Lent Study

As we journey through this Lent, we carry with us all kinds of thoughts and emotions because of the past year we have lived through. A global pandemic and the repeated periods of 'lockdown' in the U.K. have made us stop and re-evaluate the journey through life that we are on; our priorities, our work habits, our families, our communities, our churches and our relationship with God, our future...

We hope this resource will be helpful as we use Scripture to guide us through this lenten season towards the cross of Christ and beyond to empty tomb of Easter morning.

You can use this resource individually, with one or two invited friends or in your church's Small Groups.

Week 1 (beginning 15/2/21) - PPE of Endurance

In this first study, Nigel Manges (Regional Minister - Ministry) introduces this Lent Course and reflects on James chapter 1 to help us consider how we are called to persevere, even through the toughest of circumstances.

Questions for discussion
  1. Why do you think Endurance is so critical to finishing strongly?
  2. On a scale 1(low)-10 (high) rate your endurance in the following categories
    1. Physical
    2. Spiritual
    3. Work
    4. Relationships
    5. Family
  3. Are you satisfied with the rating you gave yourself? If not, why not?
  4. In the areas you gave yourself the most dissatisfaction, what can you do to increase your endurance?
  5. What gets in the way of choosing joy as our first response in times of trial and how can we enable Joy to be the basis for our journey with Jesus?
  6. To finish the race we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. What do you think it means in practical terms to ‘fix your eyes on Jesus’ ?

Week 2 (beginning 22/2/21) - Sharing With Others

Watch the video from Week 1 again...

This week we're going to decide how to share the lessons learnt in last week's study with others who are not yet Christians.

PRAY

  • Pray and ask God to put on your heart the name of someone who feels like giving up at the moment.
  • Ask God to inspire you about how you should respond; maybe praying for them every day this week, maybe a phone call, maybe an encouraging note/email, maybe sending them a small gift...

SHARE

  • If you feel able, share with others in your small group about the person who God has laid on your heart. You might choose not to name them, but you could share a little about them.
  • Pray together for those who you've shared about and determine to ask how they're doing when you meet again next week.

CONSIDER

In the coming years there is very likely to be a significant number of people of all ages and backgrounds facing mental health challenges. Many will find endurance, persevering and 'carrying on' extremely difficult.

What could your church do to bring hope, welcome, community and belonging to those in your area who are facing mental health challenges? Take some time to consider the resources produced for churches by Renew Wellbeing, a Christian organisation who help churches serve those in their communities with mental health challenges. Click here to find out more.

NB - If you'd like to get more info about Renew Wellbeing, please email their regional co-ordinator, Ben Horton - click here.

 

Week 3 (beginning 1/3/21) – Lockdown Faith

In this study, Carl Smethurst (Regional Minister - Mission) considers how Hebrews 11 encourages us to ‘keep on keeping on’, even – especially - when we’re facing tough challenges…

Please watch the video and then answer the following questions,

Questions for discussion

  1. Hebrews 11 shares some inspiration stories of people of faith. Who are the characters in Scripture whose stories have encouraged you by demonstrating perseverance in adversity? Look up one of two of the stories and read them again.
  2. Who has had a positive influence on your faith in more recent times through their perseverance in adversity? Who do you know whose story of faith does your soul good? Why?
  3. It is normal for all Christians to doubt their faith from time to time. It is good to be able to share those doubts with others who will understand and pray with us and for us. If you feel able, share some occasions in your life when you doubted your faith. What helped? What hindered?
  4. Pray for each other that you will run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus… so that we will not grow weary and lose heart.

Week 4 (beginning 8/3/21) - Sharing With Others

Watch the video from Week 3 again...

This week we're going to decide how to share the lessons learnt in last week's study with others who are not yet Christians.

PRAY

Pray for those who you know started journeys of faith with Jesus but who got discouraged and would no longer call themselves Christians.

Pray for opportunities to make contact with them this week – to let them know that you still care about them and their lives even though they aren’t following Jesus at present.

SHARE

Sharing stories is powerful. Since the very beginning of civilisation humans have been influenced by hearing the stories of others. One of the most effective methods of evangelism is sharing your faith story – your testimony.

If someone asked you why you are a Christian, how would you respond? Share your story of faith with those in your small group today in a way that one of your non-Christian friends would understand…

CONSIDER

  1. Consider the many ways stories are shared in the world today (i.e. person-to-person, on social media etc.)
  2. How can you use all the methods available to you today to share your story of faith with others?
  3. This week find three different ways to share your story of faith with others.

