2023 Sermon Series: Lent (Gospel of John)

Dear Renewal Church:

We enter into the Lenten season, the 40 days before Easter through the Gospel of John:

Lent follows the model of Jesus’  journey in the wilderness for 40 days. The priority of Lent is to drawing near to the living God and abiding in his Presence.  It is a season to put to death our attachments to worldly desires, through prayer, repentance, generosity and self denial. The Lenten season acts as a bit like a spiritual annual checkup, where we take stock of our lives, our hearts.  The practices of Lent, however if focused solely on giving up or doing something may miss the point. After all, it is much easier to read a book on prayer than to spend time leisurely speaking with our heavenly Father. Or it is much easier to fast from certain foods than it is to turn from idols of the heart.

We need to be reminded that Lent is not primarily (and only) about giving up something. Lent, rather is about giving up something (potentially good) in order to receive Christ, the something better. It is the recognition that, while we live on bread, we “…live not on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, ESV)

Three guiding questions to ask ourselves through this season:  

• What are the ways the Spirit of God is inviting me to change?

• What idols have captured my imagination so that my love for the living God has grown cold?

• In what ways is my devotion to Christ and His church less than wholehearted?

Our journey through the Gospel of John, sharpens our attention to who Jesus is, through the Lenten season. The Gospel is highlighted by Jesus’ powerful and incredible declarations of Himself. “ I am…” We are invited into seeing afresh this season, His power and glory that illumines the world he has created.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Josh