The Lenten Experiment
A Challenge for a new life through Lent
INTRODUCTION: (Please feel free to print and share)
I STARTED THIS EXPERIMENT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION IS BELOW. I'VE CONTINUED TO DO IT OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUED TO RECEIVE AMAZING STRENGTH IN MY FAITH WHEN I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. THIS YEAR I ONCE AGAIN FEEL AS I DID THE FIRST YEAR AND I'M SO PUMPED TO BEGIN AGAIN. I KNOW IT WILL BE WORTH IT AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE.
THE LENTEN EXPERIMENT
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE CHURCH, AND THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY, AND THE STATE OF PEOPLE’S PERCEPTION OF CHRISTIANITY, AND I WONDERED “WHAT ARE WE MISSING?” I GUESS YOU COULD SAY I’VE FELT LIKE I’VE BEEN IN A “FAITH FUNK” AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE WORLD AROUND ME HAS BEEN IN THE SAME PLACE. IT MADE ME STOP AND THINK, “WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS? HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE? HOW CAN I GET OUT OF THIS FUNK AND DRAW OTHERS WITH ME?” IT JUST SEEMS THAT WE NEED ANOTHER SORT OF “GREAT AWAKENING.”
ONE THING I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IS THAT IF THERE IS TO BE ANY KIND OF REVIVAL, IT MUST BEGIN IN ME, AND EVERYONE WHO LONGS FOR ONE MUST BELIEVE THAT TOO. THEN IT HIT ME. LENT IS QUICKLY COMING UPON US. WHAT IF I MADE IT A BIG DEAL AND INVITED OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. THEN MY BRAIN KICKED IN, AND I THOUGHT, “WHAT IF I CHALLENGED OTHERS TO GET IN ON THIS? WHAT IF WE TOOK GOD’S PROMISES IN HIS WORD SERIOUSLY AND SET OURSELVES UP TO RECEIVE AN AMAZING LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE?”
I FIGURE THAT IF WE POSITION OURSELVES TO HEAR HIS VOICE THAT WE MIGHT FIND RENEWAL AND A RECHARGING. WE MIGHT BE MOVED OUT OF OUR OLD BAD HABITS INTO A NEW THIRST AND HUNGER FOR GOD THAT COULD CHANGE THE WORLD! SO, I DECIDED TO TRY THIS AS A SORT OF EXPERIMENT—A LENTEN EXPERIMENT. THE EXPERIMENT IS TO SEE HOW GOD MOVES IN OUR LIVES IF WE COMMIT TO MAKING ROOM FOR HIM BY “FASTING” FROM SOME TIME-CONSUMING BEHAVIORS AND BY “FEASTING” ON GOD’S WORD AND THROUGH PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.
LENT IS A SEASON OF REFLECTION ON THE COST OF OUR SIN WHICH CULMINATES IN A CELEBRATION OF THE HOPE OF CHRIST. MANY PROTESTANT CHURCHES ENCOURAGE IT HALFHEARTEDLY. THIS YEAR, I’M HOPING IT CAN BECOME A MOVEMENT…A MOVEMENT IN MY HEART…A MOVEMENT IN YOURS…A MOVEMENT IN THE WORLD’S.
THEY SAY “IF YOU DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE YOU’RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS GOT.” I DON’T WANT MORE OF WHAT I’VE GOT, I WANT MORE OF WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR ME, AND I PRAY THAT YOU DO TO. SO IF YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE EXPERIMENT, BE PREPARED, IT WILL BE SACRIFICIAL IN MANY WAYS—A FAST OF SORTS. IT WILL ALSO GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO INVEST IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST—A FEAST FOR SURE.
PLEASE, IF YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE YOUR OWN TESTIMONIES AS THE DAYS GO BY. STRENGTHEN ONE ANOTHER BY WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE. WHAT IS GOD TEACHING YOU? IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU EXPERIENCING HIM? HOW IS THIS CHANGING YOUR LIFE?
