Scriptures: Genesis 2:15–17, 3:1–7/2:18–20, 3:6–12 IV; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11; I Nephi 3:28–33; Doctrine and Covenants 161:4b

Sharing Christ’s Peace

Prelude

*Opening Hymn

“We Gather Together” HS 11
OR “Lord, Help Me to Know Your Presence” NS 31

*Invocation

*Response

Call to Worship: Psalm 32:11

Lenten Confession

All:    Eternal God, we confess that often we have failed to be an obedient church:
          we have followed our will rather than your will,
          we have broken your law,
          we have rebelled against your love,
          we have remained distant from our neighbors,
          we have ignored the cry of the needy.

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” HS 104

Testimonies: Ask two youth to share brief testimonies about things that tempt them.

Disciples’ Generous Response

Hymn

“Firm Foundation” NS 10
OR “Jesus” NS 22

Morning Message

Ministry of Music:

“When the Church of Jesus” HS 445
OR Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” campfire song

*Closing Hymn:

“You Shall Go Out with Joy SP 45
OR “Companions on the Journey” NS 7

*Closing Prayer

*Postlude

Scriptures: Genesis 2:15–17, 3:1–7/2:18–20, 3:6–12 IV; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11; I Nephi 3:28–33; Doctrine and Covenants 161:4b

Today is the first Sunday in the season of Lent, a time for reflection and soul-searching in preparation for the events of Holy Week. Lent provides opportunity to imitate the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness as described in today’s text. His forty days in the wilderness parallel other biblical stories, such as the forty years of wandering by the Israelites and Moses’ forty days on the mountain.

In the early Christian church, those who were to be baptized on Easter made preparation through study and prayer during the Lenten season. These new members were coming into a living community of faith, so the whole community participated in that preparation. It was also a time when those who had become separated from the church would make preparation to rejoin the community of faith. Lent can provide an ideal time in our congregations today to help us more faithfully live out the objectives of sharing our witness and engaging in ministries of reconciliation.

The three temptations were not about Jesus proving he was the Son of God. The tempter already recognized him in that way. A closer translation of the word “if” used by the tempter is “since.” Rather, Jesus was being asked to prove whether he had come to be served or to serve. Since you are the Son of God, do these miracles and claim power and glory for yourself. Jesus chose servanthood as the path toward the kingdom of God. Similarly, through programs, buildings, traditions, and other aspects of congregational life, congregations can find themselves choosing between serving self and serving others.

There are two aspects of the wilderness to consider today. One is the wilderness of spiritual discernment: a place and time to listen and be touched by God’s Spirit. As a church we are challenged to allow the Spirit to fill us, to further engage in activities that will help us be more in tune with God’s Spirit. This requires time in the wilderness. A second aspect of the wilderness is everyday life where we must make choices that reflect our desire to have power and be served or serve others.

Today we also celebrate the youth of our congregations. The preacher might easily draw parallels between the moral temptations our youth encounter and the story of the wilderness. However, such a parallel misses the larger message of the text. This is not to say that these moral temptations are not significant. However, the greater message is about choosing to serve or being served. Encourage the youth to consider how Jesus was being asked to make choices that would be primarily self-serving—choices that offered him a following, recognition, and power.

Youth are bombarded with messages that encourage them to live egocentrically, messages which place more value on self then serving others. However, many of our youth are involved in service to others like in the church’s WorldService Corps program, Habitat for Humanity, and many other opportunities. They can choose, as did Jesus, the path toward God’s kingdom and servanthood.