The Lenten Season
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
The Lenten season may not be the longest season in the church year but it is one of the most important seasons, if not the most important season of the year. It is a time for spiritual preparation through repentance and growth in faith for Easter. It is the time of the church year when the passion and death of the Savior come into focus. It begins with a special day of repentance, Ash Wednesday, and ends in the depth of sorrow and tragedy on Good Friday. The name of the season, Lent, does not reflect the mood or message of the season. It is an old Anglo-Saxon word Lencten or Lenchthen, which means the lengthening of the days as spring appears. To preach meaningfully and properly, a preacher needs to know the message of Lent and feel its mood and spirit.
Development Of The Season
Lent as a period of 40 days came into being as a result of a long period of development. Originally in the first century Lent was only a period of 40 hours in keeping with the 40 hours Jesus' body was in the tomb. The 40-hour observance ended with an Easter service at 3 a.m. Later the 40 hours grew into six days during the third century. The six days were not the last week in Lent but an extension of the 40 hours. These six days were known as Holy Week, days of strict abstinence. Holy Week observance began in Jerusalem during the fourth century. Services were held on the appropriate day at the places where special events took place during the last week of Jesus' life: the upper room, Gethsemane, Pilate's court, etc. When Holy Week was observed in the West, they substituted the stations of the cross for the actual places in Jerusalem. Rome placed special emphasis upon the triduum: Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter. In the fourth century, the days of Holy Week were designated:
Palm Sunday - entry into Jerusalem
Monday - the cleansing of the temple
Tuesday - the discourse on the Mount of Olives
Wednesday - Judas' agreement
Maundy Thursday - upper room meeting
Good Friday - Calvary
Saturday - the rest in the tomb
The six days grew into 36 days, as a tithe of the 365 days of the year. By approximately 731, the time of Charlemagne, four days were added to the 36 to make the present season of 40 days. The four days consisted of Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent. The number 40 was a popular and meaningful number: Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, Moses fasted 40 days on Sinai, Elijah fasted 40 days on the way to the mountain of God and the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness.
Sundays were never a part of Lent. We speak of the Sundays in Lent, not of Lent. The Sundays are known by their Latin names which come from the first Latin word of Introit: Invocabit, Judica, etc. However, the Lenten emphasis spilled over into the Sunday services in terms of the use of the penitential color, purple, and the dropping of the Alleluia and the Gloria in Excelsis.
This duration of Lent is not universal. The Eastern Orthodox church extends Lent over an eight-week period. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are not considered a part of Lent and are exempted as fast days.
The Date Of Lent
Lent begins 46 days before Easter in spite of the fact that Lent is a season of 40 days. This is due to the fact that Sundays are not a part of Lent. When Lent begins, depends upon the date of Easter. In 325 the church decided that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after March 21.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The name "Ash Wednesday," was given by Pope Urban II in 1099. Prior to this, the first day of Lent was known as "Beginning of the Fast." The day was set aside as a special day of repentance and as the opening of the season of repentance. "Ash" symbolized the repentance called for. Priests had the custom of sprinkling ashes on the heads of the faithful as they said, "Remember thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return." The ashes came from the burned palms of the previous Palm Sunday. To this day, Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday receive a smudge of ashes on their foreheads. Protestants dropped the custom because they felt it contradicted the gospel for Ash Wednesday: "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen of men (Matthew 6:16-21)."
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. "Shrove" referred to the shriving or cleansing of their sins by going to confession on this day. On the other hand, it was a day of feasting and for carnival. The French called it "Mardi Gras." The Germans had "Fasching" or "Fasch Nacht." It was a time to use up their store of fat which was forbidden during Lent. Thus, many Germans used up the fat by making doughnuts on Shrove Tuesday and the English specialized in pancakes.
The Past Observance Of Lent
In past centuries Lent was strictly observed and was a very meaningful season of the church year.
1. It was a time of preparation. Originally, Lent was the six-week period to prepare candidates for baptism at Easter. During this period of examination, instruction, penitence and prayer, the candidates proved their worthiness for the sacrament of baptism. When Christianity was legalized in 325, Lent became a period of preparation for the entire people of God.
