March 4, 2022

Dear Road Church Friends,

     Socrates, the Father of Western philosophy famously said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Jesus and the Church Fathers heartily agree. In the Church Year, Lent is the season of  self-examination. “Those who keep themselves clean from evil things, will be…useful to their Master, ready to do every good deed,” (2 Timothy 2:21). Lenten observance leads us in the footsteps of Jesus. He endured 40 days of hardship in the wilderness praying and fasting in order to learn what it means to be the Son of God. If we accept its challenge, Lent is our opportunity to examine ourselves, cleanse ourselves, and equip ourselves to live as sons and daughters of God. Gather with us for communion this Sunday as we begin our Lenten journey together.

SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:1-14    SERMON TITLE: Forty Decisive Days

     Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.  Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ Then, the devil showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And, the devil said to him, “all of this is mine. I can give it to anyone I please. It will all be yours if you agree to worship me.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’  Then the devil led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the highest point of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘God has commanded his angels to protect you. They will even prevent you from tripping over a stone.’  Again Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

LENTEN PRAYER

We thank you, Heavenly Father, for those days in the desert when Jesus discovered your will for his life through prayer and fasting. He was tempted in every way as we are. He led the way in overcoming the temptations that are common to us all. As we submit ourselves to the discipline of the wilderness these next 40 days, may we find wisdom. May we learn to trust you to provide for all of our needs. May we never doubt your love and care for us. May we love and serve you with our whole heart, mind and strength, giving temptation no foothold in our lives.

May our prayer and fasting in this season of Lent confirm that we are your beloved children. And we pray that you will bless our decision to walk in the footsteps of Jesus through the wilderness, to establish justice, to share our bread with the hungry, to comfort the afflicted, to visit the lonely, to go the second mile, to forgive those who sin against us, to love those who mistreat us, and to be merciful as you are merciful toward all. Amen.

WE CONFESS TO YOU OUR SINFULNESS

Eternal God, We confess to you our sinfulness. You made the world a paradise,

But we have turned nature’s beauty into places of tears and unhappiness.

People near and far are fighting with each other, race against race, nation against nation.

The holocaust of chauvinism sweeps through countries,

Devouring humanity, terrorizing us into submission.

O Liberating God, Free us from all bondage so that our faith in you will make us free

To create with courage a new world—new societies.

Pastor Norm Erlendson

Our worship service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dMT3e2mhkIQ