After his baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where he ate nothing for forty days. The devil tempted him three times: to change a stone into a loaf of bread, to fall down and worship the devil (with the benefit of the authority and glory of the world’s kingdoms), and to cast himself from the pinnacle of the Temple in order to be rescued by angels. In every case, Jesus answered the tempter with a word of Scripture. In every regard, Jesus resisted the temptations of the devil, and when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Jesus until an opportune time.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Thank you, heavenly Father, for the gift and the power of your Word, the Scriptures. As Jesus defeated the enemy’s lies in the wilderness, so grant us the grace to remember and use your holy Word in every situation where the enemy seeks to overwhelm us or distract us from your will. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Te Deum Laudamus 
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction 
Lord Jesus, you withstood the temptations of the devil by quoting the Word of God as the final authority. You declared that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. As you rebuffed the devil by the Word of God, so equip us to use that same Word to stand our ground and withstand the temptations and lies of the enemy. Do this for your sake, O Lord, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus, who triumphantly silenced the tempter through the Spirit’s power, teach us your Scripture that we may answer his lies with your truth.

Weekly Reflection on the Priesthood of all Believers
Members of Christ’s royal priesthood know that while we share in Christ’s royal priesthood, we are not Christ. On this side of eternity we battle the flesh, the world, and the devil. Our reading of Scripture reflects these influences that war on our souls.

~ Uche Anizor and Hank Voss. Representing Christ.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2016. p. 133.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
That I May Gain Christ, Philippians 3.4-14

Book Reading
Fish and Conant, Every Member Evangelism for Today

Our Corporate Disciplines
Concert of Prayer: Tuesday, March 8, 2022