Lent at Southside
Week 6
We have reached the final week of Lent. At the end, we will celebrate with hearts full of gladness and voices loud with praise. We will not celebrate because our time of fasting and reflection is complete. We will celebrate because we remember the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Although every Sunday is a mini celebration of the resurrection, next week we especially commemorate that miraculous event, proclaiming to one another, “He is risen!”
This final week of Lent presents seemingly conflicting themes, each clamoring for our attention in our worship. It begins with Palm Sunday where we sing “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We rejoice because the means of our justification is right around the corner. Then comes Thursday, bringing with it the betrayal of Jesus and the anguish in the garden. The only event that could surpass the injustice of those events is the one which makes possible the justification we celebrate - Friday’s crucifixion of a perfectly innocent and sinless Son of God. “He became sin who knew no sin.” Praise God because we know that Sunday’s coming.
As you wrap up this season of fasting and prayer, reflect on the changes the Spirit has wrought in your life. What new habits or practices did you begin as a concerted effort to grow in holiness? What old habits or practices of sin did the Spirit reveal and then you subsequently confessed? In what areas did you grow in grace? How has the Spirit’s fruit become more evident in your life?
Here are some passages to help begin your reflection and worship this Holy Week.
This final week of Lent presents seemingly conflicting themes, each clamoring for our attention in our worship. It begins with Palm Sunday where we sing “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” We rejoice because the means of our justification is right around the corner. Then comes Thursday, bringing with it the betrayal of Jesus and the anguish in the garden. The only event that could surpass the injustice of those events is the one which makes possible the justification we celebrate - Friday’s crucifixion of a perfectly innocent and sinless Son of God. “He became sin who knew no sin.” Praise God because we know that Sunday’s coming.
As you wrap up this season of fasting and prayer, reflect on the changes the Spirit has wrought in your life. What new habits or practices did you begin as a concerted effort to grow in holiness? What old habits or practices of sin did the Spirit reveal and then you subsequently confessed? In what areas did you grow in grace? How has the Spirit’s fruit become more evident in your life?
Here are some passages to help begin your reflection and worship this Holy Week.
- Isaiah 42:1-9
- Psalm 118:1-2,19-29
- Hebrews 9:11-15
- Matthew 21:1-11
Week 5
Four and a half weeks ago we began preparing to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by commencing a seven week journey of prayer and fasting. We have offered our lives as acts of worship. We can sing praises to him as part of that worship because of what he has done during this time. Sing his praise because he has:
This week, use these passages to add to the praises you can sing in his honor. Sing of the new heart he has given you. Sing of his Spirit’s leading. Sing of his power over death and hell.
- Identified even the smallest of distractions that pull your attention away from him
- Empowered you to resist returning to those desires
- Revealed a clearer picture of his glory to you
- Convicted you of sin and given you a heart of repentance so that you can confess it and receive forgiveness
- Reminded you of his unfailing faithfulness throughout human history, from the first moments after the fall of mankind to the giving of his son on the cross to our current day
- Sealed you with his Holy Spirit, giving you hope and a guarantee of eternal life
- Given you faith to believe in him and to daily follow him, even when your flesh is weak
This week, use these passages to add to the praises you can sing in his honor. Sing of the new heart he has given you. Sing of his Spirit’s leading. Sing of his power over death and hell.
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
- Psalm 130
- Romans 8:6-11
- John 11:1-45
Week 4
We have reached the midway point of Lent. We hope that as we inch closer to the celebration of Resurrection of our Lord that you have grown closer to Him as well. Our desire is that we all have grown more like Him during this time. The only way to become more like Him is to become less like us.
If you have prior experience observing Lent, chances are good that the idea of removing things from your life was a major part of that observance. Do a quick internet search on the purpose of Lent and you will discover that Lent is a time of fasting, repentance, and discipline. There’s a certain appeal to those practices because we feel like these are actions WE can do. WE can make the decision to give something up for a period of time. WE can decide to get up a little earlier so we can pray more or read our Bible more.
However, we forget why we remove those things and we forget to replace them with something better. If Lent is only about repentance and reflection, then it becomes just another form of glorifying ourselves in how spiritual we can be. Yes, WE can remove habits, activities, and substances from our lives, but sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the true goal. And honestly, we can’t even see the things we need to remove without the Spirit’s help.
As you meditate on the passages below, thank the Spirit for pointing out those sins you have ignored before. Ask him to continue to bear fruit in your life and make you more like Him.
