lent | february 26 — april 5, 2020

We have begun the season of Lent. If you are wondering why we even bother with this, here is a quick history.

In AD 325, at the Council of Nicea, a forty-day season was proposed to prepare new converts for Christian Baptism on Easter Sunday. As it began to be practiced, it wasn't long before the fast period became a time of purification and repentance for the whole church. And so sandwiched between the powerful miracles of Epiphany and the celebration of the resurrection at Easter, we have Lent.

Lent is a time of preparation, repentance, and renewal. We remember and mark Jesus time of fasting and temptation in the wilderness. We ask God to help remove our sin and anything that has entangled us or is keeping us from experiencing our union with Jesus.

Along with our time together on Sundays in Lent, we are asking our whole church to join in our shared practices for this season and walk in the way of Jesus. Scroll down to explore each spiritual practice in-depth and helpful resources.

Fasting may feel like an intimidating activity, but it is a spiritual discipline that is open to anyone. Not everyone will fast, but everyone can.

(For those who have struggled with an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food fasting may present additional difficulty, but there are resources to help if you would still like to try, including Practicing the Way, and Fasting by Scot McKnight.)

The heart of fasting as a follower of Jesus is to give up something good to seek something greater, God and God’s Kingdom. Though it is certainly a good idea, when we give up something that is already damaging or sinful, that is not exactly fasting. That is repentance.

The biblical record of fasting primarily involves willingly giving up food for a period of time as a response to a grievous sacred moment in life. This could be anything from a death, sin, fear, threat, need, sickness, period of preparation, or time of seasonal renewal such as Lent. We respond to these moments with fasting.

(This language of a "grievous sacred moment in life" is from Scot McKnight’s book, Fasting. The language can stretch to fit many reasons for fasting, but is a reminder that fasting is part of disciplines now because the world is broken and we must contend with challenges to God's Kingdom and revealed way.)

Fasting is almost always accompanied by prayer and very often with extra time in the Word of God as that becomes our meal instead of our normal food. Our hope is for God to show up powerfully in the midst of our moments and our life.

There are also variations on fasting from what we typically see it in the Bible which would involve a partial fast (abstaining from certain foods i.e. The Daniel Fast, or fasting from sugar, or meat etc.), or abstaining from something you normally enjoy but decide to give up for a period of time like television, social media (almost no one in the Old Testament gave this up), purchasing things for yourself coffee, alcohol, etc.

We do not fast as an attempt to force God to do want we want. We fast to pray with our body as well as our mind and heart. We fast to draw near to God who will draw near to us. We fast to confess our need, and to express our hunger for God to be present in our life and world. We can fast to break certain unhealthy attachments or to seek spiritual deliverance or breakthrough. Let us fast and seek God during this season of Lent.

"…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” —Matthew 20:28

We are continuing a response in obedience as a church to intentionally turn outward from ourselves to our neighbors in love. During Lent, we are asking God to specifically direct us in ways to serve, to voluntarily show acts of kindness and love, to meet the needs of those God puts in our path, and to plan to show up for our neighbors.

Jesus gives us the example as one who came to serve and to pour his life out for others. Let join together in union with Jesus to serve as the Holy Spirit leads us this Lent.

Listen to the Teaching Series

Caleb Clary teaches from Luke, Corinthians, and Hebrews in our Lenten series “The Kingdom and the Cross.” Explore the archives and subscribe to our podcast.

lent resources

We recommend the following resources during the season of Lent:

• What is Ash Wednesday? by Caleb Clardy

• Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ by Russell Moore

• Lent and Easter Wisdom by Henri Nouwen

• Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter edited by Plough

• Fasting: The Ancient Practices by Scot McKnight

• Practicing the Way — Fasting: Our Relationship to Food, Body, and Image by Bridgetown Church

Introduction to Practices

Get to know our shared spiritual practices as a church throughout the year. Look for how each inhale and exhale practice can bear the fruit of His kingdom in your life and in the city.