A study about Lent
Two of the most common questions I hear when I mention that we are doing a Lenten study. Honestly, up until last year, I never really understood it's purpose myself. Growing up in the church, I just thought that it was something we did around Easter. I would joke with my Catholic friends in college when they were giving up things like chocolate or soap operas for Lent. I thought that I had it easy because I didn't have to give up anything (I was Baptist) and I thought that it was stupid giving up things to get into Heaven. But really, Lent is much more than that.
Merrium-Webster online dictionary give the definition of Lent as this: "the 40 weekdays from Ash Wedneday to Easter observed by the Roman Catholic, Eastern, and some Protestant churches as a period of penitence and fasting." That doesn't really help you out much, does it? I know that it sure doesn't give me a whole lot of insight to what the Lenten season is all about.
Here's what the Wikipedia has to say about Lent: "The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer--through prayer, penitence, almsgiving, and self-denial--for the commemoration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, as celebrated during Holy Week, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ." You can check out the link if you want to read the whole definition, but there's a general idea. Lent is preparing your heart for the death and resurrection of Jesus.
What do you mean? Well, let's look at some symbols we associate Easter with...Eggs, Candy, Easter Bunny...no not that...look deeper...the cross. The cross, where Jesus died, for my sin, your sin, everyone's sins...he did this willingly for us. That's what the Lent season is about, the ultimate sacrifice. We need to prepare our hearts, get rid of our sin, so that we can celebrate and rejoice in the fact that Jesus died and then rose again so that we may have an eternal life with him in Heaven. He loved us that much and for that we need to get rid of the things that hinder us from having a true relationship with him.
What are things that hinder you from having a true relationship with Christ? What is something that you need to let go of this Lenten season?
Listed below are the focus for each of the lessons that we will be covering in our Lenten study, as well as the dates that we will be doing each of these lessons.
January 27th: Repentance: Ash Wednesday
Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
February 10th: Temptation: The First Sunday in Lent
Hebrews 4:15: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin
February 17th: Following Jesus: The Second Sunday in Lent
Mark 8:34b: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
February 24th: Faithfulness: The Third Sunday in Lent
Luke 16:10a: Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much
March 2nd: Calling: The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:6b: Rejoice with me, for I have found me sheep that was lost
March 9th: Devotion: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"
March 16th: Sacrifice: Palm Sunday
1 Peter 1:6b-7: For a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith...may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
March 21st: Fear: Good Friday-Lenten All Nighter starting at 6:30pm-8am.
Mark 15:32a: Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.
We will not be meeting Easter Sunday!!!
March 30th: Hope: Easter Sunday
1 Corinthians 15:19-20: If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.