The 3rd Sunday of Lent – 24 Mar 2019 – Luke 13:1-9 ~ repentance: one more chance

Third Sunday of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

God of salvation, we stand before you on holy ground, for your name is glorified and your mercy revealed wherever your mighty deeds are remembered.

Since you are holy and forbearing, turn us from every rash and shallow judgement to seek the ways of repentance.

We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and hope, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” – Ben Grace (Based on the hymn by Frederick Faber)

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Gospel Reading: Luke 13:1-9 (NLT)

A Call to Repentance

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
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Prayer:

Most holy and merciful Father: We confess that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength.
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us.
We have not been true to the mind of Christ.
We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

Lord, have mercy upon us: for we have sinned against you.

For all our unfaithfulness and disobedience; for the pride, vanity, and hypocrisy of our lives…. Lord, have mercy.
For our self-pity and impatience, and our envy of those we think more fortunate than ourselves…. Lord, have mercy.
For our unrighteous anger, bitterness and resentment; for all lies, gossip, and slander against our neighbors…. Lord, have mercy.
For our sexual impurity, our exploitation of other people, and our failure to give of ourselves in love…. Lord, have mercy.
For our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our intemperate pursuit of worldly goods and comforts…. Lord, have mercy.
For our dishonesty in daily life and work, our ingratitude for your gifts, and our failure to heed your call…. Lord, have mercy.
For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty…. Lord, have mercy.
For our wastefulness and misuse of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us…. Lord, have mercy.
For all false judgments, for prejudice and contempt of others, and for all uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors…. Lord, have mercy.
For our negligence in prayer and worship; for our presumption and abuse of your means of grace…. Lord, have mercy.
For seeking the praise of others rather than the approval of God…. Lord, have mercy.
For our failure to commend the faith that is in us…. Lord, have mercy.

Show favor to your people, O Lord, who turn to you in true repentance. For you are a merciful God, full of compassion, long-suffering, and abounding in steadfast love. You spare when we deserve punishment, and in your wrath you remember mercy. Spare your people, good Lord, spare us; in the multitude of your mercies, look upon us and forgive us; through the all-sufficient sacrifice of your blessed Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Come Ye Sinners” – Jami Smith

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Blessing – Psalm 102:17-18

The love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Saturday Morning: 23 Mar 2019 – Romans 6:15-23 ~ slaves of whatever we choose to obey

Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – Romans 6:15-23 (NLT)

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Morning Reflection:

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?
You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death,
or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”
– Romans 6:16

Our choices have consequences, as is made clear in today’s reading. Paul lays out two choices: the pleasures of sin leading to death, or heartfelt obedience leading to life. We become slaves of one or the other by choice.

Sin leads to death, but obedience leads to righteousness and eternal life.

The Consequences of Sin – enslavement, death, enslavement to impurity and lawlessness, further enslavement to impurity and lawlessness, disregard for righteousness, shame, deception resulting in death.

The Consequences of Obedience – faithfulness, righteousness, heartfelt acquiescence, teachable, freedom from sin, Christ-likeness, freedom from shame, enjoyment of eternal life.

By the grace of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, believers have been spiritually delivered from sin. Now the challenge becomes to live out this spiritual reality as a daily practical reality in our lives.

Questions for consideration:

Do you think of yourself as a slave to anything, or anyone? Please explain.
Is being a child of God and also a slave of God a contradiction of terms? Please explain.
What are the effects of residual sin in your life? Please explain.
What hinders your living as a godly person. Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: You have made us your children, one with Christ Jesus, by grace alone through faith alone. Fill us with your Spirit that we might willingly and joyfully live out this reality in faithful obedience to your will for our lives. Forgive our lapses into our old ways, free us from our past, and guide us along the path leading to a full, satisfying life – now and forever. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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“Holiness Unto The Lord” – Vineyard Worship

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Friday Morning: 22 Mar 2019 – Romans 6:1-14 ~ the freedom of God’s grace

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 6:1-14 (NLT)

Sin’s Power Is Broken

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
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Morning Reflection:

How were you baptized – by immersion, by pouring, or by sprinkling? If you were baptized by immersion, you probably remember it as a significant moment in your life.

