Description

Luke 4:1-13 

In life, there are many shortcuts.  Some are rather innocuous and can be beneficial such as using a microwave to heat some water.  But for spiritual matters, there is no shortcut.  We want the quickest way to spiritual growth.  Much like losing weight or developing strong relationships, the only real way to get there is through some very challenging work.  Jesus was offered 3 specific temptations that would have provided shortcuts for temporary benefits.  Praise God that He didn’t accept them but rather went the long way around which took Him to the cross and in the ground.  If there is anything in life that is worthwhile, it will be painful and difficult.  So as we walk daily with God, there will be temptations for us to take the easy path.  May our path be Christ’s path.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.]

 

Time of Praise and Worship 

Love The Lord

Lincoln Brewster, ©2005 Integrity’s Praise Music

Christ Is Enough

Jonas Myron & Reuben Morgan, © 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Come To The Cross

Leeland Mooring | Matt Bronleewe | Michael W. Smith, © 2006 Word Music, LLC | Smittyfly Music |

Meaux Mercy | Woodland Creatures Need Music Too | Windswept Music (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) | (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) |

[Traditional Options]

My Song Is Love Unknown     

BH 75 486; EH 458; ELW 343; LBW 94; LSB 430; LW 91; NCH 222; PH 76; RS 572; TFWS 2083; WOV 661

Jesus Refuge of the Weary

LSB 423; LBW 93; LW 90

Lead Me, Guide Me 

CHH 583; ELW 768; LSB 721; TFWS 2214; WAR 496

  

Invocation and Introduction of Today’s Theme 

Pastor:             O heavenly Father, we fix our gaze upon You and wish to devote our hearts and mind to You and Your mighty name.

ALL:                 Hear us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Pastor:             We desire a relationship with You, O Lord. But too often we try to nurture that connection through our own ways.  

ALL:                 Hear us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Pastor:             Yet Your patience with us is beyond all human understanding. Your loving hand guides us back to You in a holy way that fortifies our spiritual growth. 

ALL:                 Hear us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Pastor:             You have drawn us to this place this morning to continue that growth in a way that is pleasing to You.

ALL:                 Hear us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Pastor:             We give You thanks, praise, and adoration for Your great glory! Hosanna in the highest!

ALL:                 Hear us Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Pastor:            Let us give thanks and praise to the LORD almighty, the king of creation!  My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is                                  my stronghold, my refuge, and my savior. (2 Samuel 22:3). His ways are always just, and His paths are always straight. He has shown His love and the promises He                                made with His covenant not by shortcuts or simpler paths, but through the excruciating task sending His only begotten son to take on the sins of the entire world                                    and dying on a cross so that those that who believe may live eternally in paradise. His works and deeds are perfect and righteous, His love and patience is wonderful                                and boundless. May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be lifted up in everlasting praise!

  

Time of Greeting 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message] 

Pastor:             O most merciful God, we have constantly tried to take the easy path to righteousness.

ALL:                 Have mercy on us, O God. 

Pastor:            We have attempted to take shortcuts in our relationship with You.  We have ignored parts of Your word because they don’t fit with our lifestyle. We take other parts                                of Your word and twist them to fit our own self-righteousness. We like to pretend we’re running the show.  

ALL:                 Have mercy on us, O Christ. 

Pastor:             We’ve tried to fast-track our faith. Yet this has constantly taken us down a path where we move further from You. Our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds have caused                               us to drive a wedge between us and Your holy covenant. 

ALL:                 Have mercy on us, O Lord. 

Pastor:             Our sins are despicable, and they have caused us to drift from Your glory. Yet even as we move away, You stay in the same place; a rock that we can cling to and                                       confess our iniquities even as our sea of sin threatens to sweep us away. 

ALL:                 Have mercy on us, O Christ. 

Pastor:             We lay down all of our sins before You now. For the sake of Your holy Son, Jesus Christ, show us mercy. Forgive us, so that we can enjoy a renewed covenant made                                 whole through Your son’s resurrection. 

                                                                         (pause for silent reflection) 

Pastor:             I am pleased to share with You the best news You will hear all week. Upon this Your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the word, announce the grace                                 of God to all of you.  Through the death and resurrection of His only son Jesus Christ, your sins have been forgiven. May the good news and the sheer joy that comes                               through the abolition of sin provide you spiritual sustenance and hope, both now and forever.

ALL:                 Alleluia!  Praise to You, O God!

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

 

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:1-11 

The concept of tithing to God is rooted in trust.  Like the Israelite nation, God has saved us and guided us.  Sometimes, the path was difficult and challenging, but He was always with us.  By giving to Him, we strengthen our faith in Him.  It may not be easy, but it is invaluable in growing our faith in God.   

 

When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, “I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the Lord your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the Lord your God: “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. 7 Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders.9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, Lord, have given me.” Place the basket before the Lord your God and bow down before him.11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.