Lent 2004 - Cycle C - Revised Common Lectionary
February 29 through April 4, 2004
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him. (Antiphon for Lent, Book of Common Prayer, page 81) And what if, during this season of Lent, we sought a deeper understanding of this amazing gospel of grace. Will that image of grace energize us to do the spiritual housekeeping we need to be ready for the "new thing" God is doing in Easter?
First Sunday in Lent, Cycle C, Revised Common Lectionary
February 29, 2004
Luke 4: 1 - 13
A notation for this week's Gospel
Jesus, energized and equipped, goes to the wilderness where he faced-down three confrontations that challenge us to this day. The first: how do we make the distinction between what we "want" and what we "need" -- what "bread" really feeds us? Second: who do we serve and what do we worship? Third: where are we smug, sure we are right -- putting God to the test? Jesus found his way through; Lent invites us to find our way through too.
Lesson Plans for Adults
Theme: Confronting the temptations
Before Class. Get a listing of the additional services and programs your church may be offering during Lent. Is there a special focus, or theme, or outreach?
Beginning. Tell the group that the setting for today's Gospel occurs directly after Jesus was baptized. It might be helpful to think of it as his private Management Retreat where he sorts out what he is called to do and, equally important, what he is not called to do. As we begin this season of Lent, we too may be called to hold our own private management retreat.
Opening Prayer. Dear God, you are my refuge, my God in whom I trust. Amen. (Psalm 91: 2)
The Scripture. Invite volunteers to read the parts of the narrator, Jesus, and the Devil.
Some Questions.
Suggest the group take a few moments to look at the first temptation, (verses 3 and 4) privately, asking themselves: where is Jesus making a decision between what he might "want" and what he might "need"?
Then looking at the passage, again, ask them to think of how we decide between what we might "want" and what we really "need."
After a few moments of silence, ask the group how changing piles of stones into loaves of bread would have improved Jesus' image with the people? And then, why do they think he dismissed that option?
Second temptation (verses 5 - 8) rereading it silently and privately reflecting on those things that beckon us to "serve" again feeding on our "wants."
After a few moments of silence, ask the group what Jesus could have gained by being the Supreme Ruler of all the kingdoms of the world. And then, why do they think he refused that plan?
Third temptation (verses 9 - 11) again, rereading it silently and privately reflecting on flashy options we could choose -- our "wants" whispering in our ears.
After a few moments of silence, ask the group what this crowd-producing feat would have done to get Jesus’ visibility and why he decided not to misuse angels in this way?
Option. Invite the group to share creative ideas for making this Lent a time we get a better grip on what we really need and have better strategies for measuring our wants. Discuss options for Lenten disciplines. A long retreat would probably be extremely refreshing yet outside the realm of possibility for most of us. What other options occur? (Choosing to use the time we walk the dog to intentionally pray. Committing to use time bogged down in traffic snarls to pray. Turning off the TV one night a week to read the Bible, etc.) Invite people to choose, privately, a discipline that will be feasible for them amid all their other demanding responsibilities.
Getting Closure. Sit quietly in a circle for a moment. Then invite persons to pray, silently, for the person seated to their right.
Closing Prayer. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: O come, let us adore him. Amen. (Antiphon for Lent, Book of Common Prayer, page 81)
