Lenten Study Companion - Week 1

For the 2011 Lenten Season, our pastors, in both our traditional sanctuary services as well as our contemporary Lifeline service, will lead us in a sermon series entitled "If..." The idea behind this series is to look at Jesus' teachings in the Gospels that begin with this powerful conditional part of speech. For example, the first sermon in this series is from Mark 8:34 - "He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me'."

In addition to this series, we have developed a small study companion that the congregation can use throughout the week that correlates to the sermon. Here is this week's Lenten Study Companion:

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Many of us understand Lent as a time of year where for forty days we give something up – chocolate, Facebook, fast food, late night television and so forth. This season of sacrifice is important; it helps redirect our focus to God. Some men and women reach a point in their faith where they practice this sort of sacrifice weekly or sometimes bi-weekly; going from sunrise to sunset consuming nothing but water or the occasional glass of fruit juice.

However, there is a distinction we must make between sacrifice and the spiritual discipline of fasting. We tend to think of sacrifice as “going without,” whereas in fasting, we are wise to think of it as “going with.” We don’t sacrifice during Lent to demonstrate to God that we can go without the pleasures of this world; we fast so that we may open ourselves up to go with God. When we rid our lives of just a fraction of the noise and volume with which they are so filled, we create an opportunity for our own hearts and minds to hear the whispering guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Lent is a time of readying ourselves for the crucifixion and death of Jesus the Christ, just as much as it is a time of preparing for the celebration of The Resurrection. To deny ourselves and to take up our crosses is to engage in a life of “going with,” of allowing our words, thoughts and deeds to be informed and guided by the movement of God’s grace.

Reflection Questions:

• What distracts you most from experiencing God’s movement within you and in the world around you?
• What might God be speaking to you in the quietness of your heart? Or through the words of a friend or loved one?
• Read the next verse in this passage, Mark 8:35. How do you feel about the idea of having to “lose your life” in order to save it?

Practices of Preparation:

• PRAYERS - pray for the lay, staff, and clergy leadership of the church
• PRESENCE - come to a church event this week in addition to worship
• GIFTS - offer to buy a stranger's meal or cup of coffee
• SERVICE - open the door for someone and instead of saying "thank you," say "may God bless you"
• WITNESS - share with someone how you experienced God by practices one of the four things listed above

Yours,

Michael C. Andres

Director of Discipleship