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Lent 1

Preaching
Matthew 4:1-11
Richard A. Jensen
PREACHING MATTHEW'S GOSPEL
A Narrative Approach
The Gospel text appointed for this week has allusions to many, many stories throughout the Bible. We will not be able to do justice to them all. The Spirit who has just alighted on Jesus in the baptismal scene now leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. The wilderness, of course, was the arena of temptation of Israel of old. Even the numbers match up: Israel was in the wilderness for forty years. Moses is also attested to have spent forty days and forty nights being tested by God: Deuteronomy 9:6-12, Exodus 34:27-28.
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Object: The object of the lesson is a gesture you will teach the children.

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Call to Worship:

Jesus warned against with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God. Through our worship today let us pledge ourselves to seek our treasure only in God.

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Jesus, sometimes we envy others because of all they possess.
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Jesus, sometimes we desire all that money can buy.
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For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.... Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
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How do you focus on something unseen? How can we set our minds on that which we can't touch, or taste, or verify scientifically? Most practical people want proof. Abstract propositions are difficult to get our arms around, especially if they are from another time and place.
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This story begins with gift -- with blessed gift -- with miraculous, blessed giftedness. And I will even tell you now the theme of the story: if you keep your eye on the giftedness of everything, then you yourself can be a gift, you can be a giver, rather than a hoarder.
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