WEEK 3

Prayer

I Cannot Do This Alone
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you;
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness, but with you there is light; I am lonely, but you do not leave me; I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help; I am restless, but with you there is peace. In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience; I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me….
Restore me to liberty, and enable me to live now hat I may answer before you and before men.
Lord whatever this day may bring, Your name be praised.
Amen.

— A Prayer from Deitrich Bonhoeffer

Scripture Reading

John 15:1-17

1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 

2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 

3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.  

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

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.

6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 

8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

17 This is my command: Love each other.

Reflect • Journal • Pray

DAY 1

Count how many times Jesus used the pronouns I/me/my and you/your. It’s such an intimate talk that we can miss the hefty background.

  • How was Jesus different from the other vines?

  • What does that mean for you?

DAY 2

In John 15:3, Jesus said they were already clean (“pruned”) because of the word that he spoke to them.

  • What is the purpose of this pruning/cleaning?  

  • What has been your experience with this work by God?

DAY 3

Read John 15:1-8

  • What does the illustration of a branch remaining in a vine teach you about how you need to relate to Jesus?

DAY 4

Read Galatians 5:22&23

  • What kind of fruit does the Lord want in you?

  • How does that fruit come about?

  • Is fruitlessness an option for a follower of Jesus?

DAY 5

Read John 15:9-17

  • How are love and joy related to your obedience?

  • How has this played out in your personal experience?

DAY 6

Jesus said he chose the disciples, not the other way around.

  • Why did Jesus bring up this point?

  • What does this mean for you?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, you are the only reason why I can be included among the people of God. You are the true vine. Your word has changed me. Make my relationship with you fruitful in my home, in my school/work, and in our church. The habits and attitudes in my life that work contrary to your ways, please prune and clean away. Holy Spirit, empower me to love the way Jesus modeled for me. I want to bear the kind of fruit that brings glory to the Father. I want to do my part to carry on Jesus’s mission, here. Make me live in your love!  —Amen

Weekly Lent Challenge

Weekly challenges are based on things that have been a part of Lent for centuries.
Adapted from The Lent Experience by  Eric Ferris

Week 1: Solitude
We are constantly bombarded with noise, images, and people. Solitude gives us the space to remove distractions so we can hear the voice of our Heavenly Father.

During this second week of Lent, choose one hour of solitude. This will take a little planning. Your favorite coffee shop doesn’t count. It is advisable to choose a place where you can’t even see another person. Structure the time with some planned scripture reading and listen to what God is saying.

  • BE ALONE FOR 1 HOUR

  • BE SILENT FOR 1 HOUR

N.T. Wright – Lent as a Time of Testing

Family Conversation Guide for Lent

Making Lent An Opportunity to Dive Deeper as a Family

Read John 15:5

  • ASK: Can a branch that’s been broken off from the tree or vine continue to grow? What happens?
    It stops growing, it becomes useless

Say: John 15:5 says Jesus is the vine we are the branches…

  • ASK: How can you stay connected to Jesus?
    Read the Bible, pray, go to church, recognize Jesus is doing a work in you

  • Ask: How can we know we are staying connected to Jesus and His ways?
    We are producing fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self control

FAMILY CHALLENGE
Practice a simple breathing exercise with your kids. With one hand on your belly, breathe in a way that makes your belly rise and fall. Do this for at least one minute. This should calm your mind. Then try a new form of prayer:
Invite your kids to quietly draw their prayers or write a letter to God.

WEEK 2

Prayer

— A Prayer from John Wesley
O merciful Father, do not consider what we have done against you; but what our blessed Savior has done for us.
Don’t consider what we have made of ourselves, but what He is making of us for you our God.
O that Christ may be “wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption” to every one of our souls.
May His precious blood may cleanse us from all our sins, and your Holy Spirit renew and sanctify our souls.
May He crucify our flesh with its passion and lusts, and cleanse all our brothers and sisters in Christ across the earth.
Amen.

Scripture Reading

John 13: 21-38 

21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean.

23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.

24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 

25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.

27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 

28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 

29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 

30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 

32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 

33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

John 14: 1-31

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 

11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 

13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 

19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 

20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 

24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 

29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 

31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

Reflect • Journal • Pray

Pro tip: Spread out these questions through the week. Give yourself the space to reflect.