2. In the past, Lent was a period of penitence. It was a time for mourning, solemnity and sadness. A hymn for Holy Week says, "to come and mourn with me awhile." The mood is expressed in the penitential color, purple, for this season, the same color as Advent. To remind the faithful of the nature of the season, a purple veil was hung between the nave and the chancel. Often the altar cross was veiled in purple as a reminder of the penitential character of the season. In keeping with this somber mood, the "Alleluia" and the "Gloria in Excelsis" were omitted from the liturgy. Weddings during Lent were forbidden. Organs were stopped. Public entertainment was outlawed. Often royalty during Lent dressed in black. Lent was a time to be sorry for one's sins. It was also a time for the re-living of the sufferings of Christ. When one's Savior is on his way to death in your behalf, it is most unseemly to be frivolous and gay.
3. Fasting as a means of spiritual discipline was a part of past Lenten observances. From the time of the apostles, Friday, the day of Jesus' death, was a day of fasting. During Holy Week, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were days of fasting. In the fourth century, fasting was extended to the entire period of Lent.
Fasting was taken seriously. There was abstinence from meat, dairy products and eggs for the period of Lent. Fasting meant only one meal per day and the rest of the day one existed on water. In the Middle Ages the fast was relaxed to the extent that lunch was permitted. At the time of the Reformation, many Protestants dropped fasting as being "Popish." Some Protestants like John Wesley practiced fasting as a discipline, but if it were practiced, it was on a voluntary basis. For most Protestants, fasting was more of a token than a real denial of food.
The purpose of fasting was twofold. It was for personal discipline and for participation in the sufferings of Christ who in this season was on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die. The second purpose of fasting was to render some service through fasting. There was a positive side to fasting; it was not only for personal benefit. Pope Leo I in 460 said, "What we forego by fasting is to be given as alms to the poor."
4. Lent is a time for special prayer. During Lent, devout Christians were concerned about the development of their spiritual lives. They gave extra time and effort to personal and public
prayer. The traditional symbol for Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In Lent, Christians made dough of flour, salt and water. They shaped the dough in the form of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. The bread was called "little arms" - bracellae - later called "Brezel" or "Pretzel." Apparently it was an ancient practice, for there is a picture of a pretzel in a fifth century manuscript. Pretzels were a Lenten food and thus only eaten during the period as a reminder to pray more often.
The Present Observance Of Lent
Especially among Protestants today, people are not sympathetic with the mood or methods of Lenten observance. Each year there is a cry by someone for a shorter Lenten period, the dropping of fasting and the elimination of special Lenten services. Generally, Protestants ignore fasting as being superficial and meaningless. At Vatican II, Roman Catholics relaxed the rules for fasting: Meat may be eaten on Fridays and breakfast may be enjoyed before Holy Communion. People are too comfortable, lax and affluent to be bothered about self-denial. Because attendance is very poor, many churches no longer have mid-week Lenten services. Many non-liturgical churches never had Lenten services. Moreover, Lent as a time for special personal devotions is not observed by most Christians today even though denominations may produce special Lenten devotional booklets for this purpose.
Lent can be the most fruitful season of the church year as the faithful strictly and sincerely observe the season. It can be a time of spiritual development and preparation for the resurrection.
1. Penitence. Lent is a period of self-denial and fasting, a period of spiritual discipline. Persons need this aspect of Lent because they have become flabby, affluent and lazy. The theme of the day is, "You owe it to yourself," "Enjoy, Enjoy." "Let yourself go and live it up." Lent is a pilgrimage with Jesus to suffering and death. This involves discipline and self-denial. If we expect to rise with Christ in newness of life on Easter, we must first die with him. Lent is a time of learning to die to self. Before we can rejoice, we must mourn. Before we can live, we must die. The problem people face today is their unwillingness to die in order to live. In a world when crime multiplies, selfishness reigns and sex dominates society, we need a period in which to repent and return to God. This is what Lent is for.