Paul uses baptism by immersion as a metaphor in today’s reading:

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.
And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father,
now we also may live new lives.” – Romans 6:3-4

Our old life under the rule of sin has been buried with Christ under the waters of baptism – we were enslaved to the power of sin –

we ceased being our own masters
we lost our human dignity
we lost our will-power
we lost control of our character

Our new life under the rule of grace has been raised with Christ out of the waters of baptism – we live as servants of God, under the freedom of grace –

we bind ourselves to the God of our own free will
we bind ourselves to the God through faith in Christ
we bind ourselves to the God and become children of God
we bind ourselves to the God and become more like Christ

“Sin is no longer your master,
for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.
Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
– Romans 6:14

Questions for your consideration:

Have you been baptized? Do you remember the details? Please explain.
Do you remember a time in your life when you decided to turn away from sin and turn to Jesus Christ in faith? Please explain.
Do you consider yourself a servant of God, or a child of God, or both? Please explain.
What does living “under the freedom of God’s grace” mean to you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: – St Patrick (389-461)

I call on heaven and earth to witness today that I have put on Christ. I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth. This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.

I fasten close to me this day that same Jesus who came to us in flesh and blood and was Himself baptized in the Jordan River.
He died upon the cross to rescue me, broke free from death, its conqueror.
He left us, to return the more certainly.

All these truths and their power I fasten close to me this day. Resisting my own selfishness and sin, refusing to live as a slave to riches, pleasure, or reputation, rejecting Satan and all his lies, I call on heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
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“Alive” – Big Daddy Weave

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Thursday Morning: 21 Mar 2019 – Romans 5:12-21 ~ God’s wonderful grace rules

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 5:12-21 (NLT)

Adam and Christ Contrasted

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Morning Reflection:

“Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone,
but Christ’s one act of righteousness
brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners.
But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”
– Romans 5:18-19

The contrast between Adam and Christ is a contrast between condemnation and grace – Adam brought sin, guilt. and death; Jesus brought forgiveness, grace and life.

Let’s look at that a little closer at condemnation and grace –

+ condemnation originates in sin
+ grace originates in the righteousness of Christ

+ condemnation is distinguished by disobedience
+ grace is distinguished by the obedience of faith

+ the law exposes sin, and increases condemnation
+ grace removes both yet magnifies the law

+ condemnation brings death now and forever
+ grace confers a new life on earth and a glorious and wonderful life in the world to come

Questions for consideration:

As you think about the activities and involvements of your daily life, what drives you, guilt or grace? Please explain.
How do you think the sin and condemnation of Adam affects your daily decisions, your lifestyle? Please explain.
How do you think the righteousness and grace of Christ affects your daily decisions, your lifestyle? Please explain.
What does it mean to you: “God’s wonderful grace rules… giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Gracious God: Fill me with joy in the Holy Spirit that I might live every day under the banner of your mercy and grace through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant me a dimension of freedom that I have never known before – the freedom of your wonderful grace ruling in my life, making me your friend, and assuring me of a home with you forever. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Grace Got You” – MercyMe

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 20 Mar 2019 – Romans 5:1-11 ~ Cause for rejoicing!

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – Romans 5:1-11 (NLT)

Faith Brings Joy

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
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Morning Reflection:

We live in a world of trouble – it’s all around us; we can’t escape it. Sometimes we are buffeted by hurt and hardship, and sometimes we are knocked down by pain and suffering. But through it all, we can rejoice. Paul explains why.

“Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith,
we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” – Romans 5:1

1. Our peace with God is cause for rejoicing – because it’s a done deal through faith in Jesus Christ. We have a new relationship with God; we are his friends.

God loves us and cares about us, whatever our difficulties we experience.
We have peace with God now, whether we feel it or not – it’s a spiritual truth.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials….”
– Romans 5:3

2. Our peace with God is cause for rejoicing – because God can actually use our present difficulties to create in us a deeper longing for him and a deeper desire to experience him.

Our troubles develop endurance, the endurance of Christ.
Endurance develops strength of character, the character of Christ
Character strengthens our confident hope, the love of Christ.

Questions for consideration:

Do you have peace with God? If you are not sure, follow this link to – Begin Your Journey to Peace.

With trouble all around us, what sort has rubbed off on you? Please explain.
Does knowing that you are a friend of God help you? Please explain.
Does knowing that God is developing strength of character in you help? Please explain.
How do you express confident joy in your relationship with God? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: I live in a world of trouble; the good world you made has been corrupted by the compounded effects of ageless sin – and some of it has rubbed off on me. Thank you for judging me “not guilty” and making me your friend through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving me even in my troubles and struggles. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may experience confident joy, not in anything I do, but in the certain hope of eternity lived in your glorious presence. I ask this in Jesus’ name.
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“Peace Perfect Peace” – Praise And Harmony Singers