What is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period built around three traditional pillars: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It's a time of preparation for Easter when the Resurrection Jesus is celebrated. During Lent, prayer is made by studying the Bible, serving others by giving alms, and developing self-control by fasting.
It’s a 40-day period to commemorate the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.
Why is it observed in Christianity?
Lent is a period of self-discipline that is still commemorated by Christians all over the globe as a way to prepare us for Easter, which is considered the holiest day of the year as it commemorates Jesus's resurrection.
Living out Your Lent: 6 Perspectives of understanding the pillars of Lent
Perspective 1: Deception (Alms & Prayer)
[Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-6 NIV]
• POINT: Lent is a time to take off our masks and come as we are. Who we are is enough.
• Q1. What masks do we need to remove?
Perspective 2: Testing (Fasting, & Testing)
[Jesus was tested in the wilderness in Luke 4:1-13 NIV] …His responses to the devil:
1. “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’.” vs. 4.
2. “It is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’.” vs. 8.
3. “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
• Lent is a time to test our steadfastness to trust in God in all things.
• Q2. What are we dealing with that is testing our trust in the OMNIS God?
Perspective 3:Persecution(Pushing through Persecution)
[READ Luke 13:31-35 NIV – Jesus’ response to some Pharisees who told him that Herod wanted to kill him]
• Lent is a time to let go of our fear of people, the sin of comparison, or any other things that plague us.
• Q3. What’s that thing(s) that makes us flee from living out God’s purpose for us?
Perspective 4:Repentance(Repentance is Essential)
[Jesus declared in Luke 13:3 & 5 NIV, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
• Lent is a time to open the intimate and dirtiest parts of our closets and let God clean it out.
• Q4. What are some ways we need to open the closets of our hearts, minds, and souls to God?
Perspective 5:Sacrifice(Mary’s Costly Perfume)
[In John 12:1-8, Mary took about a pint of her expense perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wipe his feet with her hair.]
• Lent is a time to willingly give all we have to God.
• Q5. What might we generously give to God. If it doesn’t cost you, it’s not a sacrifice.
Perspective 6:Demonstration(Living it out beyond the 40-days)
[Psalms 118:1-4 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say, his love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron say, his love endures forever. Let those who fear the Lord say, his love endures forever.”]
[Continue reading Psalms 118:19-29] – When there is consistent Thanksgiving, in our heart and lips, we live like citizens of heaven, not just for 40 days, but for a lifetime.
• Lent is a time to evaluate the purpose of our lives.
• Q6.What might it look like for us to proceed with righteous intent?
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