The Best Question You Can Ask Your Church This Year

Over the last few years, I’ve come to believe that the 40 days leading up to Easter can be some of the most life-giving, perspective-changing, hope-filled days of the entire year – for you and your entire congregation. Lent is the season set apart for prayer, penitence, and self-denial. On March 5, we will enter this holy season in the church calendar. This is a time designed to stir your hunger for God and lean in to hear His voice more clearly. This is a season of both repentance and the renewal of faith for you and your congregation.

One of the most popular questions that arises is, “What are you giving up for Lent?”

I’ve heard a wide range of responses including chocolate, sodas, television, Facebook, and sugar, but I think there’s a better question to ask as we prepare for Lent: “What do you want to lay hold of?”

Christ wants to give us more of Himself – more glimpses into His character and the calling He has on our lives.

In past years, I’ve plunged into the Gospels, silenced my prayer life with shocking results, and unearthed the contempt that riddles my heart as a response to lay hold of Christ. Last year, I felt compelled to read the entire Bible during Lent and invite others to join me. Thousands upon thousands from around the world responded. We were wonderstruck as pastors, churches, parents, kids, coworkers, and friends dove head first into the great big story of God. What I didn’t realize at the time is that many of the passages that came alive as I read would soon become my lifeline. Just a few months after Lent we were ambushed with a heart wrenching medical diagnosis. That intense time of Bible reading helped prepare us for what was coming, and I can’t shake nudge of the Spirit I felt last year, “Do it again.”

This year I’m excited to partner with Catalyst and a group of leaders to read the through the entire New Testament. I’d like to invite YOU, your friends, even your congregation to dive into God’s Word starting March 5.

The New Testament contains 260 chapters. That means reading the it in 40 days requires reading about 7 chapters per day. And if you’re running errands, working in the garage, or have a daily commute, you can listen to an audio version of the Bible. About 30 minutes a day for forty days – and you’ll journey through the entire New Testament. It may sound like a lot to you. But I am confident you can do this. Yes, even you.

I believe that during these 40 days God wants to speak to you through Scripture. He has words that are written just for your heart, just for this time, and just for what’s coming around the corner.

Click here to download the free Lent 2014: 40 Day Bible Reading Guide.

Some friends are going to join us in this this #LentChallenge, including our buddies at YouVersion, Jonathan Merritt at Religious News Service, Lori Wilhite at Leading and Loving It, Jenni Catron at Cultivate Leaders, Heather Zempel at National Community Church, Shelly Miller at Redemptions Beauty, and more. You’ll find posts on their sites as well as here throughout the season of Lent. We’re even going to have some Bible scholars weighing in on the questions you raise as we read. Consider inviting your leadership team, small group, or entire congregation to join in reading through the whole New Testament this Lent. Let’s enter this time with prayer and faith that Christ will meet us, reveal Himself to us, and surprise us as we seek to lay hold of more of Him.

I’m counting down the days until March 5!