Embracing Renewal: The Journey of Lent
Summary
In this gathering, we embark on the sacred journey of Lent, a season that invites us to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to God. As we begin this journey on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of our humanity and mortality through the imposition of ashes, a symbol that connects us to the cycle of life and our need for Jesus and salvation. This season is not just about individual reflection but also about communal support and growth in our relationship with God and each other.
Lent is inspired by Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, where he faced temptation and emerged ready to begin his ministry. This period calls us to examine the things in our lives that may have become idols, distracting us from our spiritual growth. Whether it's technology, certain habits, or other distractions, Lent is a time to remove these barriers and focus on deepening our relationship with God. It's a personal journey, but one that is enriched by the support of our community.
We are encouraged to engage in daily practices that draw us closer to God, such as prayer, fasting, and acts of kindness. Psalm 51 and Joel 2 remind us of the importance of repentance and returning to God with all our hearts. These scriptures serve as a guide for our Lenten journey, encouraging us to seek God's mercy and grace as we strive to live in alignment with His will.
As we move through this season, we are reminded that we are not alone. We are part of a community that supports and uplifts each other. Sharing our struggles and triumphs with one another strengthens our bonds and helps us grow in faith. This journey is not about focusing on our inadequacies but embracing God's grace and love, which transform us daily.
Key Takeaways:
- Lent is a season of reflection and renewal, reminding us of our mortality and our need for Jesus. It is a time to pause and consider the things in our lives that may distract us from our spiritual growth. By removing these barriers, we can focus on deepening our relationship with God. [27:00]
- Inspired by Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, Lent calls us to examine the idols in our lives and remove them. This period is an opportunity to grow spiritually by focusing on practices that draw us closer to God, such as prayer, fasting, and acts of kindness. [30:14]
- Psalm 51 and Joel 2 serve as guides for our Lenten journey, encouraging us to seek God's mercy and grace. These scriptures remind us of the importance of repentance and returning to God with all our hearts, helping us align our lives with His will. [36:52]
- Lent is not just an individual journey but a communal one. Sharing our struggles and triumphs with others strengthens our bonds and helps us grow in faith. We are reminded that we are not alone and that our community supports and uplifts us. [42:16]
- The focus of Lent is not on our inadequacies but on God's grace and love, which transform us daily. This season invites us to embrace these gifts and be encouraged in our journey, knowing that God's presence is with us always. [55:55]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[06:42] - Call to Worship
[09:00] - Introduction to Lent
[12:00] - Significance of Ash Wednesday
[15:30] - Palm Sunday and Ashes
[27:00] - Remembering Our Mortality
[30:14] - Jesus' Temptation and Lent
[33:56] - Daily Practices for Lent
[36:52] - Psalm 51 and Repentance
[39:44] - Communal Support in Lent
[42:16] - Sharing and Accountability
[46:41] - Imposition of Ashes
[53:05] - Prayer by Thomas Merton
[55:55] - Embracing God's Grace
[01:13:58] - Dedication to God's Fast
[01:17:46] - Closing and Doxology
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Journey of Lent
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 4:1-14
2. Psalm 51:1-12
3. Joel 2:12-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, and how does it relate to the season of Lent? [30:14]
2. How are the ashes used on Ash Wednesday connected to Palm Sunday, and what do they symbolize about our humanity and mortality? [27:00]
3. According to Psalm 51, what are some of the key elements of repentance and seeking God's mercy?
4. In Joel 2, what actions does God call His people to take as they return to Him with all their hearts? [36:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' response to temptation in the wilderness serve as a model for us during Lent? What can we learn from His example? [30:14]
2. What does the act of placing ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday symbolize about our relationship with God and our community? [46:41]
3. How do the themes of repentance and renewal in Psalm 51 and Joel 2 guide us in our Lenten journey? What do these scriptures teach us about aligning our lives with God's will?
