Lent 2019: Making Room
In conjunction with our new sermon series, “Making Room,” we will be partaking in a 40-day partial fast to celebrate the season of Lent.
What is Lent?
Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. The Lenten season is marked by a period of 40 days where many of us as followers of Jesus observe a period of fasting, moderation, self-denial and spiritual discipline. During these six weeks, Christians who observe Lent typically make a commitment to fast or “give up” something: a habit (such as watching Netflix, social media, smoking), or a food or drink (such as meat, sweets, coffee, alcohol). In place of these things, Christians also take on a Lenten discipline such as reading the Bible or committing themselves to early morning prayer to draw nearer to God. The goal of these spiritual disciplines is to strengthen the faith of the observer and develop a closer relationship with God.
This year, Lent begins on the evening of Ash Wednesday, March 6 and concludes on Saturday, April 20.
Why Lent?
Our prayer and hope is that as we partake in observing Lent this season, we will be able to
Create more room and space in our hearts for Jesus
Free up more of our time, energy, and resources to bless others in the name of Jesus.
In essence, we partake in Lent to create space in our hearts and in our lives to fulfill the Great Commandment in Matthew 22:37-40:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
“What should I give up for Lent?”
I will be addressing this in more detail starting Sunday, March 3 as part of the “Making Room” series. However, here are a few helpful questions to help you prayerfully consider what you might “give up” for Lent.
What is something that takes up a lot of your personal time/energy? (e.g. social media, news, fantasy sports, video games, Netflix/Hulu, etc.)
What is something that you regularly spend money on? (e.g. daily morning latte at Starbucks or favorite coffee shop, shopping, eating out, etc.)
What is something that gives you a great sense of delight or joy? (e.g. your favorite food/drink/sweets, traveling/trips, etc.)
What is a bad habit or vice that you should abstain from? (e.g. smoking, gambling, etc.)
Please prayerfully consider joining us as we embark on this 40 day Lenten journey as a spiritual family. Join us Sunday, March 3 to commit together as a house, or download the commitment card below.