2. Teaching. Originally, Lent was a time for preparing candidates for baptism at Easter.
Teaching them was a part of their preparation. Lent today can be used to teach people through
doctrinal sermons and Bible study, both in groups and as individuals. Lent lends itself to
a program of daily Bible reading. A series of sermons on the Creed is appropriate. Lent as
a time of growth in the knowledge of the Lord is needed in a world of biblical illiteracy.
3. Outreach. During Lent, especially, the cross is uplifted. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me." Christ died for the sins of all people. During Lent we witness to the cross and its meaning as redemption. This naturally leads to an outreach to the inactives and unchurched of the community. Through a Lenten program of evangelism, many new members may be received on Palm Sunday or Easter. Traditionally, Lent is the period of evangelism.
4. Prayer. Lent can be used today as a special period for extra prayer, both private and public. It calls for spending an extra period in personal prayer. It means scheduling additional services during the weeks of Lent. Through these spiritual exercises, a person is to have a closer walk with God and a dearer company with Christ. By the end of Lent, a person should be built up in his faith. Easter should find him more dedicated to God's work and more consecrated to Christ. As a period of spiritual stimulation, Lent can mean a retreat, a renewal and a revival in the church.
Preaching During Lent
1. Opportunity. During Lent, preaching has its bonanza. Many preachers are in the pulpit as often between Ash Wednesday and Easter as they are in a normal period of six months. Lent can mean a full program of preaching at morning services, evening services, midweek Lenten services, Holy Week services and possibly noonday Lenten services for business people. It is traditionally the time when series of sermons are presented on Lenten themes. Lent calls for a variety of preaching: meditative, doctrinal, evangelistic. It is the most important time for preaching because it deals with the passion and cross. These constitute the heart of the Christian faith. When the cross is preached, we deal with the fundamental problems and needs of life.
2. Problem. Preaching during Lent is becoming increasingly a problem for the minister who wants to get across the Lenten message. This is particularly the case if he follows the lectionary and church year.
Consider the ideal situation which existed in the past:
a. Sunday mornings - preaching on the pericopes.
b. Sunday evenings - preaching on the doctrines of the church.
c. Midweek Lenten services - preaching on Lenten themes.
d. Daily Holy Week services - preaching on the passion and death of Christ.
Consider the situation that exists today. Sunday evening services are on the way out for many churches. Midweek Lenten services are either very poorly attended or have been canceled. If they are poorly attended, the preacher feels that the majority of his people are not hearing the message of the cross. Holy Week services are limited to Maundy Thursday when the Lord's supper is administered and only a brief meditation on communion is delivered, and to Good Friday when a series of very brief messages on the last seven words by guest preachers are heard. If a minister follows the lectionary for Lent, when does he have the time and opportunity to preach the cross and dwell on the passion?
3. Solutions. The modern preacher confronting the above problem can find a solution in different approaches.
a. Ideal situation. With courage and determination, he schedules a full program of services on Sundays and midweek. He uses the lectionary on Sunday mornings, doctrinal themes on Sunday evenings, provided they are held, and Lenten subjects at the midweek Lenten services.
b. Lenten services on Sunday evenings. If it is utterly impossible to hold midweek Lenten services or, if held, impossible to get an acceptable attendance, the Lenten services might be held on Sunday evenings. It needs to be remembered that Sundays are not considered a part of Lent but are Sundays in Lent. Sundays are festival days. Accordingly, the lectionary does not deal with the passion and the cross. A compromise may be made under the circumstances to hold the Lenten services on Sunday evenings.
C. Sunday mornings. If it is possible to hold services during Lent only on Sunday mornings, the preacher may feel impelled to disregard the lectionary during Lent and preach on Lenten themes. This would be most regrettable, but it may be better than failing to deal with the passion and cross, the heart of our faith. Surely, the cross is to some extent in every sermon, but Lent is the time to give special extended consideration to the sufferings and death of our Lord.
Lent And The New Lectionary
Aware of the changes that have taken place in today's observance of Lent, the new lectionary adjusts to the situation.
