Lessons for February 25, 2007 – First Sunday in Lent

The first lesson

Deuteronomy 26:1-11
 
    "When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, [2] put some of the first produce from each harvest into a basket and bring it to the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. [3] Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, 'With this gift I acknowledge that the Lord your God has brought me into the land he swore to give our ancestors.' [4] The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God. [5] You must then say in the presence of the Lord your God, 'My ancestor Jacob was a wandering Aramean who went to live in Egypt. His family was few in number, but in Egypt they became a mighty and numerous nation. [6] When the Egyptians mistreated and humiliated us by making us their slaves, [7] we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. He heard us and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression. [8] So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with amazing power, overwhelming terror, and miraculous signs and wonders. [9] He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! [10] And now, O Lord, I have brought you a token of the first crops you have given me from the ground.' Then place the produce before the Lord your God and worship him. [11] Afterward go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration. (NLT)

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
 
L.  Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 
C.  This I declare of the Lord:
L.  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. 
C.  If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 
L.  no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. 
C.  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. 
L.  They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone. 
C.  You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;
L.  you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
C.  The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. 
L.  I will protect those who trust in my name. 
C.  When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble.
L.  I will rescue them and honor them. 
C.  I will satisfy them with a long life and give them my salvation."  (NLT)

The second lesson
 
Romans 10:8-13 
    Salvation that comes from trusting Christ—which is the message we preach—is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." 
    [9] For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. [11] As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who believes in him will not be disappointed." [12] Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They all have the same Lord, who generously gives his riches to all who ask for them. [13] For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

Luke 4:1-13
 
    Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit to go out into the wilderness, [2] where the Devil tempted him for forty days. He ate nothing all that time and was very hungry. 
    [3] Then the Devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread." 
    [4] But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People need more than bread for their life.' " 
    [5] Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. [6] The Devil told him, "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them—because they are mine to give to anyone I please. [7] I will give it all to you if you will bow down and worship me." 
    [8] Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say,

    'You must worship the Lord your God;
        serve only him.' "
 
    [9] Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! [10] For the Scriptures say,

    'He orders his angels to protect and guard you. 
    [11] And they will hold you with their hands
        to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' "
 
    [12] Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'Do not test the Lord your God.' " 
    [13] When the Devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.  (NLT)