WORSHIP RESOURCES
Third Sunday in Lent
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
When We Are Tested
Additional Scriptures
Psalm 63:1-8; Isaiah 55:1-9; Luke 13:1-9, Alma 17: 25-28, Doctrine and Covenants 77:4a-4c
Preparation
The traditional color of Lent is purple. Consider decorating the chapel with purple cloth, or if your service is online, consider using purple in your background or on the slides for the service. For the Focus Moment, you will need to bring blocks of some sort with the size being age-appropriate to avoid choking hazards.
Prelude
Welcome
I welcome each of you today into Christian community as we gather during our journey through the season of Lent. Lent is a time of reflection, introspection, and penitence, a period of forty days mirroring Jesus’s forty days of fasting and temptation in the desert. It's a spiritual journey we embark on together as a community, tracing the path from the ashes of Ash Wednesday to the glory of Easter Sunday.
This season is a call to fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. We are reminded of our humanity, our fragility, and our shared reliance on God’s grace. It is a time to confront our weaknesses, confess our sins, and seek reconciliation with God and one another.
Though we observe the solemnity of the season, each Sunday of Lent is also a celebration, a mini-Easter, reminding us of the hope and resurrection that lies beyond the cross. Each Sunday, we pause to gather strength and inspiration as we continue our Lenten journey.
Today, we consider behaviors, obsessions, and focuses that turn us away from God and activities, practices, and focuses that turn us toward God. During Lent, we fast from those things that distract us in our everyday lives and lead us away from God. As we continue through worship today, let us strive to fill that space left by our fasting by turning toward God.
Opening Prayer
Lenten Hymn
“The Glory of These Forty Days” CCS 451
OR “When We Are Tested” CCS 453
OR “Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley” CCS 452
Spiritual Practice and Reflection
Purpose
This practice of Holy listening is designed to deepen the Lenten journey by encouraging attentive listening to God’s voice and discerning what to fast from and what to embrace.
Preparation
Each participant needs paper, pencils, and a quiet, comfortable space.
Begin with a brief explanation.
Holy listening is the practice of listening for God’s guidance. Today, we will focus on understanding what God is calling us to let go of or fast from and what God is inviting us to bring into our lives this Lenten season.
Setting the Tone
Start with a minute of silence, allowing everyone to settle in and focus.
You might consider playing soft, instrumental music in the background.
Guided Introduction
Invite participants to take deep breaths, relax, and center themselves.
Leader says:
As we enter this time of Holy listening, let’s ask God to reveal
what habits, attitudes, or behaviors we are being called to
surrender this Lenten season. Simultaneously, let’s be attentive to
what God is asking us to adopt or strengthen in our lives.
Period of Listening
Guide the participants into the listening phase with the prompt,
Let’s now sit quietly before God. As thoughts come to your mind
about what you need to fast from and what you need to embrace,
gently acknowledge them. You may write them down,
but mainly focus on listening to that still, small voice within.
Reflection and Writing
After the listening period, invite participants to write down any insights, feelings, words, or images that came to mind regarding their Lenten fast and practices.
Encourage them to note not just what they should give up, but also what positive habits or practices they feel led to adopt.
Sharing (Optional)
Conclude the practice by offering participants an opportunity to share their reflections with a partner or in small groups, fostering a sense of community and shared Lenten journey.
Closing
End with a short prayer or blessing, acknowledging the insights received and asking for strength and commitment to follow through with the Lenten intentions.
Hymn of Reflection
“I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” CCS 553
OR “We Are Pilgrims on a Journey” CCS 550
OR “God Is Calling” CCS 172
Prayer for Peace
Light the peace candle.
Peace Prayer
Dear Loving and Gracious God,
In the quiet sanctuary of your presence, we come seeking peace. As we journey through this sacred season of Lent, we find ourselves tested by trials and buffeted by the storms of life. In these moments of challenge and reflection, we turn to you, our steadfast anchor.
Lord, in the turbulence of our days, grant us the peace that surpasses all understanding. When the waves of doubt and fear rise high, calm our minds with the assurance of your love. As we navigate the complexities of our trials, guide our hearts to find serenity in your promises.
