Beginner’s Guide to Lent : Finishing Lent well

Posted on April 10, 2015April 7, 2022 by Matthew Laker

How do I end Lent well? You have been fasting, praying, and practicing alms giving over the Lent season. In a way, Lent is like a race, and as one goes into Holy Week, the last lap on the track is entered.

How do we end Lent well?

1. Utilize Holy Week

What is Holy Week?

Palm Sunday is the start of the last loop of the Lent race. It begins with what Jesus followers call Holy Week. On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21). Then later in the week, we remember the Eucharist (Lk. 22:17-23; 1 Cor. 11:17-34). This is also known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Through these activities, we remember the suffering, death, and finally crossing the finish line of Lent in the resurrection.

Four major days of Holy week.

a. Holy Thursday

This day comes before Good Friday and commemorates communion, foot washing, and Jesus praying in the garden.

b. Good Friday – commemorates the death of Jesus. Many churches hold a gathering on this day filled with song, scripture reading, prayer and teaching.

c. Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) – A day for rest, a time of waiting and short weeping.

d. Resurrection Sunday. – Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This is a time to celebrate. .

I would encourage you to utilize Holy Week. Many churches will hold extra prayer or gathering times. Consider entering into those times. I would also suggest that you read through the gospels, and the last days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. You could even pick up a devotional to guide you through scripture this week.

A Second tip for finishing Lent well is:

2. Hold a Jesus meal.

A Jesus meal is a time for believers to gather over a meal and intentionally share spiritual stories. They share about their walk with God and how they are growing. They share where they are seeing God at work. They share how they came to faith. Then, the night ends by praying for one another. There are many elements one could incorporate, but for a guide, check out this post:

A Jesus Meal

A Third tip for finishing Lent well is:

3. Personal reflection again.

Answer this question – What will you take away from your lent journey? Journaling through the season can help in this area of reflection.

A fourth tip for finishing Lent well is

4. Celebrate.

Often in my life this is another meal. Consider inviting more than just your family. Perhaps you can gather a bunch of people and each take care for part of the meal. Be creative.

Be sure to gather with the church this day for a time of worship, scripture reading and prayer.

Celebrate the life you have in Jesus. Yes, have a party.

Finally to finish Lent well:

5. Keep running the race marked out for you.

This is just one chapter, one season in your life. We have climbed the mountain and have hopefully met with Jesus. But, he wants us to go back down the mountain, and engage life for his glory. Live for Jesus. To not do so will waste your Lent journey.

If you want to finish Lent well, live for Jesus after the season has come to an end.

Beginners guide to the season of lent

Posted on April 10, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

Are you new to Lent? Looking for help as you journey through the Lent season? Do you want to get the most out of the season of Lent? Are you looking for a place to begin in your journey through the Lent season?

This is why I have created these posts.

Through this “Beginners guide to the season of Lent,” I hope to help with the following:

Increasing your knowledge of who God is.
Help you understand the role of Lent, and give you practical application for deepening your spiritual roots.

It was not until later in my journey with Jesus that I began to practice this season with the Church.

Lent is a set period of time to strengthen deeper roots in Christ. I have found it to be a helpful season to assist me in discipling others, as well as helping me to realign in Christ and deal with my own idols. My prayer is that the season of Lent will help you to know Jesus more and to walk in holiness.

A Beginners Guide to Lent:

1. What is Lent?

2. Lent and Prayer.

3. Why give something up at Lent?

4. Alms giving.

5. Lent and fasting.

6. Self-examination.

7. Celebration of Easter – ending Lent well.

Any suggestion on how to make Lent better?

Beginners Guide to Lent : Lent and Fasting

Posted on March 30, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

“Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.” -John Wesley

What is fasting? What is its purpose and connection to Lent?

Fasting for the Jesus follower is to be a regular rhythm. Fasting has been part of the life of God’s people throughout biblical history. Sometimes the behaviour was commanded, and sometimes it was voluntary.

Fasting takes on two important roles. One of mourning and one of hope.

Ken Berghuis provides a large list of all the reference to fasting or fasting events throughout scripture.

It is worth a read.

3 Purposes of our Fasting –

1. Worship of God

Throughout scripture fasting has been connected to giving devotion to God. It is a declaration of our dependence upon God. The act of fasting is a reminder that we live in need of God’s word and his Spirit in our life. Fasting accompanied with prayer, and reading of scripture helps centre us on Jesus.

“Our human cravings and desires are like rivers that tend to overflow their banks; fasting helps keep them in their proper channels.” -“Celebration of Discipline” by Richard foster

2. Seek God’s guidance – Throughout scripture fasting is seen as a way to seek direction from God. It becomes an extension of our prayer life.

3. An avenue to prepare to meet with God.

Scott Mcknight shares “Lenten fasting as [is] a response to sins and the prospects of death in our culture, our nation, our church, and our own life, and that we also learn to see fasting as entering into the divine pathos about sin and death.”

