What Are You Doing for Lent?

For years I was confused about Lent.  Growing up in the mid-west I was surrounded by Catholics who faithfully ate fish on Friday.  But all of the dots weren’t connected for me.  I didn’t understand the significance of the sacrifice that marks the season of Lent.

Quite simply Lent “is the moment in the church calendar when we prepare our hearts and minds for the resurrection of Jesus at Easter.”

Sometimes that season of preparation means giving up something significant other times it means doing something purposeful.

This year, Margaret Feinberg has invited all of us to join her in reading the New Testament during this season of Lent.  I’m committed and I would love for you to join us too!  Margaret and several others of us will be sharing our thoughts and insights each week as we read.  We would love to create great conversations from which we are all growing, learning and preparing our hearts for Easter.

“I believe in these 40 days that God wants to speak to you through Scripture. He has words that are written just for your heart, just for this time, and just for what’s coming around the corner.” ~ Margaret Feinberg

We will launch into this #LentChallenge on Wednesday, March 5, wrapping up on Easter (April 20th). Our hope and prayer is that at the end of the next 40 days, you’ll be so spiritually full, you’ll never want to live on empty again.

 

What You Need:

1. A copy of the FREE Lent Challenge: 40 Day New Testament Reading Guide PDF download. (Click here to download and print).

2. The Bible in your favorite translation. (Or download a copy of the Audio Bible. Or download the YouVersion app)

3. A prayerful heart—ready and expectant for what God has to teach you in the next 40 days.

Here’s how it works:

1. Carve out 30 minutes to read the Bible each day. The New Testament contains 260 chapters. That means reading the Bible in 40 days requires reading about 7 chapters per day. About 30 minutes a day for forty days—and you’ll journey through the entire New Testament. This may mean logging off Facebook, deleting Candy Crush or Flappy Bird from your phone, or waiting to watch the latest episode of Duck Dynasty until later.

2. Invite someone to join you. No matter what challenge or goal you set, it’s always easier when you have someone to cheer you on, hold you accountable, and adventure alongside of you. Ask your small group, Women’s Bible study, congregation, neighbor, co-worker, in-law, or spouse to join you! Invite non-believers to join you and learn more about Jesus.

3. Share what you’re learning on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or your own blog using the hashtag: #LentChallenge. What stood out to you from the reading? What verse did you see in a whole new light? What’s the ache of your heart and desire for God? We want to know and celebrate what God is revealing to you during these 40 days. Join our community—there’s plenty of room for you.

4. If you miss a day, pick up where you left off. No guilt. No shame. Just more Jesus every day!

 Are you in?

I hope so!

And if you’re interested in helping to share this with others, you can go grab pics, resources and extra info at Margaret’s site.

I’m praying that this season of Lent will lead us closer to Jesus than ever before!