Your March 17th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

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Lectionary Readings — Fifth Sunday in Lent — March 17, 2024

Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

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Call to Worship (based on John 12:20-33)

Leader: As we gather on this fifth Sunday of Lent, we recall the words of Jesus, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified."

People: We come, seeking to see Jesus, to know Him more deeply, and to follow Him more closely.

Leader: Jesus teaches us, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

People: We come, ready to die to ourselves, to let go of what we hold dear, in order to bear fruit in His name.

Leader: "Whoever loves their life loses it, and whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

People: We come, willing to lose our life for Christ's sake, that we might find true life in Him.

Leader: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

People: We come to worship, drawn to Jesus, lifted up, who calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

All: Let us worship God, who through Christ transforms death into life, and despair into hope. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Let us pray,

Gracious and Everlasting God, as we gather on this fifth Sunday of Lent, our hearts are turned towards the promise of a new covenant, one that You have written not on tablets of stone, but on the very fabric of our hearts. In the words of the prophet Jeremiah, we hear Your pledge to be our God and to welcome us as Your people, knowing You intimately and fully, from the least to the greatest among us.

Lord, we marvel at Your mercy, at Your willingness to forgive our iniquity and remember our sin no more. In this time of reflection and anticipation, we confess that too often we have strayed from Your ways, forgetting Your laws and ignoring Your voice that whispers in the depths of our souls. Yet, Your love remains steadfast, calling us back to You with cords of kindness and bands of love.

As we move closer to the mystery of the cross and the victory of the resurrection, renew in us the covenant You have promised. Write Your law within us, engrave it on our hearts that we might truly be Your people, reflecting Your justice, love, and mercy in a world desperate for signs of hope.

Help us, O God, to understand the depth of Your love and the breadth of Your forgiveness. Teach us to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved, and to extend the grace we have so freely received. May the knowledge of Your covenant inspire us to live lives marked by faithfulness, to seek justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with You.

In this time of worship, open our ears to hear Your word, open our eyes to see Your presence among us, and open our hearts to receive the new thing You are doing. Transform us by the renewing of our minds, that we may discern Your will—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who has sealed the new covenant in His blood, offering us the promise of life eternal. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

Title: Embracing Transformation – John 12:20-33

Introduction:

• Begin with the context of Jesus’ final days, as the shadow of the cross looms large. Within this poignant moment, a request from some Greeks serves as a catalyst for Jesus to share profound truths about His mission and the nature of true discipleship.

I. Desire to See Jesus (John 12:20-22)

• Point: A simple request from Greeks, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus,” reveals a universal yearning to understand and connect with Christ.

• Application: Encourage the congregation to reflect on their own desire to see Jesus in their lives. Discuss the importance of seeking a deeper, more personal relationship with Him, beyond just a surface-level acquaintance.

II. Death Leads to Life (John 12:23-26)

• Point: Jesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat dying to produce many seeds, illustrating the paradox that death leads to life. His impending death will bring forth abundant life for all who believe.

• Application: Challenge the congregation to consider what needs to 'die' in their lives (selfish ambitions, pride, sin) to produce fruit. Emphasize the call to follow Jesus, even to the point of losing one’s life for His sake, as the path to finding true life.

III. Divine Glory Through Suffering (John 12:27-28)

• Point: Jesus acknowledges His troubled soul in the face of suffering, yet He remains committed to the purpose for which He came—to glorify God’s name. His submission to God’s will in suffering is an integral part of His glorification.

• Application: Discuss how we, too, are called to glorify God through our trials and sufferings. Encourage the congregation to trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness, even when facing personal struggles.

IV. Drawing All to Salvation (John 12:31-33)

• Point: Jesus announces the judgment of the world and the defeat of Satan, stating that His crucifixion will draw all people to Himself. This act of self-sacrifice becomes the means of salvation for the world.

• Application: Highlight the magnetic power of the cross, which draws people from all walks of life. Encourage the congregation to embrace the cross, not only as the symbol of salvation but as a call to bring others to Jesus through their witness and testimony.

Conclusion:

• Reiterate the central message of the passage: Jesus’ path through suffering and death to glory and life is both a pattern for His followers and the means by which He draws all people to Himself. Challenge the congregation to actively seek Jesus, to embrace the necessary deaths in their discipleship journey, to find purpose in suffering, and to join in His mission of drawing others to salvation.

• Close with a prayer for the courage to follow Jesus’ example, asking for the grace to let go of what holds us back, to endure trials with faith, and to live lives that reflect His love and sacrifice.

Closing Prayer:

• Pray for the congregation’s commitment to living out the truths of the sermon in the coming week, asking for God’s guidance and strength to embody the lessons of sacrifice, service, and salvation.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers