A More Beautiful Song | Desire in the Desert (March 2, 2025)
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This morning Jordan teaches on the spiritual realities of wilderness, temptations, and tests. We are invited to be more deeply formed through these into way of Jesus; especially as we begin the Season of Lent this week.
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Elements from this morning’s gathering
Call to Worship
Come and learn the ways of life.
We have come to follow Jesus.
Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you.
We have come to follow Jesus.
Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who persecute you.
We have come to follow Jesus.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
We have come to follow Jesus.
Come and learn the ways of life:
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you.
Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.
We have come to follow Jesus.
Scripture Reading
A Reading from Matthew 4 & 5
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.
The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’
But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. And great crowds followed him…
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…’
