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Genesis 2:15-17;3:1-7 The fall of Adam and Eve
Psalm 32 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven
Romans 5:12-19 The free gift following many trespasses brings justification
Matthew 4:1-11 The temptations of Christ
Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)
| lesson | Hymns for Lent 1, Yr.A | TIS | AHB | SA |
| G | A mighty fortress is our God | 103 | [8] | |
| E | Abide with me, fast falls the eventide | 596 | 502 | |
| O | All hail the power of Jesus' name | 224 | 159 | |
| Ps | All my hope on God is founded | 560 | 465 | |
| Ps/E | Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) | 129 | 56 | |
| O | As man and woman we were made | 645 | 7 | |
| lit. | At even, when the sun was set | 169 | ||
| s | Be thou my guardian and my guide | 498 | ||
| E | By your kingly power O risen Lord | 386 | 306 | |
| O/E/G | Come O fount of every blessing | 152 | ||
| E | Come O Jesus, come O Lord | 211 | ||
| O | Creator of the earth and skies | 556 | ||
| s | Father hear the prayer we offer | 510 | ||
| E | Father of heaven, whose love profound | 131 | 60 | |
| O | For the fruits of all creation | 168 | 37 | |
| G | Forty days and forty nights | 591 | 506 | |
| God sends us his Spirit | 412 | 324 | ||
| O | God who stretched the spangled heavens | 163 | 112 | |
| s | Guide me, O thou great Redeemer | 569 | 478 | |
| hc | Here gracious Lord, we see you face to face | 516 | [438] | |
| Ps | How blest are those whose great sin | 20 | ||
| s | How can a sinner know | 482 | ||
| s | How firm a foundation, you people of God | 578 | 491 | |
| I sing the almighty power of God | 119 | 40 | ||
| Join all the glorious names | 205 | 135 | ||
| s | Just as I am, thine own to be | 527 | ||
| G | Lead us heavenly Father, lead us | 580 | 492 | |
| E | Lift high the cross | 351 | 271 | |
| s | Lord Jesus think on me | 546 | 122 | |
| s | Lord keep us steadfast in your word | 436 | ||
| O/G | Lord of our life, and God of our salvation | 345 | ||
| s | May this Lenten discipline | 463 | 396 | |
| O/E | O bless the God of Israel | 284 | ||
| G | O Jesus I have promised | 595 | 514 | |
| G | O love how deep, how broad, how high | 6 | ||
| s | O Master let me walk with thee | 601 | 522 | |
| O | O Son of Man our hero strong and tender | 175 | ||
| E | O what a gift, what a wonderful gift | 278 | 213 | |
| O | O worship the King all-glorious above | 133 | 67 | |
| s | Once to every man and nation | 499 | ||
| O | One who is all unfit to count | 174 | ||
| O/E | Praise to the Holiest in the height | 141 | 79 | |
| G | Put all your trust in God | 555 | [464] | |
| G | Seek ye first the kingdom of God | 745 | 75 | |
| E | Some thing beautiful, something good | |||
| The church's one foundation | 457 | 385 | ||
| E | The love of God is greater far | 151 | ||
| s | There's a wideness in God's mercy | 136 | [72] | |
| G | What a friend we have in Jesus | 590 | 165 | |
| s | What does the Lord require of you | 751 | ||
| G | When he was baptized in Jordan | 252 | 91 | |
| E | When I survey the wondrous cross | 342 | 258 | |
| s | When we walk with the Lord | 531 | ||
| s | Where high the heavenly temple stands | 377 | 298 | |
| s | With joy we meditate the grace | 206 | 134 |
Sermon Summary (Click here for complete sermon)
Healing the wounds of guilt
The ancient Israelites used to sing: Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven [Psalms 32:1]. The great thing is that the guilt can be put away and left behind us. If a relationship is restored after the taste of tears that is a different kind of happiness from bravely pretending there never was anything wrong. Because sin is the experience of separation from God, the happiness that comes with forgiveness of sins is an experience of a restored relationship.
The fall from paradise
Where did this sense of sin or separation come from? The story of what happened in the Garden of Eden that led to their
being shut out of paradise is a symbolic story about man and woman in general. Whatever our aspirations may be to rise
above the earth, even to make ourselves equal with God, or to take God's place, we are earthly creatures who die. You will
be like God ... is the great temptation. [Genesis 3:4-5; compare Ezekiel 28:1-9].
Temptation
As we read in the gospel for today, even Jesus himself was tempted in this way:-- Matthew 4:3 If you are the son of God ...
[and 4:6], but Jesus who could have claimed equality with God [Philippians 2:5-12] chose to accept his human status. For
Eve, doubt had been sown about whether God was good to them. [Genesis 3:1-3.] Before the doubt there was the
prohibition: [Genesis 2:16-17.] One who can a break a rule has a certain kind of greatness.
Knowledge of good and evil -- separation and renewal
"Knowledge" here is not abstract knowledge. It is a more personal kind of knowledge, like, the man knew his wife Eve, and
she conceived [Genesis 4:1]. To be intimately involved with good and evil would make one like God. [Genesis 3:4-5]. It is
very deeply embedded in the nature of humanity to know the freedom to choose, to say "yes" or "no". The disturbed
relationship with God causes both internal and external disintegration in the human person and family. [Psalm 32:3-5,
compare Isaiah 11:7]. How the broken relationship with God was restored is what we celebrate at Easter. It is a free gift.
[Romans 5:15].
Order of Service - Lent 1 - Year A
The Gathering of the People of God
CALL TO WORSHIP
HYMN A mighty stronghold is our God TIS 103 AHB 8
PRAYER OF ADORATION
"Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! {4} Lord,
who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your
judgments have been revealed." -- Revelation 15:3-4
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. - Te Deum Laudamus
WELCOME AND GREETING EACH OTHER
Service of the Word
INTRODUCTION OF THEME: Overcoming guilt
A word to the children
OLD TESTAMENT Genesis 2:15-17;3:1-7 The fall of Adam and Eve
PSALM 32 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven
EPISTLE Romans 5:12-19 The free gift brings justification
GOSPEL Matthew 4:1-11 The temptations of Christ
HYMN Forty days and forty nights TIS 591 AHB 506
SERMON
A LITANY FOR LENT Let us pray:
Most merciful God, we confess to you, and to one another, 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 neighbours as ourselves. We
have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
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
the Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: our pride, our hypocrisy, and our failure to be completely honest with
ourselves or with other people;
We confess to you, Lord.
Our preoccupation with our comforts or possessions, and our dishonesty in daily life and work;
We confess to you, Lord.
Our exploitation of other people, and our envy of those with more talent than ourselves;
We confess to you, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to share the faith we have;
We confess to you, Lord.
Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our
indifference to injustice and cruelty;
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts towards our neighbours, and for prejudice and contempt towards those
who differ from us;
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us;
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Restore us, good Lord;
Grant us forgiveness and time for amendment of life.
Strengthen us to overcome temptation;
And empower us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord;
Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. --
John 3:17
Dear friends, the gospel by which we seek to live states unequivocally that nothing can separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus our Lord. On the authority of this gospel I declare to all who truly repent: in Jesus Christ you are forgiven;
for which we give glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
HYMN Amazing grace TIS 129 AHB 56
OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
The Sending Forth of the People of God
HYMN O Jesus, I have promised TIS 595 AHB 514
WORD OF MISSION It was written that the Messiah was to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations. You are witnesses of these things. -- Luke 24:46-48
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
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