4. How does the communal aspect of Lent, as described in the sermon, enhance our personal spiritual growth? [42:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the distractions or idols in your life that may be hindering your spiritual growth. What specific steps can you take during Lent to remove these barriers and focus on deepening your relationship with God? [30:14]
2. Lent is a time for personal and communal reflection. How can you engage with your community to support each other in your spiritual journeys during this season? [42:16]
3. Consider incorporating daily practices such as prayer, fasting, or acts of kindness into your routine. Which practice resonates with you, and how can you commit to it during Lent? [33:56]
4. Psalm 51 emphasizes the importance of a clean heart and a right spirit. What specific area of your life do you feel needs renewal, and how can you seek God's help in this process?
5. Joel 2 calls for a return to God with all our hearts. What does wholehearted devotion look like for you, and how can you cultivate it in your daily life? [36:52]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of not focusing on our inadequacies but embracing God's grace and love. How can you shift your mindset to focus more on God's transformative power in your life? [55:55]
7. As you journey through Lent, how can you be intentional about sharing your struggles and triumphs with others to strengthen your faith community? [42:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Mortality and Seeking Jesus
Lent is a sacred season that invites individuals to pause, reflect, and renew their commitment to God. It begins with Ash Wednesday, where the imposition of ashes serves as a poignant reminder of our humanity and mortality. This symbol connects us to the cycle of life and underscores our need for Jesus and salvation. During Lent, we are encouraged to examine the distractions and idols in our lives that hinder our spiritual growth. By removing these barriers, we can focus on deepening our relationship with God. This journey is not only personal but also enriched by the support of our community, as we collectively strive to grow closer to God. [27:00]
"For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more." (Psalm 103:14-16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one distraction or idol in your life that you can set aside during this Lenten season to focus more on your relationship with God?
Day 2: Confronting Idols and Embracing Spiritual Growth
Inspired by Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness, Lent calls us to examine the idols in our lives and remove them. This period is an opportunity to grow spiritually by focusing on practices that draw us closer to God, such as prayer, fasting, and acts of kindness. By confronting the things that have become idols, whether they are habits, technology, or other distractions, we can create space for spiritual growth and renewal. This journey is deeply personal, yet it is also supported by the community around us, as we encourage one another to pursue a deeper relationship with God. [30:14]
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one habit or distraction that has become an idol in your life. How can you replace it with a spiritual practice that draws you closer to God during Lent?
Day 3: Repentance and Returning to God
Psalm 51 and Joel 2 serve as guides for our Lenten journey, encouraging us to seek God's mercy and grace. These scriptures remind us of the importance of repentance and returning to God with all our hearts. Lent is a time to reflect on our lives, acknowledge our shortcomings, and seek alignment with God's will. Through repentance, we open ourselves to God's transformative grace, allowing His love to renew and guide us. This process is not about focusing on our inadequacies but embracing the opportunity to grow in faith and live in accordance with God's desires for our lives. [36:52]
"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." (Joel 2:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to seek God's mercy and grace? How can you begin the process of repentance and returning to God with all your heart today?
Day 4: The Power of Community in Lent
Lent is not just an individual journey but a communal one. Sharing our struggles and triumphs with others strengthens our bonds and helps us grow in faith. We are reminded that we are not alone and that our community supports and uplifts us. By engaging with others, we can find encouragement and accountability, which are essential for spiritual growth. This communal aspect of Lent allows us to experience God's love and grace through the support and care of those around us, reinforcing the idea that we are all part of a larger spiritual family. [42:16]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support and accountability during this Lenten season? How can you also be a source of encouragement for someone else?
Day 5: Embracing God's Transformative Grace
The focus of Lent is not on our inadequacies but on God's grace and love, which transform us daily. This season invites us to embrace these gifts and be encouraged in our journey, knowing that God's presence is with us always. By acknowledging our need for God's grace, we open ourselves to His transformative power, allowing His love to shape and guide us. Lent is a time to reflect on the ways God's grace has impacted our lives and to seek His continued presence as we strive to live in alignment with His will. [55:55]
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
Reflection: How have you experienced God's grace in your life recently? In what ways can you embrace His transformative power during this Lenten season?