If you have prior experience observing Lent, chances are good that the idea of removing things from your life was a major part of that observance. Do a quick internet search on the purpose of Lent and you will discover that Lent is a time of fasting, repentance, and discipline. There’s a certain appeal to those practices because we feel like these are actions WE can do. WE can make the decision to give something up for a period of time. WE can decide to get up a little earlier so we can pray more or read our Bible more.
However, we forget why we remove those things and we forget to replace them with something better. If Lent is only about repentance and reflection, then it becomes just another form of glorifying ourselves in how spiritual we can be. Yes, WE can remove habits, activities, and substances from our lives, but sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is the true goal. And honestly, we can’t even see the things we need to remove without the Spirit’s help.
As you meditate on the passages below, thank the Spirit for pointing out those sins you have ignored before. Ask him to continue to bear fruit in your life and make you more like Him.
- 1 Samuel 16:1-13
- Psalm 23
- Ephesians 5:8-14
- John 9:1-41
Week 3
It’s easy to point the finger at the ancient Israelites and call out their repeated failure to trust in God. We are amazed when they grumble, even in the immediate days following one of the many acts of deliverance he performed on their behalf. No matter how many times he provided for them, the Israelites could not be satisfied on their journey to the Promised Land. When we are honest in our study of Scripture, we can easily see our own faults reflected in these same actions. We question God when we lack the financial resources to make our lives comfortable. We label any hardship or inconvenience as suffering. We proclaim the sovereignty of God, yet wrestle him for control of our lives.
When you have recognized and confessed your own sin of not trusting God, what happens next? Do you acknowledge the resource, ability, or person you trust more than God? Do you remove that idol from your life? Do you change the habits of your life so that your faith in God grows? Or do you thank God for the momentary relief and return to life as usual?
As we march steadily toward the cross during the season of Lent, worship Him who is faithful to all his promises, despite our faithlessness. Praise the Father, perfect in Holiness, who sent his Son to fulfill the promise of salvation. Glorify the Son whose perfect life makes our re-creation possible. Worship with hearts full of thankfulness the Spirit who convicts and guides our hearts.
This week, meditate on these passages. Ask God to reveal to you how these truths and events apply to you. Thank God for his continued faithfulness to you so that you might continually trust in him.
When you have recognized and confessed your own sin of not trusting God, what happens next? Do you acknowledge the resource, ability, or person you trust more than God? Do you remove that idol from your life? Do you change the habits of your life so that your faith in God grows? Or do you thank God for the momentary relief and return to life as usual?
As we march steadily toward the cross during the season of Lent, worship Him who is faithful to all his promises, despite our faithlessness. Praise the Father, perfect in Holiness, who sent his Son to fulfill the promise of salvation. Glorify the Son whose perfect life makes our re-creation possible. Worship with hearts full of thankfulness the Spirit who convicts and guides our hearts.
This week, meditate on these passages. Ask God to reveal to you how these truths and events apply to you. Thank God for his continued faithfulness to you so that you might continually trust in him.
- Exodus 17:1-7
- Psalm 95
- Romans 5:1-11
- John 4:5-42
Week 2
Remember the colorful bows and lights, the fresh smell of the evergreen tree, the anticipation of gifts and the birth of the Savior? And remember how we started celebrating one month out and how each week we lit a candle to remind us of all the good things the season celebrates? We did use purple candles to remind us to have an attitude of repentance because we were preparing for the return of the Savior. But it was hard to be somber about repentance with so much cheerfulness around us.
You might be thinking, “Lent is so depressing.” We put sackcloth and ashes, symbols of repentance and mourning, at the front of church for our worship services. We are encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines of denial such as fasting. In about six weeks we will have a special service that commemorates the crucifixion of our Lord. Yes, Lent truly is somber.
Somehow, we mentally and emotionally disconnect our anticipation of Resurrection Sunday from the season of Lent. Resurrection Sunday is the greatest day of the year for Christians. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity; our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Resurrection Sunday is a celebration of power over sin and death. Lent prepares us for that celebration. How can we celebrate the gift of eternal life if we are not reminded of how we were powerless and dead in our trespasses? How can we rejoice in the security and assurance of our salvation unless we are reminded of the daily struggle against our flesh?
Yes, Lent truly is somber. While we may be intently focused on our sins right now, we do so because we know we worship the same faithful God whose faithfulness we proclaimed with a candle during Advent. We might mourn for our sin, but the promise of forgiveness allows for the joy we celebrated by changing those candles from purple to pink one week. Though Lent calls attention to our continued falling short of His glory, we know we are sealed with the Spirit that granted us the hope and peace for which we gave thanks just a few months ago.
This week, thank God for the faith in Him that He divinely gives to us. Meditate on these verses to prepare the hearts of your family for the celebration of the glorious resurrection.
You might be thinking, “Lent is so depressing.” We put sackcloth and ashes, symbols of repentance and mourning, at the front of church for our worship services. We are encouraged to practice spiritual disciplines of denial such as fasting. In about six weeks we will have a special service that commemorates the crucifixion of our Lord. Yes, Lent truly is somber.
Somehow, we mentally and emotionally disconnect our anticipation of Resurrection Sunday from the season of Lent. Resurrection Sunday is the greatest day of the year for Christians. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity; our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14). Resurrection Sunday is a celebration of power over sin and death. Lent prepares us for that celebration. How can we celebrate the gift of eternal life if we are not reminded of how we were powerless and dead in our trespasses? How can we rejoice in the security and assurance of our salvation unless we are reminded of the daily struggle against our flesh?
Yes, Lent truly is somber. While we may be intently focused on our sins right now, we do so because we know we worship the same faithful God whose faithfulness we proclaimed with a candle during Advent. We might mourn for our sin, but the promise of forgiveness allows for the joy we celebrated by changing those candles from purple to pink one week. Though Lent calls attention to our continued falling short of His glory, we know we are sealed with the Spirit that granted us the hope and peace for which we gave thanks just a few months ago.
This week, thank God for the faith in Him that He divinely gives to us. Meditate on these verses to prepare the hearts of your family for the celebration of the glorious resurrection.
- Genesis 12:1-4a
- Psalm 121
- Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
- John 3:1-17
Week 1
If you hang around Southside long enough, we hope that one of the things you realize fairly quickly is that we want to be intentional in everything we do. We’re not perfect in that yet, but we sure are trying. One area that gets a lot of attention in the idea of intentionality is how we spur one another forward in our Christian walks and our personal growth in Godliness. This week marks the beginning of a season that presents a perfect opportunity to be intentional in taking responsibility for your part in your growth in grace.
Ash Wednesday, February 22, marks the beginning of a seven week period known as Lent. The Lenten season ends with the celebration of the defeat of death and hell via the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Advent reminded us that he came once before and will come again. Lent directs our attention to the truth that he died and rose again for our sins. On Resurrection Sunday we will praise him in word and song. Let’s begin preparing ourselves for that joyous celebration.
Fasting, praying, and reflection — all Biblical disciplines — are practices typically emphasized during Lent. Pray to God, asking him to reveal anything in your life that you put before him. Ask him to identify even the smallest thing that takes your attention away from him and wastes the time you have been given. Pray to be able to behold him clearly and serve him diligently. Pray for the Spirit to empower you to resist adding those things back into your life. Consider fasting. Let your hunger pains remind you to be hungry for God from whom all your life and being comes. Restructure your routine to enable you to stay faithful to your new plan of putting God before those things.
Can all these things become rote and legalistic? They sure can. They can also be offerings and acts of worship to our holy God when given with a humble and contrite heart. We invite you to join together in forty days of prayer and fasting. Let’s grow together and prepare for the celebration of the greatest miracle ever performed for the sake of a sinful humankind.
On Ash Wednesday, read and reflect on these verses:
For the week beginning Sunday, February 26, meditate on these verses:
Ash Wednesday, February 22, marks the beginning of a seven week period known as Lent. The Lenten season ends with the celebration of the defeat of death and hell via the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Advent reminded us that he came once before and will come again. Lent directs our attention to the truth that he died and rose again for our sins. On Resurrection Sunday we will praise him in word and song. Let’s begin preparing ourselves for that joyous celebration.
Fasting, praying, and reflection — all Biblical disciplines — are practices typically emphasized during Lent. Pray to God, asking him to reveal anything in your life that you put before him. Ask him to identify even the smallest thing that takes your attention away from him and wastes the time you have been given. Pray to be able to behold him clearly and serve him diligently. Pray for the Spirit to empower you to resist adding those things back into your life. Consider fasting. Let your hunger pains remind you to be hungry for God from whom all your life and being comes. Restructure your routine to enable you to stay faithful to your new plan of putting God before those things.
Can all these things become rote and legalistic? They sure can. They can also be offerings and acts of worship to our holy God when given with a humble and contrite heart. We invite you to join together in forty days of prayer and fasting. Let’s grow together and prepare for the celebration of the greatest miracle ever performed for the sake of a sinful humankind.
On Ash Wednesday, read and reflect on these verses:
- Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
- Psalm 51
- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
- 2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10
For the week beginning Sunday, February 26, meditate on these verses:
- Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
- Psalm 32
- Matthew 4:1-11
- Romans 5:12-19