Welcome to West Park United Church of Christ

The selfless way of Christ Third Sunday of Lent

New Century Hymnal #198 Lift High the Cross

GLORIA PATRI Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

New Century Hymnal #223 What Wondrous Love Is This

John 3:14-21

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen.

The selfless way of Christ

The Selfless Way of Christ Downward Mobility Temptation to be Relevant

I ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him— endless energy, boundless strength! Ephesians 1: 17-20

All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule.

The Temptation to be Spectacular

It is the temptation to force God to respond to the unusual, the sensational, the extraordinary, the unheard of- and then to force people to believe. p.53

“Truth” in our culture has become so largely determined by statistics that it is easy for us to truly believe that the number of people who listen, watch, or attend is a measure of the quality of that which is presented.

Is this our role model?

Is this worth only our attention? Biggest box-office hit Best-selling book Fastest-selling car Record-breaking athlete Biggest Church

How do we overcome this all-pervading temptation

The more insecure, doubtful and lonely we are, the greater our need for popularity and praise.

Sadly, this Hunger is never satisfied

Jesus responded to the tempter, “You must not put the Lord your God to the test.”

The search for spectacular glitter is an expression of doubt in God’s complete and unconditional acceptance of us.

Our true challenge is return to the center To our heart

Who do we listen for?

The experience of God’s acceptance frees us from our needy self and thus creates new space where we can pay selfless attention to others.

Through a disciplined life of contemplative prayer we slowly can come to realize God’s original love, the love that existed long before we could love ourselves.

This far from easy. A serious and persevering discipline of solitude, silence and prayer is demanding. Such a discipline will not reward us with the outer glitter of success, but with the inner light which enlightens our whole being.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Refrain: (sing 3 times) Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full into his wonderful face, And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of his glory and grace. Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance and as a mark of our mortal nature…

Take the Light of Christ with you Go In Peace and Serve the Lord!