This is part of the worship series
"The Lord, Our Shepherd"
Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5
Palm Sunday | Maundy Thursday | Easter
Home Devotions
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Scripture
Psalm 5 (esp. vv. 7–8)
Sermon
“God Guidance?”
Sermon Ideas
An ad campaign by the American Dairy Association inspired the title of the message and the introduction I used. A website on calcium listed some of the essential reasons why we need milk in our life. These provided an easy springboard for me to list the reasons we need God’s guidance in our life. (Both calcium and Jesus (a) form and maintain us, (b) enable and promote healing, and (c) prevent hypertension and deformity.) From there we worked into the task of finding Jesus, which is what worship is about, as suggested in Psalm 5. We recognized the importance of righteousness, spoken of in Psalms 5 and 23, then focused on the provision of Jesus as “the righteous one” who is both our Shepherd and our sacrificial Lamb. Jesus’ sacrifice makes it possible to live in and be guided by the presence of God.
Song Suggestions
“He Leadeth Me” Gilmore
“Hear, O Lord, My Urgent Prayer” (Psalm 5) Post
“Lead Me, Guide Me” Akers
“Lead Me, Lord” Wesley, Strickling
“You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd” Dunstan
Litany of Confession
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Reader 1: |
Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. —Jeremiah 50:17 |
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Reader 2: |
My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. —Jeremiah 50:6 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray. —Isaiah. 53:6 |
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Reader 1: |
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? —Luke 15:4 |
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Reader 2: |
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. —Matthew 9:36 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. —Isaiah. 53:6 |
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Reader 1: |
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. —1 Peter 2:24 |
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Reader 2: |
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —1 Peter 2:25 |
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People: |
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. —Isaiah 53:6 |
Wednesday "Strolling With the Shepherd" Service
Reflective Music
“Healer of My Soul” Talbot
Opening Prayer
Gathering Litany
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his.
We are his people,
the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, and praise His name.
For the Lord is good,
and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
—Psalm 100 NIV
Hymn
“Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee” Van Dyke
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 139:7–10, John 16:12–16
[For each of the readings, take special note of what is said about "guidance".]
A Time of Reflection
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A Time of Prayer
Closing Song
“Take Time to Be Holy” Longstaff
Parting Scripture
Hebrews 12:1–3
Closing Prayer
Revised Common Lectionary
Years A, B, C: Lent—Ash Wednesday
Year A: Lent—Fourth Sunday in Lent
