The season of Lent is almost upon us! Throughout church history Lent has been a 40 day season of preparing for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ at Easter. If you aren’t familiar with this season on the church calendar, here’s a quick definition from Will Walker:

“Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate the death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Sunday) of Jesus. It is this very preparation and repentance – aimed at grasping the intense significance of the crucifixion – that gives us a deep and powerful longing for the resurrection, the joy of Easter.”

The start date for Lent this year is Wednesday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day!). The journey of Lent is one we want to do together as a church family. To help with that, we are recommending (but not requiring) NWers to consider joining together with friends, family, or grow group members to incorporate this simple Lenten Daily Devotional into our daily rhythms during Lent.

The devotional is titled, To Seek and to Save by Sinclair Ferguson. Each day includes a brief scripture passage, a short devotional on that passage, and a helpful reflection question. You can purchase the devotional HERE from booksellers online including Amazon.

I hope you’ll consider joining us in this devotional as we approach the cross together during Lent!

Resources

  1. To Seek and to Save — Daily Reflections on the Road to the Cross by Sinclair Ferguson.
  2. Journey-to-the-Cross: Larry Trotter has recommended this great daily devotional for the season of Lent. Please be encouraged to use it personally and as a family.
  3. Centered_40_Days: Exchange Church, our Rolesville church plant, has also developed a daily devotional for this season.
  4. Preparing for Easter: Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis
  5. Journey to the Cross: Paul David Tripp has written 40 short readings inviting us to abide in the abundant joy found in Christ as we encounter the Savior more fully and follow him more faithfully during this Lenten season.
  6. The Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper — Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.</em
  7. Holy Week Daily Devotional: A daily devotional to lead you through the week leading up to Easter.
  8. Lent to Maundy Thursday —This site allows you to stream the second installment of Page CXVI’s Church Calendar Project. It is music specifically written and recorded as an aid to worship Christ during this season of reflection upon the cross
  9. Lenten Lights by Noel Piper – Eight Biblical Devotions to Prepare for Easter — to be used weekly during Lent OR daily during Holy Week.
  10. The Lent Project – A collaborative collection of devotionals from authors such as Dallas Willard and John Ortberg compiled by Biola University’s Center for Christianity Culture and the Arts. Each day combines poetry, art, scripture and a devotional.
  11. Lenten Devotional – Tim Keller and others at Redeemer Presbyterian Church have put together a helpful brief daily devotional for the season of Lent.
  12. Every Moment Holy — 2023 Lenten Journal includes liturgies, prompts, and additional scripture readings for thought, prayer and practice – leading to the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

Family Lent Resources

Lent gives your family an entire forty-day season to remember Jesus is best. We fill our busy lives with candy, toys, sports, extra curricular activities, video games, television–you name it. During Lent we remember the happiness we find in those things is temporary. Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). Every toy your child has will one day lie in a junk yard. The treasure of this earth makes us happy, but that happiness is temporary. During Lent we stop filling our lives with temporary happiness and make more room for Jesus. – Jared Kennedy

  1. Jesus Storybook Bible Lent 2024
  2. Mission Accomplished — Rediscover the greatest rescue mission in history with your children. Spend the week before and after Easter walking with Jesus through the suffering of the cross, the joy of resurrection, and the beginning of Christianity. Each of the fourteen devotions takes just ten minutes and is suitable for children of all ages. Included are family activities and hymns to help your family remember and apply the truth that Christ is risen indeed!
  3. Amon’s Adventures: Follow the story of 13 year old Amon as he witnesses the events surrounding Easter. This book contains short, exciting chapters, reflections for family devotions, and advice for making Lent a meaningful experience to help families discover anew the spiritual power of the resurrection story.
  4. A Jesus Easter: Explore God’s Amazing Rescue Plan: These easy-to-lead devotions start by looking at Genesis and take us through the Old Testament to see how Easter was always part of God’s amazing plan for his people. The remainder look at the Easter story itself. Each day there is a passage to read together, questions to think about, an explanation and a prayer to help families experience the full joy of our resurrection hope.