Spirit Led
Pastor Jason Next Steps from Sunday
- Reflect: Where/When/How have you ex-perienced wilderness in your life? How might God have led you there? How did God lead you through? How does this wilderness ex-perience shape who you are today? How did it contribute to what you care about today?
- Practice: Consider a wilderness that you might be going through right now. How can you allow this wilderness to prepare you for what might lie ahead in your life? What ministry might God be calling you to through the struggles within this wilderness?
- Devotion: Pray and reflect this week using the Wilderness Lent Devotional Booklet provided by Hood MCC. (Some readings and art included in weekly bulletin.)
Miss Sunday’s Message?
Read Pastor Jason’s Message: Into the Wilderness
Spirit Led
Artist Statement by Lauren Wright Pittman, from A Sanctified Art
I depicted Jesus divided, containing in his divinity all the stars and galaxies of the universe on the left , and the layered dust of his humanity on the right. For me, this text highlights the tension held within Jesus’ identity, particularly through the tempter’s efforts to lead Jesus toward his human nature while betraying his divinity. If Jesus were to succumb to the tempter’s requests, he would have access to the unlimited power, influence, and riches the world has to offer, which are referenced by the stacked, columned structures on the right side of the image. If Jesus chooses to resist the temptations and stay planted in the wilderness, honoring his divinity and call, he chooses the wilderness path—one that would ultimately lead to his demise.
Jesus’ ministry is defined by this standoff with the tempter. He is asked to turn stones into bread; instead he goes on to share meals with those deemed unworthy, and miraculously shares two loaves of bread with five thousand people. He is asked to stand on the pinnacle of the church and enlist the help of angels; instead he goes on to turn over tables protesting the temple’s entanglement with capitalism and greed. He is asked to take his place as earthly ruler over all; instead he will take the shape of a servant, dying a state-sanctioned death.
Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness immediately after being baptized. The wilderness has something to offer Jesus, and instead of taking a detour around it, he chooses to encounter its lessons. When we find ourselves in the wilderness places of life, may we take an open, curious posture, ready to be challenged, shaped, and sent.
PRAYER
Breathe deeply as you gaze upon the image on the left. Imagine placing yourself in this scene. What do you see? How do you feel? Get quiet and still, offering a silent or spoken prayer to God.
Sunday Evening Small Group
ITS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN!
5:00 pm – Meet at the Church, Pastor Study on Second Floor
Childcare Available
A Sunday evening small group will meet for 6 weeks to support you in examining your life and your relationship to God. Conversation and reflection will be fueled by David Platt’s Something Needs To Change.
If you have your life, your faith, and following Christ all figured out, then this study is not for you. But who are you kidding? None of us have it all figured out! We all need to examine the life to which Christ calls us.
There is a ministry burning within your heart. God has a mission in mind for you right where your great passion meets the world’s great need.
Will you have to re-prioritize your life? You betcha!
Will you find new depths of love for yourself and others? Guaranteed!
Welcome to the adventure that has been suppressed for oh so long!
This Week at Hood…
Wednesday, March 4 – 1:30 pm – Prayer & Bible Study Small Group
Thursday, March 5 – 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Pastor Jason at Inspirational Grounds for Drop-In Coffee & Conversation
Thursday, March 5 – 3:00 pm – Ladles of Love Meal Preparation & Delivery
Sunday, March 8 – 10:00 am – Sunday Morning Small Group
Sunday, March 8 – 11:00 am – Worship – Sermon: “Walking Through the Wilderness”
Sunday, March 8 – 5:00 pm – Sunday Evening Small Group (Location: Hood Mem. Christian Church)
Coming Events…
Friday, March 13th – Lunch- Church BBQ
Friday, March 13th – Saturday, March 14th – Dunn/Erwin Area Youth Rally