our own.
1. How do we try to become popular? By being a bookworm? A beach show-off? An athletic star? List some other possibilities; and ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence.
2. Power. How do we try to gain power? Through money? Clothes? Bragging? List some other ways; and ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence.
3. Possessions. Is more better? List others; ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence. Take your time in this confession.
Response
"Have Mercy, Lord, on Me" (Marcello Montoya; trans. George P.Simmons, 1968). Read it a second time silently. Then, have a guitarist play it while the congregation sings.
The Act of Receiving New Life
Someone has said that the only things some people give up for Lent are their New Year's resolutions. Someone else responding to the same question suggests that we give up our independence, putting our lives completely into God's hands. Most of us probably have never done this, and point to Mother Teresa as one who has. What would our life resemble if we chose to make Christ the center of our thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior? We might only feel guilty for failing. Despite our failure to be perfect, would we live in, by, and through the grace of God, who knows that we fail, and is constantly available to us? Do we believe the truth that God seeks us out and wants to have a relationship with us, even when we fail?
P: I invite us to remember the Good News of our liberation.
M: In Christ, our self-worth has been declared.
P: We have been forgiven, accepted, received.
M: God has given the present new meaning. God has filled the future with possibilities.
P: I invite us to live fully and responsibly. Be free! Be responsible! For true freedom exists only in responsible living!
M: Indeed we shall! So be it! Amen.
Response
"That's For Me" (words and music by Kurt Kaiser, from Sacred Songs, a division of Word, Inc. Song found in Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Review the temptations in their language and experience. Let them do most of the talking; and for goodness' sake, as well as God's sake, avoid making a moralism of the lesson. Someone once referred to children's messages as "little liquor lectures."
Reading of the Newer Covenant
Have your drama group, informal or formal, act out the temptations in a modern setting. It takes only two people. Portray the struggle Jesus experienced; it was a horrendous struggle!
Proclamation of the Good News
Whereas some liberals have difficulty with the divinity of Jesus, some conservatives have difficulty, extreme difficulty, with his humanity. For the brave, refer to Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ. Recall how some religious groups in America responded to the book and movie; many of them had never seen it. After referring to it in worship one Sunday, my friend was picketed by one of the church's members in the sanctuary the next Sunday. She handed out material condemning him. Either Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, or he is not our Savior!
Stewardship Challenge
Jesus kept himself in the world, confronting every evil that needed confronting; he calls us to do the same. How will we live out our stewardship this week doing what Jesus did?
Response (to replace the Doxology)
"Today, We All Are Called to Be Disciples" (English Country Songs, 1893; H. Kenn Carmichael, 1985; arr. and harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906).
Charge to the Congregation
Brazilian educator Augusto Boal calls us from being spectators to "spec-actors," that is, those who see and act.
Meditation
"I believe in hot water. I think it keeps you clean" (G. K. Chesterton).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer," Julia C. Cory.
Response to the Confession: "Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," Claudia F. Hernaman, 1873.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: (a round) "For Your Gracious Blessing," harmonized by David Smart, copyright 1972, in Music For Young Voices, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address.
Offertory: "O Sacred Head," J. S. Bach.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Note: To introduce a new hymn, use it several weeks in a row. For example, use a new Lenten hymn for the first half of Lent; then introduce another the second half. A surefire way to introduce new music is during the time of the children's message. We can do many things there that we can do nowhere else.
Invitation to the Celebration
In the name of the Christ who was tempted in every way as we are. Yes, that's what the Scripture says. Today, we examine those temptations of popularity, power, prestige. So, now that Epiphany has ended, are you ready to begin the season of Lent? We begin our Lenten journey.
P: The call of God in Christ is the call to life.
M: It is the call to live with love and hope, and with a deep sense of our own worth.
P: I invite us to respond in the name of the Christ, who was tempted in every way as we are tempted, and live as his forgiven, empowered people.
M: We celebrate the life that he has given us, and rejoice in its unlimited possibilities.