One change is in the name of the sixth Sunday in Lent, formerly known as "Palm Sunday," to Passion Sunday. In the old lectionary, Passion Sunday was the fifth Sunday in Lent. The change results from a realization of the fact that most churches neglect the history of the passion by not holding Holy Week services, the traditional time to deal with the passion. Now on the sixth Sunday, Palm Sunday, with its observance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is subordinated to Passion Sunday. The new lectionary suggests the observance of the triumphal entry as an introductory part of the service. The Gospel for the Day is a lengthy one, giving a biblical account of the passion events. Since Holy Wednesday night's service, if one is held, usually deals with a cantata, and since Maundy Thursday is a celebration of the institution of the Lord's supper, and since Good Friday's noon service consists of a brief meditation on the last seven words and the evening service is usually a Tenebrae service with no sermon, the one opportunity of Holy Week to preach on the Passion is Lent 6.
There is suggested a change also in the colors for Lent and Holy Week. The traditional color for Lent through Holy Week except Good Friday is purple. An alternate color for Ash Wednesday is black because on this day of repentance the Christian is to die to self. White is suggested as an alternate color on Maundy Thursday to celebrate the beginning of the Lord's supper. During Holy Week, red is suggested in place of purple to remind people of the sacrifice being made that week. In place of black on Good Friday, it is suggested that an alternate color could be a deeper shade of red than used during Holy Week to reflect the blood of the cross shed for the redemption of the world.
LENTEN PREACHING - AN OVERVIEW
Gospel
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus' temptations
Lent 2 - John 3:1-17 - Nicodemus' visit to Jesus
Lent 3 - John 4:5-26 - A Samaritan woman at a well
Lent 4 - John 9:1-41 - A man born blind
Lent 5 - John 11:17-45 - The raising of Lazarus
Lent 6 - Matthew 26:14--27:66 - The passion story
2. Possible Series
A. Close Encounters with Christ
Lent 1 - Encounter with Satan: victory
Lent 2 - Encounter with a professor: new birth
Lent 3 - Encounter with a loose woman: conversion
Lent 4 - Encounter with a blind man: insight
Lent 5 - Encounter with a dead man: life
Lent 6 - Encounter with enemies: forgiveness
B. Who is this man going to the cross?
Lent 1 - I am the Son of God
Lent 2 - I am the Son of Man
Lent 3 - I am the Water of Life
Lent 4 - I am the Light of the World
Lent 5 - I am the Resurrection
Lent 6 - I am the King of Kings
C. Jesus, the power of God
Lent 1 - The power to overcome temptation
Lent 2 - The power of faith
Lent 3 - The power of life-giving water
Lent 4 - The power of vision
Lent 5 - The power of life over death
Lent 6 - The power of the cross
Lesson 1
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17; 3:1-7 - The Fall of humankind
Lent 2 - Genesis 12:1-4a - The call of Abraham
Lent 3 - Exodus 17:1-17 - Moses brings water out of a rock
Lent 4 - 1 Samuel 16:1-13 - Samuel anoints David as king
Lent 5 - Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The valley of dry bones
Lent 6 - Isaiah 50:4-9a - The suffering servant
2. Possible Series
Theme: God's dealing with his people
Lent 1 - God gives life to Humanity
Lent 2 - God chooses a people
Lent 3 - God supplies our needs
Lent 4 - God selects our leader
Lent 5 - God brings life out of death
Lent 6 - God's servant suffers for us
Lesson 2
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Romans 5:12-19 - Sin and righteousness through one man
Lent 2 - Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 - Righteousness by faith
Lent 3 - Romans 5:1-11 - Peace with God through justification
Lent 4 - Ephesians 5:8-14 - Walk in the light of Christ
Lent 5 - Romans 8:6-11 - Life in the spirit
Lent 6 - Philippians 2:5-11 - Humility to exaltation
2. Possible Series
Theme: The good life
Lent 1 - The good life because of one man
Lent 2 - The good life through faith
Lent 3 - The good life brings peace
Lent 4 - The good life in the light
Lent 5 - The good life in the spirit
Lent 6 - The good life in humble service
Central preaching themes in Lent
Lent 1 - The problem of sin
Lent 2 - The power of faith
Lent 3 - The source of life
Lent 4 - The light for vision
Lent 5 - The life out of death
Lent 6 - The redemption through suffering
Development Of The Season