THE LENTEN EXPERIMENT: FROM FASTING TO FEASTING
THE HARDEST PART OF THIS FOR SOME IS THE FASTING. YOU CAN DETERMINE YOUR OWN PARAMETERS FOR FASTING, BUT MY SUGGESTION IS OUTLINED BELOW TO INTENTIONALLY UNPLUG YOUR MIND AND HEART FROM CULTURE FOR A SHORT TIME SO THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR GOD’S VOICE MORE CLEARLY. ONE THING I’VE LEARNED FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND IN LEADING STUDENTS TO CHURCH CAMPS FOR 20 YEARS IS THAT STUDENTS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW LIFE-CHANGING AND FORMATIVE THAT WEEK OF CAMP IS. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH BEING UNPLUGGED FROM THE SECULAR WORLD AND PLUGGING IN TO ONE OF FAITH AND PARTICIPATION AND LISTENING AND WORSHIP. IF YOU FOLLOW THIS FAST AS OUTLINED, YOU’LL BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH BETTER YOU’LL FEEL AND HOW CLOSER YOU’LL BE TO THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT BY THE END OF LENT.
COMMERCIALISM FAST:
NO TV W/ EXCEPTION OF CHRISTIAN PROGRAMMING (I WOULD RECOMMEND THE RIGHTNOWMEDIA APP AVAILABLE ON SMART TVS AND ADAPTERS LIKE ROKU)
NO INTERNET EXCEPTION GIVEN TO SEARCHING FOR BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES ETC. OR WORK RELATED USE.
NO SECULAR MUSIC (NON-FAITH RELATED MUSIC)
NO SHOPPING FOR SELF BEYOND NEEDS W/ EXCEPTION OF RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE YOUR EXPERIMENT
NO NON-ESSENTIAL PHONE APP-USE (I.E. FACEBOOK, SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING, GAMES, CRAIGSLIST, ETC.). EXCEPTION GIVEN TO BIBLE-READING APPS
THE SECOND ASPECT OF THE EXPERIMENT IS FEASTING. IT IS A POSITIONING ONE’S SELF TO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (MATTHEW 5:6). IT IS CENTERED ON READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 40 DAYS. FOR SOME, THIS WILL BE A BREEZE, FOR OTHERS WILL BE A STRUGGLE. IT IS ON AVERAGE 6-8 CHAPTERS A DAY AND IF YOU’RE A SLOW READER CAN TAKE AN HOUR. BUT IT’S SO WORTH IT. READING LIKE THIS, LARGE CHUNKS AT A TIME, HELPS YOU SEE GREATER CONNECTIVITY AND CONTEXT FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE. THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TAKE EXTENSIVE NOTES OR DO AN IN DEPTH STUDY ON ANYTHING. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW TO WHET YOUR APPETITE. READ IT, SOAK IT UP, AND TAKE BRIEF NOTES ON WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO COME BACK AND STUDY LATER. WRITE DOWN YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT DON’T TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO TRACK DOWN THE ANSWERS DURING READING TIME. COME BACK TO THEM LATER IN THE DAY IF YOU’D LIKE, BUT MAKE SURE YOU FINISH THE DAYS READING FIRST.
SPIRITUAL FEAST:
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING (READ THROUGH NEW TESTAMENT IN 40 DAYS; JOURNAL ABOUT FINDINGS)
PRAYER W/EXPECTATION GOD WILL SHOW UP AND WORK HIS PLAN
DAILY WORSHIP (WHATEVER THIS LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU)
WEEKLY SERVICE (DAILY LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THOSE IN NEED)
PRACTICING HOSPITALITY (BEING OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES TO INVITE PEOPLE TO DO LIFE WITH YOU)
PRACTICING GENEROSITY (BEING OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE LIFE WITH OTHERS)
WEEKLY SHARING OF TESTIMONY OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE NOW—PARTICULARLY THROUGH THIS EXPERIMENT—WITH FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR A SMALL GROUP
ENGAGE DAILY IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES OTHER THAN STUDY AND PRAYER (SEE CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE BY RICHARD FOSTER FOR A GOOD PRIMER ON THE DISCIPLINES)
BOUNDARY RE-ESTABLISHMENT:
ESTABLISH FAMILY TIMES IN WHICH CELL-PHONES ARE LOCKED-UP
PRIORITIZE FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PHONE RINGING (DON’T ANSWER YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE—CREATE AN EMERGENCY CODE SYSTEM FOR YOUR FAMILY E.G. TWO CALLS IN A ROW OR A TEXT)
PHONES NOT ALLOWED AT MEALTIMES
A COUPLE OF HELPFUL HINTS:
EXPECT TO FAIL—A LOT OF PEOPLE GIVE UP ON THEIR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY FAIL ONCE AND GIVE UP. FAILURE IS A TEACHER, NOT A DEFEATER. ACCEPT THE LOSS, ASK FORGIVENESS, FORGIVE YOURSELF, SUCK IT UP AND GET BACK IN THE GAME. ONLY CHILDREN QUIT A GAME AFTER ONE SMALL FAILURE. PROS FAIL ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY GET OVER IT AND GET ON WITH IT.
