Sermon: 1st Sunday of LENT

 Date: March 9, 2025                                                                                                       Text: Luke 4:1-13

Scavenger Hunt

(video can be found here go to 42:08)

I. Intro

What is a scavenger hunt? It’s a game where participants go through a set of different challenges (usually in different places) to reach a final destination to obtain a prize.   

With some limitations, we can see that the Temptations of Jesus is a scavenger hunt. Think about it – right after His Baptism He is led by the Spirit to the wilderness for 40 days, he is tempted by the devil – honestly – throughout these 40 days. Then, by the very end, devil through at Him three more challenges Jesus needs to overcome. Spoiler alert, He won!   

 

II. Text – Luke 4:1-13

a. Stone into bread

b. Glory of the kingdoms vs. faithfulness to God

c. Premature victory vs. fighting to the end

 

III. Take away

It would not be a sermon if I would stop here – it would be a TED talk.

What makes it a sermon – let us read carefully the very end, v. 13. What is an opportune moment? Passion time:

a. He shares the bread even with Judas

b. He stays faithful even begging to find another way

c. He proclaims the completion of the mission

He came to the world to restore our relationship with God based on His righteousness – righteousness of forgiveness and righteousness of active vibrant Christian live. When we are guided by the Spirit throughout the days of our earth wilderness.