Lenten Experience Guide

What exactly is Lent? And why do we practice it?

Lent is a 40-day journey leading to Holy Week and Easter. For believers, this journey is focused on an intentional purpose to come to closer to Jesus. It's a time to press into various practices and listen to where God is leading and what he is doing in your heart.

| Four Minutes for 40 Days |

Lent is a dedicated time of saying yes to God. Each day we encourage you to P.R.A.Y.

Pause | Light a candle and center yourself

Reflect | Read the scripture for that day and reflect

Ask | What is God inviting me into? What truth can I marinate in?

Yield | Close in prayer surrendering to the Spirit's leading.

| Communion |

On the night before he was arrested, Jesus gathered around the table with his disciples. He did what Jesus always does – he took the old celebration of Passover (practiced by the people of God as a remembrance of their rescue out of slavery in Egypt) and made it new – breathing fresh meaning and symbolism into this breaking of bread and drinking of wine.

Communion is about remembering.

Remembering the cross and what Jesus did for us.

Remembering our brokenness.

Remembering the intensity of his love and all that it means for us.

When Jesus shared his Last Supper, it was around the table with friends.There is something special about sharing this practice together. Jesus knew we would need one another to keep these remembrances center of our hearts and at the forefront of our minds.

Within these next 40 days, we encourage you to gather at a table at least twice to experience communion with your family, friends, small groups, and/or neighbors. Together, let's remember Jesus' journey to the cross and remind one another of his unconditional love for us.

Engaging with Kids During Lent

Additional Resources

You can pick up a Lenten Experience Guide on Sunday mornings, or print your own.

If you would rather engage digitally, you're in the right place!

The Practices

Each practice can be used intentionally to bring you into the presence of God. You can use a different practice each day, a couple throughout the week, or just one.

Lectio Divina

This is not studying the Bible for knowledge, but for intimacy with God. It’s a mix of reading and praying – sitting in His presence with a reflective heart and no expectations other than dedicated time hearing what He wants to whisper to your soul.

Here is one of several ways to read in Lectio Divina; you’ll read the passage four times, and you can take some time in silence and/or prayer in between each reading...

Read | Read slowly and allow the story Jesus is telling to come alive. Be open to hearing from the Holy Spirit.

Meditate | Focus on a part of the passage you are drawn to, repeat it to yourself a couple of times, turning it over and over in your mind. What word or phrase is impressed on you?

Pray | Spend time praying from what the Scripture and the Holy Spirit has surfaced in you. What are you feeling? What might you need to confess? What do you want to ask for yourself or others?

Contemplate | Rest quietly in the words of Jesus. Take as much time in His presence as you are able. Let the words of Scripture move from your mind to your heart.

Fasting

For many, participating in Lent means fasting from something. Fasting means to give up something that is enjoyable, not as a punishment, but instead to pay more attention to God and make space to hear from Him.

A way to ‘empty us so that the Lord may fill us.’ - Thomas McKenzie

You may also choose to fast from harmful or negative things to intentionally make room for His good. Fasting from things that bring comfort, things that are unnecessary or things that are distracting and numbing can be a great way to remind us, many times a day, to go to God for His comfort and allow Him to have space to work.

Listening Prayer

Listening prayer slows us down. It is a shift from much of the praying we often do – talking and asking. Getting truly quiet and open enough to listen can be a challenge, but these quiet and still moments with God soften our hearts. As we just sit in His presence, we begin to notice and hear things we otherwise would miss.

Quiet | Take a few deep breaths, clear your mind of distraction. This will be hard at first, but every time your mind wanders, gently refocus. It will get easier the more you practice.

Listen | Ask Him to be with you. Tell Him that you intend to listen for anything He may want to say. Then do just that, sit quietly and listen. Start with just a couple of minutes and work your way up to longer periods of time as you get better at just being with Him.

Reflect | Take note of anything you feel that God impressed upon you during your listening. Maybe it was a Scripture or a song or a challenge to act. Are the things you hear Him saying consistent with His word?

This practice can also be done in a group setting or in conjunction with reading a passage from the Bible. Sit in the quiet and listen individually, then you can read and reflect together.

Visio Divina

Visio Divina (or divine seeing) is the practice of prayerfully inviting God to speak to your heart as you look at an image. Creativity is a gift from God, and we can use works of art to encounter Him. It can be done by yourself or with others, and is great to do with kids!

Find an image | You can use an image or real piece of any kind of art. Find some parable specific images on our Pulpit Rock Visio Divina Pinterest board. Ask the Lord to speak to you.

Focus small | Look at the image and let your eyes stay with the first thing you notice. Keep your focus on that small part for about a minute or so.

Focus on the whole | Now look at the entire image. Take your time and look at every part.

Reflect | How do you feel looking at the image? What does the image stir up in you? If you had to describe the image in a sentence or two what would you say? If you were in the image, where would you place yourself? Do you get a glimpse of the sacred from this image? What might God be saying to you through this image?

Pray | Finish with a prayer. If desired, keep the image in a place you can see it throughout the day. You can journal or practice your own creativity with the image and what He shows you as inspiration.

Additional Resources

Images

Books

On the Blog...

Lent

Should I Fast During Lent?

By Hannah Eads | March 15, 2022

A few thoughts and ideas to help you in your decision making about fasting during Lent.

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Lent

Why Parables?

By Caitlin Garrett & Jonathan Cleveland | March 8, 2022

Why are we focusing on the parables of Jesus during this season of Lent?

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Kids | Lent

How Do I Engage With My Kids During Lent?

By Lindsay Yochum | February 22, 2022

10 ways to engage with your kids during the season of Lent!

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