May we discover deeper tranquility in our fasting and seeking, in our acts of kindness and moments of introspection. Help us remember that even in the wildest storm, you are with us, a guiding light leading us back to shores of peace and safety. Amen.
Focus Moment: Building Blocks of Our Lives
This lesson aligns with the theme of fasting from certain negative things and adopting positive ones to bring us closer to God during the Lent season.
Materials
A set of building blocks with some blocks labeled with negative traits or habits, like, greed, anger, lying, and so on. Assemble these blocks along with some unlabeled ones into a structure.Have additional blocks on hand labeled with positive traits or habits, like, kindness, prayerful, sharing, and so on but not part of the structure that is built.
Activity
Invite several individuals to the front where there is a table set with a building blocks structure. Explain that during Lent, we are like builders, constructing a stronger relationship with God. Make sure the table is placed so everyone can see.
Invite participants to remove the “negative blocks” from the structure. As each block is removed, the structure is less stable. Explain that we’re making room to build something even stronger.
Interactive Element
Give each participant a block on which a positive trait or habit is written. Ask them to think of one thing they can do during Lent to practice this positive trait and share it aloud. Then, have them add their “positive blocks” to rebuild the structure, symbolizing the strengthening of their faith and relationship with God.
Closing
Remind the group that just like building a structure, building our faith takes time, effort, and the grace of God. Our disciple journey includes trying to take away the bad and add the good, making our faith stronger and more beautiful.
Hymn of Repentance
“Lord, Lead Me by Your Spirit” CCS 209
OR “Out of the Depths, O God, We Call” CCS 228
OR “God! When Human Bonds Are Broken” CCS 236
Sermon
Based on 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Consider using Community of Christ’s other books of scripture, including Alma 17:25-28 or Doctrine and Covenants 77:4a-c, in your preparation.
Hymn of Comfort
“Restore in Us, O God” CCS 219
OR “Redeemer of Israel” CCS 388
OR “Come to Me, O Weary Traveler” CCS 230
Disciples’ Generous Response
Statement
An important part of the Lent journey is fasting to let go of things that take our attention away from God. Traditionally, fasting from food and almsgiving were important parts of Lent observance. As we focus less on ourselves and those things that use up our attention and focus more on God and others we learn deeper truths for the journey ahead. Consider today the ways you are generously responding to the needs of other travelers on the journey and to the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.
God’s astonishing compassion and love in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate example of generosity. God loves us abundantly and unconditionally. As we open our hearts to courageously and generously share by placing money in the offering plates or through eTithing, we reflect the movement of God’s astonishing love and compassion for the world.
If you have participants joining the worship online, remind them that they can give through www.CofChrist.org/give or through eTithing at www.eTithing.org (consider displaying these URLs).
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Hymn for the Journey
“I Wonder as I Wander” CCS 435
OR “Jesus, Remember Me” Sing several times. CCS 459
OR “When We Lift Our Pack and Go” CCS 634
Sending Forth: Doctrine and Covenants 77:4a-c
Postlude
SERMON AND CLASS HELPS
Year C—Letters
Third Sunday in Lent
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
Exploring the Scripture
Paul is concerned. Some Christian Gentiles in Corinth have continued historic practices of idol worship, despite their declared Christian discipleship. They argue it is part of their culture, their civic duty. They see no harm or contradiction in this behavior. It is what they always have known. Paul despairs that they have not grasped what it means to claim belief in one God.
Paul confronts them by rehearsing the Old Testament events and figures of Israel’s wilderness journey. He reminds them the people of Israel repeatedly received God’s blessings and guidance and then shortly took it for granted or ignored God’s activity. Paul refers to Israel as “under the cloud” and “passing through the seas.”
He mentions God supplying water and food for the wandering Israelites. Even with God’s guidance and help, the Israelites tended to return to the worship of idols, considering their selfish wants to be the most important. Paul says, “God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness” (v. 5).