DON’T PLAN ON FAILURE—NOW THAT WE’VE GOTTEN THE “EXPECT TO FAIL” OUT OF THE WAY, DON’T PLAN ON FAILURE. WORK YOUR HARDEST TO AVOID IT—THE MORE YOU SUCCEED, THE EASIER IT GETS. SUCCESS BREEDS MORE SUCCESSES. IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO FAIL, STOP AND PRAY OR READ SCRIPTURE OR LEAVE THE AREA OF TEMPTATION (as in FLEE TEMPTATION). TEMPTATION IS MOST TEMPTING WHEN YOU’RE NOT ENGAGED IN ACTIVITY THAT PROMOTES SUCCESS—FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I’M SERVING OTHERS OR COUNSELING STUDENTS OR READING SCRIPTURE TEMPTATION IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
STRATEGIZE SUCCESS—MAKE A PLAN TO SUCCEED. WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE FACED WITH TEMPTATION? WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU WANT TO BE LAZY AND NOT FEAST? WILL YOU DO IT ANYWAY? WILL YOU CALL SOMEONE? WILL YOU PRAY? WILL YOU READ? WILL YOU LEAVE THE AREA?
MAKEUP—IF YOU MISS A DAY OF READING BECAUSE OF WORK OR BUSY SCHEDULE, HOW WILL YOU MAKE IT UP? THE QUICKER YOU MAKE IT UP, THE BETTER. SPREADING IT OUT USUALLY GETS YOU FARTHER BEHIND—JUST GET CAUGHT UP.
KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT CHRIST—IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT HIS HELP, YOU ARE FOOLING YOURSELF. YOU MUST RELY ON HIM FOR STRENGTH TO SEE THIS THROUGH—IT’S THE ONLY WAY. YOU MAY BE STUBBORN ENOUGH TO SUCCEED IN THE FASTING TO PROVE ME WRONG, BUT SUCCESS IN OUTWARD ACTIVITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN SUCCESS AT THE INWARD PURPOSE—THE INTENT OF THIS EXPERIMENT.
PLAN FOR FUTURE STUDY—WHILE READING, MAKE A PLAN FOR FUTURE BIBLE STUDY. IT’S EASY, AFTER JUST READING THROUGH THE WHOLE NEW TESTAMENT, TO THINK, “I JUST READ IT, I GUESS I DON’T NEED TO READ IT ANYMORE THIS YEAR.” INSTEAD, USE THIS TIME TO COME UP WITH IDEAS OF THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO STUDY WHEN LENT IS OVER. HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES:
KEEP A JOURNAL OF QUESTIONS YOU HAVE THAT YOU’D LIKE MORE TIME TO GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE (DON’T FORGET TO NOTE THE PASSAGE THAT SPARKED THE QUESTION)
DO A WORD OR TOPIC STUDY AND AS YOU COME UPON THAT WORD OR TOPIC IN YOUR READING, WRITE DOWN EVERY PASSAGE THAT DEALS WITH THAT WORD OR TOPIC. FOR EXAMPLE: MAKE NOTE OF EVERY TIME THE WORD “LOVE” IS USED. WHEN LENT IS OVER, GO BACK OVER THAT LIST, REREAD THOSE PASSAGES AND JOURNAL ABOUT WHAT GOD IS REVEALING ABOUT WHAT REAL LOVE LOOKS LIKE.
JOURNAL WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE GOD IS TEACHING YOU THROUGH THE READING AND NOTE THE PASSAGES THAT STICK OUT THE MOST. AFTER LENT, GO BACK AND REVIEW THOSE PASSAGES AND FEELINGS AND SEE WHERE ELSE IN SCRIPTURE THOSE THINGS ARE CONNECTED.
Reading Outline:
THIS READING OUTLINE DOES NOT PROGRESS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT INSTEAD ATTEMPTS TO TRACE HISTORICAL MOMENTS OR THEMATIC ELEMENTS AND THEIR LINKS.
