Lent 1 C: Trusting God, Wilderness Times

There is an updated 2022 version of this post with more resources - see my archive at left

Bible Readings: Luke 4:1-13
Theme: Trusting God, Wilderness Times

About the photo: Lightning Ridge - northern New South Wales, Australia
Drama: A Very Reasonable Man
Found in Stages on the Way by Wild Goose Worship Group, Wild Goose, 1998, ISBN 1876357363, page 29 (pictured).
Introductory Discussion Questions: About the drama and any pictures you can show of the devil
How have the artists portrayed the devil? Why?
In the drama, what sort of voice does the devil have? Why?
Story: The Indian and the Rattlesnake
Second last story on the temptation page at www.sermonillustrations.com
Story: Don't Forget to Look After Me
By Max Lucado in the conclusion of his book, In The Grip of Grace, Word Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0849911435 (pictured).
Prayer: Stone Prayers
Give everyone a stone which they can hold comfortably (size wise) and which has both smooth and rough surfaces. Encourage them to shut their eyes in prayer. Ask them to feel the rough surfaces and to think of the rough (hard) areas in their lives at the moment. Encourage them to silently ask God for help with regard to these areas. Then ask them to feel the smooth surfaces and to think of the things in their lives that they are grateful for - the things that make them happy and give them joy. Encourage them to pray silently thanking God for these things.
NB 1. Depending on where you live - enough suitable stones might be hard to find. I dug up a bit of our gravel driveway! Sometimes plant nurseries sell stones but they are often too smooth - you may have to search though the bags to find a suitable lot.
NB 2. I did this first six years ago and met a lady just recently who keeps the stone from that service on a shelf which she passes each morning as soon as she gets up. She still starts each day with a "rough" help prayer and a "smooth" thank you prayer :-)