These events are cited as a warning, examples for the Corinthian church to avoid. This is remarkable since most in Corinth were not Jews and didn’t see themselves in the same frame of reference as Israel. However, Paul argues that Christians have been baptized into the body of Christ, the family of God, and are heirs of Israel’s experiences. He points out parallels between Israel’s experience, Corinthian self-reliance, and idol worship. He encourages them to break away from their ancestral practices.
The primary evil Paul sees is idolatry, placing something other than God at the center—worshiping something else (an object, a person, a place, and so on) instead of God. Verse 12 has a key summary statement, “So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.” If you think you are in control, think again. How easily we leave the path and go our own way, thinking we know best. Have we (and the Corinthians) forgotten God’s purposes of justice and peace for everyone?
In these modern times, we see the Israelite and Corinthian journeys, notice their failures, and try to learn from them. Especially during the season of Lent, we examine our lives, motives, and dreams—not just with us in mind but the whole creation. Paul assures us that God is faithful and encouraging. In turn, we strive to be humble and grateful for God’s constant care. With God, all things are possible.
Central Ideas
1. As members of the family of God, we all are connected and often make the same mistakes.
2. Worship of idols comes in many forms and always turns people away from God-centered living.
3. It is important to be humble, not thinking we can control or manage God’s purposes.
4. God is faithful and will provide. We experience God’s constant care.
Questions for the Speaker
1. What helpful understanding have you learned from Israel’s wilderness journey?
2. Why do you think Paul was so concerned about idol worship in Corinth?
3. Do you think Paul would recognize similar faults in our faith communities? What “ancestral practices” might be present in your community?
4. How do you and your faith community strive to keep God at the center of your journey?
5. How is your Lenten journey like Israel’s? Corinth’s?
SACRED SPACE: A RESOURCE FOR SMALL-GROUP MINISTRY
Year C—Letters
Third Sunday in Lent
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
Gathering
Welcome
We join other Christians who for many centuries have observed Lent as the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not counting Sundays. During Lent, we center our attention on Jesus as we remember his life and ministry. Lent also provides a means to sharpen our focus on our own lives in relationship to Jesus. The Lenten season encourages us to turn from whatever distracts or blocks our commitment to discipleship. May the season of Lent help us walk with Jesus, though the path leads to the cross.
Prayer for Peace
Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.
God of all creation, as we pray for peace this day, we pray for those who are hungry. One in nine people go hungry each day, and we often are blinded to the reality of this problem. Would our response be different if that one was our grandfather, mother, or child?
Open our eyes. Many factors contribute to world hunger. Poverty, food shortages, war, climate change, and poor distribution of resources are just a few. Help us stop the intergenerational life cycles of poverty and injustice that place disproportionate hardships on the vulnerable.
May we act quickly to the many opportunities you put before each of us to respond. In the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Silent Personal Reflection
Read the following to the group:
Everyone’s spiritual journey is unique and deeply personal. Sometimes we find ourselves in a wilderness of darkness and confusion. During Lent we acknowledge these times and seek God’s gracious presence to be with us.
Take a moment to center yourself. Find a comfortable position. If you wish, you may close your eyes. Imagine you are in a wilderness.
Listen as I read. Do words stand out to you? What images come to mind?
After the reading we will spend two minutes in silent reflection. At the conclusion of two minutes the chime will sound.
Psalm 63:1–8 NRSVue
O God, you are my God; I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips
when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night,
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
End the reflection time with a chime or bell.
Invite the group to respond to this question: What words or images from this psalm will you carry on your Lenten journey?
Sharing Around the Table
1 Corinthians 10:1–13 NRSVue
I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
In our Lenten text for today, Paul reminds the Gentile Corinthians of the journey of the Israelites. They “passed through the sea” and shortly after resumed their historic practices of idol worship. Paul is concerned for the Corinthians as they, too, continue their worship of other Gods and idols. A history was even written to remind people of the consequences that follow actions. Paul reminds them that God provides a way out, despite the ease to which they can fall into old habits. “So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” (v. 12).
Individually and collectively, mistakes happen. It is important to be vigilant, mindful, and observant of what is happening around us. While we cannot always prevent such things, focusing on Christ and his teachings can help us gain greater perspective and compassion for those around us, and ourselves.
