This message explores the third of Jesus' three temptations in the desert where he is tempted to trade what's important for what is immediate. How can we learn to handle this same temptation we are faced with the way Jesu did?

Matthew 4:8-10

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Deuteronomy 6:10-13

When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Fear the LORD your God, serve him only

This message explores the second of Jesus' three temptations in the desert where he is tempted to manipulate God the Father. This subtle temptation also is also very appealing to all of us at times. So what do we do?

Matthew 4:5-7

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'["

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

This message explores the first of Jesus' three temptations in the desert where he is tempted to meet legitimate need in an illegitimate and improper way. Is there an area of your life where this is happening to you?

Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Deuteronomy 8:2-3

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that people do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

When we are tempted there is always more at stake than we think. At the heart of any temptation is the question: will I trust God?

Ephesians 6:12

our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil …

Romans 8:12-14 (NLT)

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

Matthew 3:16 – 4:3

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him ...

Romans 6:14

sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

The resurrection of Jesus is an event of incalculable significance - it brings hope into every circumstance and gives us hope beyond the walls of this world. It means everything is going to be alright!

Luke 24:1-9

Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,

that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remembered that he had said this.

So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.

Acts 4:2

[the disciples were] “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead”

1 Corinthians 15:20

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Revelations 3:20

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

1 Peter 1:3, 21

in his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead … and so your faith and hope are in God.

Philippians 3:8-11

… that I may gain Christ

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Worship in the ancient world had everything to do with negotiating with the gods / attempting to manipulate the gods. The Cross defines Christian worship - and forever changed “worship” - because God has given a once for all sacrifice. What more was there to manipulate God for? Worship now is all about remembering and celebrating what God has already done. Let’s do that this Good Friday.

Often in life we can be so much more concerned with who, what, and where that we don't stop and consider the why. Why am I here? But at some point this question rises to the forefront. So why are we here? As we look for the answer to the question of purpose, we'll look to Jesus to shed some light on the matter.

-Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Jesus, Matthew 5:14-16 (Message Version).

Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world.

God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.

If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.

Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Standing on a hillside Jesus gave the followers who had assembled to hear him a unique label. A label that would explain what their purpose was for being on this earth, and one that is as applicable to his followers today as it was then. Discover what that label is and how it impacts how you see yourself and why you have been placed where you are.

- Jesus, Matthew 5:13

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

- Jesus, Luke 14:34-35

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.