He later shares: “Lent reminds us where we were, who we were, what we were doing and have done, and teaches us to tell the truth about ourselves—that as image-bearers of God we have sinned against God in thought, word, and deed, in what we have done and in what we have left undone, in not loving God and ourselves and our neighbors as ourselves—and to turn to God for mercy.

We are not fasting to get something from God but to meet with him. Acts 13:2: “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,…”

Joel 20:26: “So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.”

Tips for Beginners to fasting during Lent

a. Start slow.

Try fasting one meal time throughout your week. Then use that time to pray and read scripture.

b. Don’t eat extra snacks.

If you are fasting your lunch, do your best to not eat something till your next regular pattern of eating. Yes, you will be hungry.

c. Let the hunger pain remind you of your need for Jesus.

I often will pray, “I need Jesus more than food.” Know that the hunger pain will pass.

“Arm yourself manfully against the wickedness of the devil; control the appetite, and you will more easily control all bodily desires” – Thomas a Kempis

d. Drink water and drink more water.

e. Understand you may get tired.

When fasting, consider cutting back on your daily activity.

Fasting is connected to Lent because of its ability to help with self-examination. It allows us to reflect upon our own sin and need for the gospel. Fasting is not about our health and has everything to do with our journey with Jesus.

Whatever time you choose to fast during Lent, remember that the purpose is to draw closer to Jesus. Let it be a time to wrestle with your idols and take hold of Jesus.

The next post in this series will look at self-examination.

Why do we give something up at Lent?

Posted on March 4, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

Lent is a time to reorient oneself toward God. It is a time to recall and renew our baptism to Jesus. In Matthew 4, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert for a time of fasting and temptation. In scripture, the idea of 40 day rhythms are practiced, and this in part has led to our practise of Lent for 40 days.

One of the major practices of Lent is fasting. Often people will seek to give something up over Lent. But, why and what is the purpose?

The idea is to give something up in order to be reminded of your need for Jesus. The absence of something helps you turn away from whatever is distracting you in order to turn to Jesus. In a way, giving something up is a form of fasting.

One practice may be giving up one meal a day. During the time you would normally spend eating, you would then spend in prayer. Another person may give up tv/media, which for many today consumes a major part of one’s life. Then you can take this time to read scripture, and pray. One could even read a book to stimulate spiritual growth.

We give something up in order to cause our hearts to turn to Jesus. Giving something up can reveal the idols we have in our lives. We deprive ourselves of pleasure or indulgence to offer a sacrifice up to God. Let the hunger you feel for what you give up drive you to Jesus. Let the hunger you feel remind you of who you are (Romans 3:10; 5:1; 1 John 3:1).

3 Building blocks for where to start:

a. Take some time to think about what you will give up. Something you enjoy, a bad habit, or turn the media off.

b. Decide how it’s going to work? For example, if it is giving up tv, what will you do with that time? If it is giving up sweets, how will you respond when you crave the sweets?

c. Let someone know so that they can ask how it is going and help you in this journey.

A Warning

Do not give something up for the sake of giving something up. This is about seeking the King. We want to climb the mountain, and spend some time listening to God. You give something up in order to grow closer to Jesus and understand yourself, not because of a pressure from someone or from a group.

Ask yourself this question: Is God leading you to an extended period of time in his presence? Could you use this season to disciple a new believer or help one grow? How could giving something up help in self-examination? Could you use this season to freshen your spiritual disciplines to deepen your heart’s desire for Jesus?

When you give something up, do not announce it. Jesus says in Matthew 6:18, Do not let it be obvious to others that you are fasting, “but only to the Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” This is not about seeking praise from people, but drawing close to God to know him, and to know who you are.

What will you give up for Lent?

Why will you give it up?

What has been your experience in giving something up over the lent season? Did it help? Why or why not?

What is Lent?

Posted on February 16, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

Back in high school, some Christian friends asked me, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Then the same question was asked by my friends at evangelical bible college ? However, it never carried a lot of weight. I would hear about what they were giving up, but never saw how or understood how it helped in their spiritual formation.

Then I came to be a part of a local body of Jesus followers, who had the tradition of practising Lent. Perhaps the idea of Lent is a new one for you. As I was called on to give leadership, it meant a fast learning curve about Lent.

The church Calendar rotates around two main events: Advent, which is at the start, and then Lent and the high season of the Easter Celebration. For Christians, Easter Sunday evokes awe and wonder. Historically, this comes out of a 40 day time of reflection to get ready for celebration.

Over the years it has changed. For example, the Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons shares how it was only a two or three day observation. There are also some differences on how the 40 days have been calculated over the years. Today, it is practised over 40 days, and historically there was a connection to using it to disciple new believers.

Even though the practise has developed over the years, the purpose has always been the same. Time for self-examination, repentance and denial of self in preparation for Easter.

Dr. Michael Pasquarello sums up the purposes well, that Lent is an invitation to examine our desires and reorient them toward God.

Throughout the years three spiritual disciplines have been at the core, though many incorporate others. The three are prayer, fasting and alms giving.

What has been your experience with the season of Lent?

What helpful resources have you used over the years?

What questions do you have about Lent?

Stay tuned for more in the Series: Beginners Guide to Lent