Lent as a period of 40 days came into being as a result of a long period of development. Originally in the first century Lent was only a period of 40 hours in keeping with the 40 hours Jesus' body was in the tomb. The 40-hour observance ended with an Easter service at 3 a.m. Later the 40 hours grew into six days during the third century. The six days were not the last week in Lent but an extension of the 40 hours. These six days were known as Holy Week, days of strict abstinence. Holy Week observance began in Jerusalem during the fourth century. Services were held on the appropriate day at the places where special events took place during the last week of Jesus' life: the upper room, Gethsemane, Pilate's court, etc. When Holy Week was observed in the West, they substituted the stations of the cross for the actual places in Jerusalem. Rome placed special emphasis upon the triduum: Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter. In the fourth century, the days of Holy Week were designated:
Palm Sunday - entry into Jerusalem
Monday - the cleansing of the temple
Tuesday - the discourse on the Mount of Olives
Wednesday - Judas' agreement
Maundy Thursday - upper room meeting
Good Friday - Calvary
Saturday - the rest in the tomb
The six days grew into 36 days, as a tithe of the 365 days of the year. By approximately 731, the time of Charlemagne, four days were added to the 36 to make the present season of 40 days. The four days consisted of Ash Wednesday to the First Sunday in Lent. The number 40 was a popular and meaningful number: Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the wilderness, Moses fasted 40 days on Sinai, Elijah fasted 40 days on the way to the mountain of God and the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness.
Sundays were never a part of Lent. We speak of the Sundays in Lent, not of Lent. The Sundays are known by their Latin names which come from the first Latin word of Introit: Invocabit, Judica, etc. However, the Lenten emphasis spilled over into the Sunday services in terms of the use of the penitential color, purple, and the dropping of the Alleluia and the Gloria in Excelsis.
This duration of Lent is not universal. The Eastern Orthodox church extends Lent over an eight-week period. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are not considered a part of Lent and are exempted as fast days.
The Date Of Lent
Lent begins 46 days before Easter in spite of the fact that Lent is a season of 40 days. This is due to the fact that Sundays are not a part of Lent. When Lent begins, depends upon the date of Easter. In 325 the church decided that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after March 21.
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. The name "Ash Wednesday," was given by Pope Urban II in 1099. Prior to this, the first day of Lent was known as "Beginning of the Fast." The day was set aside as a special day of repentance and as the opening of the season of repentance. "Ash" symbolized the repentance called for. Priests had the custom of sprinkling ashes on the heads of the faithful as they said, "Remember thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return." The ashes came from the burned palms of the previous Palm Sunday. To this day, Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday receive a smudge of ashes on their foreheads. Protestants dropped the custom because they felt it contradicted the gospel for Ash Wednesday: "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen of men (Matthew 6:16-21)."
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. "Shrove" referred to the shriving or cleansing of their sins by going to confession on this day. On the other hand, it was a day of feasting and for carnival. The French called it "Mardi Gras." The Germans had "Fasching" or "Fasch Nacht." It was a time to use up their store of fat which was forbidden during Lent. Thus, many Germans used up the fat by making doughnuts on Shrove Tuesday and the English specialized in pancakes.
The Past Observance Of Lent
In past centuries Lent was strictly observed and was a very meaningful season of the church year.
1. It was a time of preparation. Originally, Lent was the six-week period to prepare candidates for baptism at Easter. During this period of examination, instruction, penitence and prayer, the candidates proved their worthiness for the sacrament of baptism. When Christianity was legalized in 325, Lent became a period of preparation for the entire people of God.