Quotes
"And so we get in this season of Lent a reminder that it is for 40 days in which we are to make an action, to grow, to take the things of this world that have easily overcome us and to remove them. To ask God these things that are tempting us in life, the simple simplicities of things too, the simplest of things too, which can overcome us and become more of an idol than an actual something that we need in our daily lives." [00:31:28] (49 seconds)
"These things that are meant for good that easily take over our lives and create separation. And so for 40 days as Christians, we are called into this season of Lent as on Ash Wednesday, the ashes are put on our head, and we are making covenant this day that for the next 40 days, we are going to try something. We are going to make an active decision each and every day to have something removed from this, from us, or have something that we have added on to our lives that make us, help us, guide us in growth with Jesus every single day." [00:32:34] (38 seconds)
"Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even infants at the breast." [00:37:08] (39 seconds)
"The moments that we are having in life, the things that we are going through, it's not to be hidden from God, but yet cry out to God. Because in the moments of temptation, in the moments of hurt, in the moments of pain, even in the moments of celebration and gladness, share that and be a part of that with God. And then at the last verse of that, I sort of ask a question. Can we go back to that real quickly? I'm sorry." [00:38:32] (30 seconds)
"It should be visible to others and to us as a community that it is our God who brings peace and who can guide and lead us during this beautiful season that we are now embarking upon. It is a season that calls for penitence. It is a season that calls for us to be reminded of who we are. It is a season to take action in our lives, to be present in the moment and to actively, every single moment, want, want to grow in relationship with God." [00:39:26] (48 seconds)
"Because, the season of Lent, Ash Wednesday, is not just a season of storm. Starting something that's about me and my relationship with God. But, it is also about the body's relationship with one another and with God. And, we can't do this alone. I think we can realize that if we have tried that, it is extremely hard to go at life alone. And, so, we need our brothers and sisters in this community, in this safe, trustworthy space." [00:42:16] (37 seconds)
"hear these words as the lenten season begins tonight know that god understands how we struggle to stay open and compassionate the invitation to receive these ashes upon our foreheads to make covenant to make decision to be active uh in living a a a new life or a or a deeper relationship with god that it's not an invitation is not to focus on our inadequacies but on god's gift of grace and love hear that again friends we may be making covenant or decisions tonight on how we want to move forward in this lenten season and let's be mindful again that we are human beings and we are going to make mistakes and so what this is saying what i am telling you what this prayer says is to not focus on the inadequacies that we have do not focus knowing that we're going to make a mistake and beat ourselves up over it but to know that we can move through that even in this season of lent to know that god's gift of grace and love continues to be with us which transforms our hearts and our minds daily that gift is given to us again tonight here and now may we be encouraged so you're invited as you feel led to come and i will i will place upon your head we can pray together if there's a prayer you want just something you want to share and we pray about it as i place that upon your forehead we can do that too so just come as you feel led and um yeah here we are" [00:56:30] (120 seconds)
"Dedicate yourselves to the fast God chooses. Loosening the yoke of bondage. Declaring freedom to the oppressed. Offering food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless. Then your light shall break forth like dawn. And the glory of the Lord will shine upon you. He will hear your cry and be at your side. Now and forevermore. Friends as we leave tonight." [01:13:41] (28 seconds)
"God's presence goes before you. God's presence goes with you. And God's presence will follow up behind you. So whatever it is in this time and in this moment right here and right now. Whatever it will be for you as we lead into this season headed into Easter. May you know the presence of God in and with you from now and forevermore. So let's grab a hand. Let's sing together the doxology which is a praise to God. And then let's go forth and share with others the love of God that God shares with us." [01:14:47] (36 seconds)
"Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. There's a prayer that we're going to join in together as we go into this time of receiving the sign of the cross upon our foreheads and making a decision tonight on how we will walk these next 40 days with God." [00:54:44] (46 seconds)