Monday, March 12, 2012
Rev. Franke's Theme Thoughts
Series B, The Fourth Sunday in Lent March 18, 2012
Lessons for The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9 – God sent poisonous snakes to turn His people back, then healed them with a look of faith.
Psalm 107:1–9 (Antiphon: Psalm 107:19)
Ephesians 2:1-10 – By grace, God has made us alive in Christ through faith in Him, to do good works.
John 3:14-21 – God sent His Son in love to rescue from the death of sin, all who believe in Him.
GATHERING THE TEXTS: God Loved the World So!
Even though the Israelites grumbled and complained about their food in the desert, God loved them so that he sent poisonous snakes to turn them back to him. He provided a way of healing for them. He has done the same in respect to our spiritual death. God loves us so that he gave us a Savior. By his grace he calls us to look in faith to Jesus, his Son, and receive spiritual life. Now we can live for him.
PRAYER BEFORE THE SERVICE: Lord Jesus, you did not come to this world to condemn it, but to save it. Help me keep my eyes fixed on you and your cross so that I may live by your gracious death and show people your love through the life I live for you. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP THOUGHT: God has prepared many great and good works for us to do and has prepared us to do them by calling us to faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior. He has also given us the material means to do great things for Him and for His Kingdom.
OFFERING PRAYER: God of grace, You gave Your only Son, so we may look to Him and live.
You give us mercy in abundance and daily bread in plentiful supply.
Bless these gifts we bring and our lives from which they come
That both our goods and our hearts may serve You with great joy. Amen.
CONVICTION AND COMFORT: The very fact that we must be reminded that the Son of Man did not come to condemn the world exposes some darkness in our hearts: we react to Jesus presence by hiding from the light. That Light which has come into the world overcomes the darkness of the world and the darkness of our hearts. We are drawn to Him as a moth is drawn to a candle, but instead of being destroyed (condemned) by the Light, we are rescued from the darkness and given the gift of life eternal!
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