2. In the past, Lent was a period of penitence. It was a time for mourning, solemnity and sadness. A hymn for Holy Week says, "to come and mourn with me awhile." The mood is expressed in the penitential color, purple, for this season, the same color as Advent. To remind the faithful of the nature of the season, a purple veil was hung between the nave and the chancel. Often the altar cross was veiled in purple as a reminder of the penitential character of the season. In keeping with this somber mood, the "Alleluia" and the "Gloria in Excelsis" were omitted from the liturgy. Weddings during Lent were forbidden. Organs were stopped. Public entertainment was outlawed. Often royalty during Lent dressed in black. Lent was a time to be sorry for one's sins. It was also a time for the re-living of the sufferings of Christ. When one's Savior is on his way to death in your behalf, it is most unseemly to be frivolous and gay.
3. Fasting as a means of spiritual discipline was a part of past Lenten observances. From the time of the apostles, Friday, the day of Jesus' death, was a day of fasting. During Holy Week, Good Friday and Holy Saturday were days of fasting. In the fourth century, fasting was extended to the entire period of Lent.
Fasting was taken seriously. There was abstinence from meat, dairy products and eggs for the period of Lent. Fasting meant only one meal per day and the rest of the day one existed on water. In the Middle Ages the fast was relaxed to the extent that lunch was permitted. At the time of the Reformation, many Protestants dropped fasting as being "Popish." Some Protestants like John Wesley practiced fasting as a discipline, but if it were practiced, it was on a voluntary basis. For most Protestants, fasting was more of a token than a real denial of food.
The purpose of fasting was twofold. It was for personal discipline and for participation in the sufferings of Christ who in this season was on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die. The second purpose of fasting was to render some service through fasting. There was a positive side to fasting; it was not only for personal benefit. Pope Leo I in 460 said, "What we forego by fasting is to be given as alms to the poor."
4. Lent is a time for special prayer. During Lent, devout Christians were concerned about the development of their spiritual lives. They gave extra time and effort to personal and public
prayer. The traditional symbol for Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In Lent, Christians made dough of flour, salt and water. They shaped the dough in the form of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. The bread was called "little arms" - bracellae - later called "Brezel" or "Pretzel." Apparently it was an ancient practice, for there is a picture of a pretzel in a fifth century manuscript. Pretzels were a Lenten food and thus only eaten during the period as a reminder to pray more often.
The Present Observance Of Lent
Especially among Protestants today, people are not sympathetic with the mood or methods of Lenten observance. Each year there is a cry by someone for a shorter Lenten period, the dropping of fasting and the elimination of special Lenten services. Generally, Protestants ignore fasting as being superficial and meaningless. At Vatican II, Roman Catholics relaxed the rules for fasting: Meat may be eaten on Fridays and breakfast may be enjoyed before Holy Communion. People are too comfortable, lax and affluent to be bothered about self-denial. Because attendance is very poor, many churches no longer have mid-week Lenten services. Many non-liturgical churches never had Lenten services. Moreover, Lent as a time for special personal devotions is not observed by most Christians today even though denominations may produce special Lenten devotional booklets for this purpose.
Lent can be the most fruitful season of the church year as the faithful strictly and sincerely observe the season. It can be a time of spiritual development and preparation for the resurrection.
1. Penitence. Lent is a period of self-denial and fasting, a period of spiritual discipline. Persons need this aspect of Lent because they have become flabby, affluent and lazy. The theme of the day is, "You owe it to yourself," "Enjoy, Enjoy." "Let yourself go and live it up." Lent is a pilgrimage with Jesus to suffering and death. This involves discipline and self-denial. If we expect to rise with Christ in newness of life on Easter, we must first die with him. Lent is a time of learning to die to self. Before we can rejoice, we must mourn. Before we can live, we must die. The problem people face today is their unwillingness to die in order to live. In a world when crime multiplies, selfishness reigns and sex dominates society, we need a period in which to repent and return to God. This is what Lent is for.
2. Teaching. Originally, Lent was a time for preparing candidates for baptism at Easter.
Teaching them was a part of their preparation. Lent today can be used to teach people through
doctrinal sermons and Bible study, both in groups and as individuals. Lent lends itself to
a program of daily Bible reading. A series of sermons on the Creed is appropriate. Lent as
a time of growth in the knowledge of the Lord is needed in a world of biblical illiteracy.
