Sermon:

Sermon preached by james-a-hackney-llp on February 22, 2026 (First Sunday in Lent, Lectionary A) at zion-episcopal-church-washington.

The Wilderness as a Place of Testing: The wilderness is a deliberate, Spirit-led space for stripping away distractions, honest self-examination, and encountering God.
The Three Temptations:
- Physical hunger: Resisted by quoting Deuteronomy ("One does not live by bread alone").
- Testing God's protection: Resisted by refusing to put God to the test.
- Power and possession: Resisted by declaring "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him."
Lent as Our Wilderness: Lent calls believers to examine what holds their loyalty (comfort, reputation, power) and to expose these idols.
Grounding in Scripture: Jesus resisted temptation using the Word of God, illustrating the necessity of Scripture for navigating faith's trials.

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