NOTE: YOU’LL NOTICE WHILE READING THE SYNOPTIC (SAME) GOSPELS (MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE) THAT SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE YOU’RE READING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SOMETIMES YOU ARE. SOMETIMES THERE ARE SUBTLE DIFFERENCES. SOMETIMES THERE ARE BIG DIFFERENCES. DON’T LET THEM SCARE YOU. SPEND SOME TIME FINDING ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS—THAT’S HOW YOU GROW IN FAITH.
Week #, Day # (Note: Sundays are traditionally omitted as they are considered mini-Easters), Scripture passage
Week 1:
1. Wednesday : Ash Wednesday Find a local service
2. Thursday:
Matthew 1-3
Mark 1
Luke 1-3
3. Friday:
John 1
Hebrews 1-3
Philippians 2
Colossians 1-2
4. Saturday:
II Peter 1-3
Revelation 1-3
Week 2:
Sunday: Worship
Psalm 1, 5, 11, 12, 16, 18
5. Monday:
Matthew 4
Luke 4
Romans 6-8
Colossians 3-4
6. Tuesday:
Matthew 5-6
Luke 5-6
James 1-2
7. Wednesday:
Matthew 7
James 3-5
Philippians 3
I Corinthians 4-5
8. Thursday:
Matthew 8-9.
Mark 2-3
I Corinthians 12, 14
9. Friday:
Matthew 10-11
Luke 7-8
John 2-3
I Corinthians 6-7
10. Saturday:
Revelation 4-11
Week 3:
Sunday: Worship
Psalm 19, 20, 23-28
11. Monday:
Matthew 12-13
Mark 4-5
Romans 12-13
I Corinthians 8-9
12. Tuesday:
Matthew 14-15
Mark 6-7
Luke 9
Romans 14
I Corinthians 10-11
13. Wednesday:
John 4-7
Hebrews 4-5
14. Thursday:
Matthew 16-17
Mark 8-9
Hebrews 6-7
15. Friday:
Acts 1-4
I Corinthians 1-3
16. Saturday:
Revelation 12-17
Week 4:
Sunday: Worship
Psalm 30-38
17. Monday:
Matthew 18-19
Mark 10
I Peter 1-3
18. Tuesday:
Luke 10
I Corinthians 13
I John 1-5
19. Wednesday:
Luke 11
John 8-9
Romans 1-2
II John
III John
20. Thursday:
Luke 12
John 10
Acts 5-8
21. Friday:
Luke 13
John 11
Romans 15-16
Acts 9-10
22. Saturday:
Acts 11-16
Week 5:
Sunday: Worship
Psalm 39-42, 46, 51, 56, 57
23. Monday:
Luke 14-15
Acts 17-20.
24. Tuesday:
Luke 16
I Thessalonians 1-5
25. Wednesday:
Luke 18
Romans 3-4
Acts 21-23
26. Thursday:
Romans 5
Hebrews 8-13
27. Friday:
Galatians 1-6
28. Saturday:
Ephesians 1-6
Week 6:
Sunday: Worship
Psalm 59, 62, 63, 66, 67, 69, 71, 73
29. Monday:
Matthew 20-21
Mark 11-12
Luke 19
John 12
30. Tuesday:
Luke 20
Acts 24-28
31. Wednesday:
I Timothy 1-6
32. Thursday:
II Timothy 1-4
Philippians 1, 4
33. Friday:
Titus 1-3
Philemon
Jude
II Corinthians 1-3
34. Saturday:
Matthew 24
Mark 13
Luke 17, 21
II Thessalonians 1-3
Week 7: Holy Week!
Sunday: Worship Palm Sunday
Psalm 22, 81, 84, 85, 86, 90, 91, 101, 103
35. Monday:
Matthew 22
Romans 9-11
I Peter 4-5
36. Tuesday:
Matthew 23
II Corinthians 4-8
37. Wednesday:
Matthew 25
Romans 5
II Corinthians 9-12
38. Thursday:
Matthew 26
Mark 14
Luke 22
John 13-17
39. Friday:
Matthew 27
Mark 15
Luke 23
John 18-19
II Corinthians 13
40. Saturday:
Revelation 18-22
Sunday: Worship Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matthew 28
Mark 16
Luke 24
John 20-21
I Corinthians 15-16