3. Outreach. During Lent, especially, the cross is uplifted. "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me." Christ died for the sins of all people. During Lent we witness to the cross and its meaning as redemption. This naturally leads to an outreach to the inactives and unchurched of the community. Through a Lenten program of evangelism, many new members may be received on Palm Sunday or Easter. Traditionally, Lent is the period of evangelism.
4. Prayer. Lent can be used today as a special period for extra prayer, both private and public. It calls for spending an extra period in personal prayer. It means scheduling additional services during the weeks of Lent. Through these spiritual exercises, a person is to have a closer walk with God and a dearer company with Christ. By the end of Lent, a person should be built up in his faith. Easter should find him more dedicated to God's work and more consecrated to Christ. As a period of spiritual stimulation, Lent can mean a retreat, a renewal and a revival in the church.
Preaching During Lent
1. Opportunity. During Lent, preaching has its bonanza. Many preachers are in the pulpit as often between Ash Wednesday and Easter as they are in a normal period of six months. Lent can mean a full program of preaching at morning services, evening services, midweek Lenten services, Holy Week services and possibly noonday Lenten services for business people. It is traditionally the time when series of sermons are presented on Lenten themes. Lent calls for a variety of preaching: meditative, doctrinal, evangelistic. It is the most important time for preaching because it deals with the passion and cross. These constitute the heart of the Christian faith. When the cross is preached, we deal with the fundamental problems and needs of life.
2. Problem. Preaching during Lent is becoming increasingly a problem for the minister who wants to get across the Lenten message. This is particularly the case if he follows the lectionary and church year.
Consider the ideal situation which existed in the past:
a. Sunday mornings - preaching on the pericopes.
b. Sunday evenings - preaching on the doctrines of the church.
c. Midweek Lenten services - preaching on Lenten themes.
d. Daily Holy Week services - preaching on the passion and death of Christ.
Consider the situation that exists today. Sunday evening services are on the way out for many churches. Midweek Lenten services are either very poorly attended or have been canceled. If they are poorly attended, the preacher feels that the majority of his people are not hearing the message of the cross. Holy Week services are limited to Maundy Thursday when the Lord's supper is administered and only a brief meditation on communion is delivered, and to Good Friday when a series of very brief messages on the last seven words by guest preachers are heard. If a minister follows the lectionary for Lent, when does he have the time and opportunity to preach the cross and dwell on the passion?
3. Solutions. The modern preacher confronting the above problem can find a solution in different approaches.
a. Ideal situation. With courage and determination, he schedules a full program of services on Sundays and midweek. He uses the lectionary on Sunday mornings, doctrinal themes on Sunday evenings, provided they are held, and Lenten subjects at the midweek Lenten services.
b. Lenten services on Sunday evenings. If it is utterly impossible to hold midweek Lenten services or, if held, impossible to get an acceptable attendance, the Lenten services might be held on Sunday evenings. It needs to be remembered that Sundays are not considered a part of Lent but are Sundays in Lent. Sundays are festival days. Accordingly, the lectionary does not deal with the passion and the cross. A compromise may be made under the circumstances to hold the Lenten services on Sunday evenings.
C. Sunday mornings. If it is possible to hold services during Lent only on Sunday mornings, the preacher may feel impelled to disregard the lectionary during Lent and preach on Lenten themes. This would be most regrettable, but it may be better than failing to deal with the passion and cross, the heart of our faith. Surely, the cross is to some extent in every sermon, but Lent is the time to give special extended consideration to the sufferings and death of our Lord.
Lent And The New Lectionary
Aware of the changes that have taken place in today's observance of Lent, the new lectionary adjusts to the situation.
