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These sermons are presented by Dr. Charles W. Christian. Charles is pastor of the North Seattle Church of the Nazarene in Seattle, Washington.
Jesus’ time of fasting in the wilderness—the sermon
which begins our Lent series this year—was not only a time of giving
up, it was also an opportunity for Jesus, who allowed himself to be limited
to space and time during His incarnation, to spend extra time with the Father.
The Gospel writers demonstrate that Jesus’ time of devotion, reflection
and fasting in the wilderness allowed Him opportunity for a further demonstration
of His power over the temptations of the devil.
All the sermons in the lectionary for the season of Lent focus
on aspects of God’s long journey toward us, and our long journey with
God. This journey involves patience and trust, even when we’re being
pounded by temptations and discomfort. The first sermon of the season of Lent
becomes the lens through which we view our journey toward Easter. It also
sets the tone for the kind of life we will live as Christians who are, in
the words of Paul, “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and
yet display the life of Christ within us.
The journey into Lent is a journey that parallels the temptations,
sufferings and the victories of Jesus in the wilderness. It will not be easy,
but it will prepare all of us to trust God more despite the trials and temptations
that the enemy sends our way.
If your church does not celebrate (or has not lately celebrated) Lent, you
might be surprised (as I was) at how open and excited they will be to participate
in this important season of the Church year. At my church, we provide small
devotional/prayer guides that walk families and individuals through every
day of Lent. Also, we have special prayer gatherings each week of Lent that
focus upon prayer, fasting and other Christian disciplines. A focused celebration
of Lent (including special services for Holy Week) gives Easter an added depth
of meaning to pastor and congregation alike!
The sermons for the season after Easter are provided by Dan Meek. Rev. Meek is pastor of the Canadian Hills Church of the Nazarene in Yukon, Oklahoma.
Easter will probably be your largest crowd at a worship service
all year. The music will be powerful and well rehearsed. You will have honed
and sharpened your sermon and delivered it with uncommon energy. It is the
climax of the church year and all the buildup for that day can lead to a very
important question: “What am I going to preach the week after Easter?”
The truth is we celebrate Easter on a day in the spring, but that day gives
us resurrection-tinted lenses through which to view the whole year, and all
of life. The following six sermons can be described as the echoes of resurrection.
The first four can be called The Songs of the Spring. The first
two, April 15, from Psalm 116, and April 22, from Psalm 31, could be a series
called Songs of Deliverance, first from the snares of death and then from
the hidden net that seems to capture our time. April 29, The Song of the Storm
from Psalm 29, could also be called Give Credit Where Credit is Due. In the
middle of the thunderstorm season, this sermon attempts to tune our ears to
hear the voice of God, even in the storm. May 6, The Song of Creation displays
the majesty of God in His creation, and His sovereignty in our obedient care
for the world He loves so much.
The final two sermons are a couple of stand alone messages that speak from scripture to events that take place in the spring. A Leading Lady uses the occasion of Mother’s Day to allow the story of Lydia from Acts 16 to address the subject of women in leadership. (This one is not a psalm, and therefore not technically a song). The Places We’ll Go uses graduation as a pretext for the description in Psalm 139 of our God that knows us and pursues us wherever we go, whatever our age.