 A Journey of Discovery by Addition, Subtraction and IntrospectionThis isn’t just another devotional book. This is a guide to a 40-day journey to resurrection.
Lent? What is Lent? Is it that stuff you dig out of the depths of your pants pocket or your belly button? (No. That’s lint by the way). Maybe you think Lent is something only other churches do. Even if you’re not familiar with Lent, you can probably agree that Easter is essential to the life of the followers of Jesus. It’s the time of year when we are intentional about retelling and rehearing the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Because Christ invites His followers to not just hear about the resurrection, but to participate in it, Christians have historically taken the 40 days leading up to Easter to prepare their hearts and minds to enter the story of Jesus. This little book is a guide…a help…a companion on the 40-day journey of prayer and Christian practice known as Lent. On this journey, you’ll practice the disciplines of addition, subtraction, and introspection so that you may more fully participate in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is Lent. And we take this journey because we all need resurrection.
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 Session 3 Summary: Distance Do you have a friend who is easily distracted? Like really easily. One minute you’re walking through the mall together and the next thing you know you’re by yourself because your friend got sidetracked. Or maybe there’s a little more to it than. The two of you were really close, but then they got pulled away by a new hobby, a new relationship, a new group of friends. And as you start moving in two different directions, the distance between you grows. In the same way, when we start to pursue other things more than God, without even realizing it we can move in another direction—one that leads us further away from Him. This isn’t a new problem. In fact, Paul spent a lot of time in the Bible talking to some of the earliest churches about the very same thing. As we look at what Paul has to say about chasing the wrong things, you may find yourself with a desire to turn back and pursue Him—the best thing. BOTTOM LINE: Pick what you pursue. 
 Romans 2:1 New Living Translation (NLT) God’s Judgment of Sin 2 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:4 New Living Translation (NLT) 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? Hebrews 12:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT) God’s Discipline Proves His Love 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 
 God, thank you for being kind, patient, loving and tolerant with us. Remind us to focus on you in our daily lives. Help us to see where you are guiding us and to turn away from the things which hurt us. In your name we pray, AMEN.  (NAME), you are a child of God!
 Session 2 Summary: Electricity Have you ever seen the show The Amazing Race? Sure, it’s one of five billion other reality shows on television right now, but it’s definitely one of the best. Every week as teams literally race around the world, they are given unique tasks to complete in cities they know next to nothing about—usually including the language! At some point in every episode, the teams find themselves having to ask for help. Some ask for help quickly and run off on their own to try and figure it out while others ask for more than that—they ask for someone to guide them as they go. Isn’t this how many of us approach God? We go to Him for help with big moments—impossible tasks—and then move on quickly without Him. We don’t remember that He wants to do more than just help us. He wants to guide us. He wants to go with us. He wants us to remain with Him. Even Jesus’ own disciples struggled to grasp what it looked like to stay close to Him. And as we look at how He explained it to them, we get a clearer picture of what it means to remain in closeness with God and the impact that can have in our lives. BOTTOM LINE: If you want to get the most out of life, stay close to the Source of it. 
 John 15:5 New Living Translation (NLT) 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 
 God, thank you for being our source in life. You bring us strength, energy and most important hope! Be with us this week as we continue to grow closer to you, knowing we can never do it all and your grace helps us draw close to you. Amen.  Use this simple blessing with your family, while you bless one another, mark the cross on the forehead of each member as a reminder of your baptism.
(Name), you are a Child of God  Session 1 Summary: Confidence Think back to elementary school. Who were you closest friends? Who did you hang out with all the time? Maybe you spent every single second with the same one or two friends for years, but then, as you got older, something changed. You can’t put your finger on why, but, for some reason, you just drifted apart. The same could be said for a lot of us when it comes to our relationship with God. At some point you used to be close to Him, but lately, you just aren’t. And even though you go to church and hear how much God wants a relationship with you, you feel like being close to Him is difficult, complicated, and nearly impossible at times. This week, we’re going to take a look at Abraham and the lengths God went to in order to pursue a close relationship with him. And as you see how much God wanted a relationship with him, maybe you’ll begin to understand the lengths He’s gone to be close to you, too. BOTTOM LINE: God is always drawing us in God's direction. 
 Genesis 12:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT) 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 15:6 New Living Translation (NLT) 6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith. 
 God, thank you for our relationship with you. Thank you for pulling us toward you, even when we are unaware of your work in our lives. Help us to see where you are active, help us to reconnect with you on a daily basis. Amen.  Use this simple blessing with your family, while you bless one another, mark the cross on the forehead of each member as a reminder of your baptism.
(Name), you are a Child of God Chances are there are some interests and hobbies your son or daughter enjoys that completely baffle you. This month, try to take an interest in what interests them.
Maybe for you that means: • Asking what musical artist they’re into and why they like them. • Going to a sporting, musical or theater event together. • Watching a TV show together that they really like. • Visiting a museum together that celebrates what they’re into and asking them to show you around. No matter how different you are, you can always value their interests by asking questions and paying attention to the things they care about. In doing so, you’re modeling the way for them to take an interest in the interests of others as well. Copyright 2015 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved. XP3HS.com |
What is this?Each week we will post one or more blogs related to our ministries for High School youth and families. Check back often and leave a comment! Archives
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First Lutheran Church
1000 3rd Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA | 319.365.1494 | info@firstlutherancr.org | A congregation of the ELCA
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