SHILOH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
Community
Lent
Wednesday, March 1 –Saturday, April 15, 2017
Lenten season is a solemn religious observance of many Christian denominations that begins on Ash Wednesday and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, repentance of sins, almsgiving, atonement, and self-denial.
Its institutional purpose is heightened in the annual commemoration of Holy Week, marking the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the tradition and events of the New Testament, beginning on Friday of Sorrows, further climaxing on Jesus' crucifixion on Good Friday, which ultimately culminates in the joyful celebration on Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Lent, many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence. Many Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional, to draw themselves near to God
Lent is traditionally described as lasting for 40 days, in commemoration of the 40 days which, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus spent, before beginning his public ministry, fasting in the desert, where he endured temptation by Satan.
Explanation of the 40 Days
As we know, Lenten season is 40 days, and, yet, if we count the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday (inclusive), we come up with 46 days. So how do we explain the discrepancy? Because there are six Sundays in Lent, we have to subtract them from the days of fasting. Forty-six minus six is 40. That is why Lent starts on Ash Wednesday—to allow a full 40 days of fasting before Easter Sunday.
So I should pig out on Sundays, Right?
Not so fast!
Just because your Lenten sacrifice isn’t binding on Sundays doesn’t mean that you have to go out of your way on Sundays to indulge in whatever you gave up for Lent. But, in the same respect, you should not actively avoid it (assuming that it is something good that you’ve deprived yourself of rather than something that you shouldn’t do or consume anyway). To do so would be fasting, and that’s forbidden on Sundays, even during Lent.
During Lent, many Christians commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence. Many Christians also add a Lenten spiritual discipline, such as reading a daily devotional, to draw themselves near to God. Fast is a powerful spiritual experience that truly can bring amazing revelations, blessings, intimacy with the Lord and much more to those who engage in the fast. Prayers are answered. Lives are touched. Addictions are broken. Bodies are healed. Relationships are strengthened.
40 Days of Spiritual Self-Denial
Wednesday, March1, through Saturday, April 15 (Monday through Saturday)
Date Detox Scripture Denial
March 1 Harshness Romans 8:1 No sour food
March 2 Double-mindedness James 1:8 No half & half
March 3 Anxiety Isaiah 41:10 No beef
March 4 The past 2 Corinthians 5:17 No bitter food
March 6 Anger Proverbs 19:11 No red meat
March 7 Cursing Ephesians 4:29 No nuts
March 8 Fear Proverbs 3:5–8 No chocolate
March 9 Procrastination Proverbs 6:4 No pasta
March 10 Negativity 2 Corinthians 10:5 No bitter food
March 11 Jealousy James 3:14–16 No caffeine
March 13 Strife Proverbs 20:3 No added sugar
March 14 Worry Romans 8:28 No bread
March 15 Doubt Proverbs 3:5 No nuts
March 16 Pride Proverbs 16:18 No sweets
March 17 Anxiety Isaiah 41:10 No beef
March 18 Unforgiveness Luke 23:34 No pork
March 20 Unhappiness Psalm 30:5 No grains
March 21 Rebellion 1 Samuel 15:23 No butter
March 22 Gossip Proverbs 16:28 No spicy food
March 23 Apathy Proverbs 15:19 No coffee
March 24 Selfishness Luke 6:38 No potatoes
March 25 Disinterest 1 Thes. 5:6 No meat
March 27 The past 2 Corinthians 5:17 No bitter food
March 28 Anger Ephesians 4:26 No spicy food
March 29 Guilt Psalm 32:5 No sweets
March 30 Resentment Mark 11:25 No fried food
March 31 Regret Philippians 3:13 No added sugar
April 1 Bitterness Ephesians 4:31 No chocolate
April 3 Worry Romans 8:28 No bread
April 4 Doubt Proverbs 3:5 No nuts
April 5 Frustration Galatians 6:9 No dairy
April 6 Unforgiveness Luke 23:34 No pork
April 7 Laziness 2 Thes. 3:10 No soda (pop)
April 8 Apathy Proverbs 15:19 No coffee
April 10 Selfishness Luke 6:38 No potatoes
April 11 Disinterest 1 Thes. 5:6 No meat
April 12 Greed Proverbs 15:27 No salt
April 13 Inaction James 1:22 No butter
April 14 Unhappiness Psalm 30:5 No grains
April 15 Negativity Hebrews 3:10 No eggs
