This Sunday is the first Sunday of Lent. Lent is not only the season about preparing for Easter. It is also when we get serious about following Jesus. Some do this by giving up something taking up too much room in our lives to make more room for God to claim us. Others do this by increased focus on and devotion to God through prayer, study, and regular worship. Taking the latter course, I announce a sermon series I am calling, “Great Texts, Core Truths”. Normally, at Sunday worship we focus upon the lectionary, readings assigned for Sundays across the church.
But let us explore some seminal texts during our Lenten primetime of worship here at FCC. I list below some of our upcoming texts and themes, beginning this Sunday with the story of Jacob.
First Sunday of Lent, 22 February 2015
Genesis 28.10-19/I John 3.1-3, 18-24
Vision
Second Sunday of Lent, 1 March 2015
Philippians 4.10-13/John 16.4b-15
Empowerment
Third Sunday in Lent, 8 March 2015
Hebrews 12.1-4, 12-13/John 15.12-17
Inspiration
Fourth Sunday in Lent, 15 March 2015
I Kings 17.8-16/Mark 4.30-34
Transformation
Fifth Sunday in Lent, 22 March 2015
Jeremiah 29.10-13/Romans 8.15-24, 31-38
Hope
Sixth Sunday in Lent (Palm/Passion Sunday), 29 March 2015
Colossians 1.15-25/Mark 11.1-11
Christlikeness