Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

This is a sermon based on Matthew 4: 1-11, the temptation of Christ.

Lent is about peeling away the layers of insulation and anesthesia which keep us from the truth of God’s promises.  It is a time of self-reflection, sacrificial giving and prayer as we make our way through the tangled mess of our lives.  It is a time when we can trudge through the lies of our death-defying culture and remember the truth about who we really are – God’s beloved children.  It is a time when we can let go of defending and self-justifying ourselves.  It is a time when can reflect upon the truth that we are very broken but we are also blessed and beloved of God.

Lent is about peeling away the layers of insulation and anesthesia which keep us from the truth of God’s promises.  It is a time of self-reflection, sacrificial giving and prayer as we make our way through the tangled mess of our lives.  It is a time when we can trudge through the lies of our death-defying culture and remember the truth about who we really are – God’s beloved children.  It is a time when we can let go of defending and self-justifying ourselves.  It is a time when can reflect upon the truth that we are very broken but we are also blessed and beloved of God.

Today, we walk through the doorway into Lent and journey to the cross, that place of transforming love.  Be open to be changed, be open to be transformed, and be open to be made new.  May God richly bless our journey!

Today, we walk through the doorway into Lent and journey to the cross, that place of transforming love.  Be open to be changed, be open to be transformed, and be open to be made new.  May God richly bless our journey!

Come and listen to a special performance of Thy Word of Your Peace by Bettcher the Faith Lutheran Faith Bells Bell Choir.

Come and listen to a special performance of Thy Word of Your Peace by Bettcher the Faith Lutheran Faith Bells Bell Choir.

Come and listen to a special performance of Make me a Channel of Your Peace by Hayes be the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir.

Come and listen to a special performance of Make me a Channel of Your Peace by Hayes be the Faith Lutheran Chancel Choir.

With the words of today’s reading, Jesus seeks neither to set impossible goals nor to shame people who cannot reach perfection.  Instead, he sets forth God’s vision of God’s world where genuine and unconditional love reigns.  The reign of God is inaugurated in the person of Jesus, and we, Jesus’ followers, are empowered by his witness to live the reign of God’s values.