Our Lenten journey continues to be one of observation, introspection, and far-off hope. May we remember that God is faithful and encouraging. May we strive to be humble and grateful for God’s ever-present care.
Questions
1. When you think of the wilderness journey of the Israelites, what gives you hope?
2. Paul discusses various examples and practices that distract the Corinthians from devotion to God. What practices within our community distract us from devotion to God?
3. What does it mean to you to not be “tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it”?
Sending
Generosity Statement
Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.
—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response. You also may give at CofChrist.org/give.
The offering prayer for Lent is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response.
Ever-present God, forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen.
Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn
Community of Christ Sings 168, “I Will Talk to My Heart”
Closing Prayer
Optional Additions Depending on Group
- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
- Thoughts for Children
Thoughts for Children
This Lenten activity continues through the season of Lent.
Materials:
· small squares of light-purple paper (large enough to write on, but small enough to be used in a mosaic)
· pencil
· glue stick
· poster board
Before beginning this activity, pick an Easter symbol such as the cross and lightly outline it on the poster board. When participants place their papers in the mosaic the first four weeks of lent, have them avoid the inside of the area you have outlined. This area will be filled during the final week of Lent. Alternatively, you could choose to create a more elaborate mosaic that depicts an Easter scene such as Golgotha or the empty tomb. If you do this, see the note at the end of this lesson about alternating the colors you need.
Choosing to create a more elaborate mosaic could be more interesting for people because they won’t be able to tell immediately what they are creating. They’ll be excited to see the mosaic grow over the weeks of Lent.
Say: We are in the season of Lent. Lent lasts forty days. The number forty is meaningful in few ways. Perhaps most meaningful to the season of Lent, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness preparing to minister to people. Our Lenten journey is modeled after Jesus’s time in the wilderness because we also are using this time for preparation.
During Lent, we prepare for Holy Week and Easter by doing things that help us live like Jesus and recognize God’s presence in our lives and the world.
While Jesus was in the wilderness, he wanted to be certain that he listened to God because he trusted God and knew that what God had to say was important. Jesus was humble. When we are humble, we recognize that we can learn from others and are not more important than anyone.
It is wonderful to talk to God, but sometimes we forget that it also is important to listen to God. When we listen to God, we won’t necessarily hear words. God speaks to us in a lot of different ways. For example, sometimes God speaks through thoughts, pictures, or feelings.
Today, we are going to do a spiritual practice called a listening prayer. Listening prayers are prayers in which we focus on our breathing and quiet our minds, bodies, and voices so we might listen to God. If distracting thoughts come into your mind, wave at them and then let them go so you again can focus your attention on listening to God.
Our breathing can help us quiet our minds, bodies, and voices. So, we are going to begin our prayer by breathing intentionally together. After that, we will sit together in silence. When we are done, I will let you know by saying, “Amen.”
To begin, breathe in through your nose, feeling the air fill your body. Hold your breath for a moment before breathing out through your mouth.
Repeat this process until the group becomes calm. Then, leave space for silence. After an appropriate amount of time, before participants become restless, say, “Amen.”
Say: Thanks for participating in this practice with me. I am going to give you each a purple square of paper. Purple is an important color during Lent. It reminds us that we should honor Jesus. I would like you to write or draw a picture of something you heard, saw, or felt during the listening prayer or something that represents how the experience was for you.
There isn’t a right answer for this; it is completely up to your experience. Maybe you felt calm. Maybe you saw light or flowers as you prayed. Maybe you thought words of love. Maybe you just enjoyed the chance to be quiet. Whatever the experience was for you, it is good.
Once everyone has written on their square of paper, we will put them together to create a beautiful mosaic! We will continue to add to our mosaic all during Lent so that we can see the preparations we have made!
* If you choose to create a more elaborate mosaic that depicts an Easter scene instead of just a symbol, alternate the color mentioned in the script for the colors you need for each part of your mosaic. (For example, one week you could write on green paper, which then could be used in your mosaic to create a grassy landscape.)