One change is in the name of the sixth Sunday in Lent, formerly known as "Palm Sunday," to Passion Sunday. In the old lectionary, Passion Sunday was the fifth Sunday in Lent. The change results from a realization of the fact that most churches neglect the history of the passion by not holding Holy Week services, the traditional time to deal with the passion. Now on the sixth Sunday, Palm Sunday, with its observance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is subordinated to Passion Sunday. The new lectionary suggests the observance of the triumphal entry as an introductory part of the service. The Gospel for the Day is a lengthy one, giving a biblical account of the passion events. Since Holy Wednesday night's service, if one is held, usually deals with a cantata, and since Maundy Thursday is a celebration of the institution of the Lord's supper, and since Good Friday's noon service consists of a brief meditation on the last seven words and the evening service is usually a Tenebrae service with no sermon, the one opportunity of Holy Week to preach on the Passion is Lent 6.
There is suggested a change also in the colors for Lent and Holy Week. The traditional color for Lent through Holy Week except Good Friday is purple. An alternate color for Ash Wednesday is black because on this day of repentance the Christian is to die to self. White is suggested as an alternate color on Maundy Thursday to celebrate the beginning of the Lord's supper. During Holy Week, red is suggested in place of purple to remind people of the sacrifice being made that week. In place of black on Good Friday, it is suggested that an alternate color could be a deeper shade of red than used during Holy Week to reflect the blood of the cross shed for the redemption of the world.
LENTEN PREACHING - AN OVERVIEW
Gospel
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Matthew 4:1-11 - Jesus' temptations
Lent 2 - John 3:1-17 - Nicodemus' visit to Jesus
Lent 3 - John 4:5-26 - A Samaritan woman at a well
Lent 4 - John 9:1-41 - A man born blind
Lent 5 - John 11:17-45 - The raising of Lazarus
Lent 6 - Matthew 26:14--27:66 - The passion story
2. Possible Series
A. Close Encounters with Christ
Lent 1 - Encounter with Satan: victory
Lent 2 - Encounter with a professor: new birth
Lent 3 - Encounter with a loose woman: conversion
Lent 4 - Encounter with a blind man: insight
Lent 5 - Encounter with a dead man: life
Lent 6 - Encounter with enemies: forgiveness
B. Who is this man going to the cross?
Lent 1 - I am the Son of God
Lent 2 - I am the Son of Man
Lent 3 - I am the Water of Life
Lent 4 - I am the Light of the World
Lent 5 - I am the Resurrection
Lent 6 - I am the King of Kings
C. Jesus, the power of God
Lent 1 - The power to overcome temptation
Lent 2 - The power of faith
Lent 3 - The power of life-giving water
Lent 4 - The power of vision
Lent 5 - The power of life over death
Lent 6 - The power of the cross
Lesson 1
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17; 3:1-7 - The Fall of humankind
Lent 2 - Genesis 12:1-4a - The call of Abraham
Lent 3 - Exodus 17:1-17 - Moses brings water out of a rock
Lent 4 - 1 Samuel 16:1-13 - Samuel anoints David as king
Lent 5 - Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The valley of dry bones
Lent 6 - Isaiah 50:4-9a - The suffering servant
2. Possible Series
Theme: God's dealing with his people
Lent 1 - God gives life to Humanity
Lent 2 - God chooses a people
Lent 3 - God supplies our needs
Lent 4 - God selects our leader
Lent 5 - God brings life out of death
Lent 6 - God's servant suffers for us
Lesson 2
1. Sundays
Lent 1 - Romans 5:12-19 - Sin and righteousness through one man
Lent 2 - Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 - Righteousness by faith
Lent 3 - Romans 5:1-11 - Peace with God through justification
Lent 4 - Ephesians 5:8-14 - Walk in the light of Christ
Lent 5 - Romans 8:6-11 - Life in the spirit
Lent 6 - Philippians 2:5-11 - Humility to exaltation
2. Possible Series
Theme: The good life
Lent 1 - The good life because of one man
Lent 2 - The good life through faith
Lent 3 - The good life brings peace
Lent 4 - The good life in the light
Lent 5 - The good life in the spirit
Lent 6 - The good life in humble service
Central preaching themes in Lent
Lent 1 - The problem of sin
Lent 2 - The power of faith
Lent 3 - The source of life
Lent 4 - The light for vision
Lent 5 - The life out of death
Lent 6 - The redemption through suffering
