Lent Bible Reading Series 5 March 2014 to 20th April 2014 Week 1/7: by Major Kath Jones, Asst. Spiritual Life Development Secretary Week one Wednesday 5th Ash Wednesday Bible Reading – 1 Peter 1:3 -9 This is the first day of Lent 2014; Lent is a period of forty days concluding on Easter Sunday. During the forty days we will focus on Jesus as he journeyed to Jerusalem, to his crucifixion and resurrection. Many Christians find Lent a time when they come closer to God. It is also a time to share with others, by reading God’s word and praying together. Sharing in this way enriches fellowship, as we journey together. Thursday 6th Bible Reading – Matthew 6: 5 – 15 The Lord’s Prayer will be very familiar to you, and probably you repeat this prayer from time to time in your devotions. The Lent readings for this year are based on the Lord’s Prayer and we will consider a line of the prayer for each week of the next seven weeks. Martin Luther said that ‘a Christian has prayed abundantly who has rightly prayed the Lord’s Prayer.’ Friday 7th Bible Reading – Luke 11: 1 – 13 Luke’s interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer is a little different to that in Matthew’s gospel. The context in which they are each set is also different. Matthew’s gospel includes the Lord’s Prayer within the teaching of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount. Whilst Luke, records the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus’ response to the disciples when they ask him to teach them to pray. Joanna Collicut, in her book ‘When you Pray’ says, ‘it was the practice of the early church to prepare candidates for baptism during Lent, and the Lord’s Prayer was the basis of instruction in the Christian faith’. Consider: Was it Jesus’ intention that we recite the Lord’s Prayer as it is written or was he suggesting a pattern or an outline for prayer? Saturday 8th Bible Reading – 2 Corinthians 13: 11 – 14 In neither Matthew nor Luke’s recording of the Lord’s Prayer is the phrase, ‘thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever’ included. This doxology or ending was added, it is thought by the apostles. It was first found in a document in the late first or early second century called the Didache meaning apostles teaching. Interestingly Paul in his letters adopted the custom of ending with a doxology, or final grace as in today’s reading. Sunday 9th Bible Reading - John 17 In today’s reading Jesus prays for himself, his disciples and for all believers. Jesus prays knowing that his arrest is imminent. Despite this his concern is for those he cares about. Within his prayers there are elements of the Lord’s Prayer. He prays that his Father is glorified on earth, that God gives the disciple’s his protective power from evil. That all believers will be brought to unity, an indication of the kingdom of God perhaps, and that none will be lost, an echo of lead us not into temptation! As we now begin to look at the Lord’s Prayer in detail, we will also see the significance the prayer has in relation to Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Pray: Lord as we journey through this Lent period together may we know you more clearly, follow you more nearly and love you more dearly. Amen.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:57:12 +0000
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