Hymn of Praise
Many of the Lenten hymns are subjective; select an objective hymn, one in which God is the focal point, not in which the worshiper is the focal point.
The Community Takes Responsibility For Itself
The Act of Recognizing Our Humanity
We will examine Jesus' temptations in the light of our own.
1. How do we try to become popular? By being a bookworm? A beach show-off? An athletic star? List some other possibilities; and ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence.
2. Power. How do we try to gain power? Through money? Clothes? Bragging? List some other ways; and ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence.
3. Possessions. Is more better? List others; ask the congregation to do the same. Follow this with one minute of silence. Take your time in this confession.
Response
"Have Mercy, Lord, on Me" (Marcello Montoya; trans. George P.Simmons, 1968). Read it a second time silently. Then, have a guitarist play it while the congregation sings.
The Act of Receiving New Life
Someone has said that the only things some people give up for Lent are their New Year's resolutions. Someone else responding to the same question suggests that we give up our independence, putting our lives completely into God's hands. Most of us probably have never done this, and point to Mother Teresa as one who has. What would our life resemble if we chose to make Christ the center of our thoughts, feelings, words, and behavior? We might only feel guilty for failing. Despite our failure to be perfect, would we live in, by, and through the grace of God, who knows that we fail, and is constantly available to us? Do we believe the truth that God seeks us out and wants to have a relationship with us, even when we fail?
P: I invite us to remember the Good News of our liberation.
M: In Christ, our self-worth has been declared.
P: We have been forgiven, accepted, received.
M: God has given the present new meaning. God has filled the future with possibilities.
P: I invite us to live fully and responsibly. Be free! Be responsible! For true freedom exists only in responsible living!
M: Indeed we shall! So be it! Amen.
Response
"That's For Me" (words and music by Kurt Kaiser, from Sacred Songs, a division of Word, Inc. Song found in Folk Encounter, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address).
The Community Responds To God's Truth
Message with the Children of All Ages
Review the temptations in their language and experience. Let them do most of the talking; and for goodness' sake, as well as God's sake, avoid making a moralism of the lesson. Someone once referred to children's messages as "little liquor lectures."
Reading of the Newer Covenant
Have your drama group, informal or formal, act out the temptations in a modern setting. It takes only two people. Portray the struggle Jesus experienced; it was a horrendous struggle!
Proclamation of the Good News
Whereas some liberals have difficulty with the divinity of Jesus, some conservatives have difficulty, extreme difficulty, with his humanity. For the brave, refer to Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ. Recall how some religious groups in America responded to the book and movie; many of them had never seen it. After referring to it in worship one Sunday, my friend was picketed by one of the church's members in the sanctuary the next Sunday. She handed out material condemning him. Either Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, or he is not our Savior!
Stewardship Challenge
Jesus kept himself in the world, confronting every evil that needed confronting; he calls us to do the same. How will we live out our stewardship this week doing what Jesus did?
Response (to replace the Doxology)
"Today, We All Are Called to Be Disciples" (English Country Songs, 1893; H. Kenn Carmichael, 1985; arr. and harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906).
Charge to the Congregation
Brazilian educator Augusto Boal calls us from being spectators to "spec-actors," that is, those who see and act.
Meditation
"I believe in hot water. I think it keeps you clean" (G. K. Chesterton).
Music Possibilities In Addition To Those Already Suggested
Music for Preparation: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Hymn of Praise: "We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer," Julia C. Cory.
Response to the Confession: "Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," Claudia F. Hernaman, 1873.
Response to the Assurance of Pardon: (a round) "For Your Gracious Blessing," harmonized by David Smart, copyright 1972, in Music For Young Voices, Hope Publishing Company. See Appendix I for address.
Offertory: "O Sacred Head," J. S. Bach.
Music for Dismissal: Medley of Lenten hymns.
Note: To introduce a new hymn, use it several weeks in a row. For example, use a new Lenten hymn for the first half of Lent; then introduce another the second half. A surefire way to introduce new music is during the time of the children's message. We can do many things there that we can do nowhere else.
