Sermon 03-13-11 "When It All Falls Apart - Temptation in the Christian Life"

We describe certain events as “life-shattering.” It feels like we have been broken into a million little pieces, and we struggle to put them back together. In this penitential season of Lent, we pick up the pieces, making sense of life’s chaos. Shattered pieces leave us wondering, “Why is this happening? What is going on? Why can’t I control this?” Through stories of Jesus in the gospel of John, we look at pieces like confusion, the past, tragedy, grief, and suffering. We take these pieces and interpret them through the lens of the cross event.

I have a sin of fear

That when I've spun my last thread,

I shall perish on the shore;

Swear by thyself, that at my death

Thy Son shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore.

And having done that, thou hast done, I fear no more.

John Donne (1573-1631)

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