 

If you would like to find out more about sharing your faith through social media, please take a look at this webinar by our Digital Missioner, Hannah Fleming-Hill - https://vimeo.com/481399816

Week 5 (beginning 15/3/21) - Incubation of Hope

In this week's Lent reflection Nigel Manges (Regional Minister - Ministry) considers Romans 15:13 and asks, 'Where do you find hope, especially in difficult times?'

Please watch the video and then answer the following questions,

Questions for discussion

  • If someone asked the question today ‘what do you hope for?’ what would be your answer?
  • Have you found it difficult to maintain a hopeful spirit through lockdown and if so, why do you think that might be?
  • What do you think Paul means when he refers to God as the ‘God of Hope’?
  • In Paul’s prayer there is the challenge to overflow with Hope. What do you think this means and how can we express this?
  • As you travel to Easter is there anything you can do to share this Easter Hope with others?
  • As you look forward to meeting again and getting back to a ‘new normal’ what do you hope will change for the future?

Week 6 (beginning 22/3/21) - Sharing With Others

Watch the video from Week 5 again...

This week we're going to decide how to share the lessons learnt in last week's study with others who are not yet Christians.

PRAY

Paul's blessing in Romans 15:13 talks about us 'overflowing with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'.

Are you 'overflowing with hope' at the moment? Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you again this week.

Ask God to show you who in your circle of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues etc. could really do with experiencing hope at the moment.

SHARE

The HOPE, JOY & PEACE that Paul speaks about in Romans 15:13 is not dependent on our circumstances but on our relationship with the 'God of hope'.

Share with those in your group an example of when you have experienced hope, joy or peace even when your circumstances have not been favourable.

CONSIDER

  • "Experiencing hope, joy and peace despite our circumstances does not mean we always have to be happy or appear to be 'fine' all the time." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
  • Is it possible to share the hope you have with others who are not yet Christians? How?
  • In what ways will you be a bearer of HOPE to those who you've been praying for this week?

One way of experiencing hope is to 'count our blessings' and develop an 'attitude of gratitude'. Check out this website about recording the ways you have been blessed every day, 365 days of the year - 365 Grateful Project. This short video may also be helpful to explain this - click here.

How might you encourage the Biblical principle of 'giving thanks in all circumstances' (1 Thessalonians 5:18) in those in your community who need to experience hope?

Week 7 (beginning 29/3/21) - Infectious Love

In this final Lent Study, Carl Smethurst (Regional Minister - Mission) reflects on the new commandment Jesus gives his disciples at the start of Holy Week. What might loving each other as Jesus has loved us look like today and how could it change the world for the better?

WATCH the 'Infectious Love' video reflection.
PRAY that God will speak to you through his Word
READ John 13:1-38
ANSWER the following questions,

  1. What grabs your attention from this chapter of John's gospel?
  2. The disciples had spent three years being taught by Jesus. Why do you think Jesus left it till just before he would be crucified to give them this 'new command' in v34-35?
  3. How does Jesus demonstrate his love for his disciples in this chapter?
  4. How have you experienced the love of Jesus in your life? Give examples. What difference has this made to you?
  5. Have you experienced times when those who follow Jesus have not loved each other as Jesus has loved them? What impact has this had on those involved? What impact has it had on those who aren't yet Christians who have become aware of these situations?
  6. How will you spread the infectious love of Jesus in your community this Easter? Share some practical ideas with each other.

PRAY for each other that you will experience the sacrificial, life-giving, life-changing love of Jesus afresh this Holy Week.
PRAY for opportunities to share the infectious love of Jesus with others this Holy Week.

 

Holy Saturday (3/4/21) - A Vigil in a Pandemic

After sunset on Holy Saturday, Christians hold an Easter Vigil; a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch and pray. In these times, our world has never needed this more. So you are invited to join with Carl Smethurst (Regional Minister - Mission) to watch & pray...

First recorded in 2020, we had no idea that 'the night' would last so long. This Vigil seems as applicable this year as it did last and so we offer it to you again as an act of Lament and pray that it will be helpful as we watch and wait in hope for the first light of dawn...

We hope this Lent Study has been blessing to you! If you'd like to get in contact with us you can email Nigel here or Carl here.

We really appreciate your support for Nigel & Carl and the other staff who serve the South West Baptist Association family. If you'd like to make a donation to support our ongoing work, please click here.

Thank you!