DAY 1
Judas leaving instigated Jesus’s sufferings and execution. Jesus said this also began his glory work for and with the Father. 

  • How does Jesus’s story bring glory to the Father? 

  • How does it glorify the Son?

DAY 2
Read John 13:33-35

  • What would distinguish Jesus’s disciples from everyone else?

  • How are you doing in showing your love for Jesus in this way ?

DAY 3
Read Joh 14:6

Jesus wanted the world to know about his relationship with the Father.

  • How will the world around you know about Jesus?

DAY 4
Like Peter (13:37), we often make things about ourselves.
READ JOHN 14:10-18

  • Whose devotion is the basis for a disciple’s relationship with the Lord Jesus?

  • Is this comforting to you? Why or why not?

DAY 5
Jesus was preparing his disciples to know how to relate to him after he left the earth.

  • How did Jesus plan to have an ongoing relationship with the original disciples?

  • What does that mean for you?

DAY 6

  • What part does our obedience play in our relationship with the Lord?

  • What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now in obeying Jesus?

Pray: Father, you love me more than I can imagine. I am coming to understand and to believe your love because I see it in Jesus. The apostles knew Jesus in the flesh, and then they knew you, Lord, through the Holy Spirit. Through these gospel stories and through the Holy Spirit here, with me—please manifest yourself to me. Holy Spirit, teach me to follow in the ways of Jesus. Empower me to love Jesus in the way I love my fellow disciples. Enable your saints to bear the kind of fruit that would glorify Jesus among all nations.  —Amen

Family Conversation Guide for Lent

Making Lent An Opportunity to Dive Deeper as a Family

Read John 13:35-36

  • ASK: What is this new commandment Jesus gave his disciples?
    Love one another! Followers of Jesus are to  love others, and especially other believers in the church!

  • ASK: Why do you think Jesus gave this “new” commandment to believers?
    By this love they show each other people will take notice!

SAY: As followers of Jesus, we are to LOVE GOD, LOVE EACH OTHER, AND LOVE OTHERS

FAMILY CHALLENGE
Try having an electronics-free evening this week. This would include phones, tablets, game devices, etc. Be sure to include the adults in your household as well as the children. (No texting under the table!)
In those times you would normally be scrolling or playing games, think of ways you can show love to others and make a plan to do it.
Check in with each other about how it feels. What did you do with the time this opened up?

N.T. Wright – Lent as a Habit of the Heart

WEEK 1

Prayer

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Guard me, O Holy Spirit, that I myself may always be holy…Amen.

— A Prayer from Augustine of Hippo

Scripture Reading

John 13: 1-20

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 

2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 

3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 

4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,

5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”
Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”

11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?

13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am.

14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.

15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.

17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’

19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.

20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

Reflect • Journal • Pray

In v. 1-3, the narrator tells us how to read the story that follows. Jesus chose his actions and words carefully based on his sense of purpose. 

  • Which key relationships shaped Jesus’s sense of purpose?
    Which relationship was primary? 

  • How would you describe your purpose in life?
    Which key relationships are connected to your purpose? 

  • Jesus continued to function through betrayal by a close friend, top-level spiritual opposition, and torture with a powerful mindset (v. 3).

    • Who controls your future?
      How does that affect your mindset today?

    • Who controls your present?
      How does that affect your mindset?
  • What did Jesus’s example (v. 15) teach the disciples about serving?

  • Why did Jesus insist that he wash Peter’s feet?
    What was the symbolic meaning of being washed by Jesus?
    How can you apply that truth to your relationships?

  • Read v. 20 again.
    How would your life look if you lived like you were sent by Jesus?

Pray: Father, my life is in your hands. Who I am and what I am alive is also in your hands. Like Jesus, I want to live out who you say that I am. Are there impulses or tendencies within me that you want to change? Empower me to follow Jesus’s example for your other children: to forgive one another and to serve one another. Who do I need to ask for forgiveness? Who do I need to forgive? Who do you want me to serve? Guide me to someone this week whom you want me to tell about Jesus.

Family Conversation Guide for Lent

Making Lent An Opportunity to Dive Deeper as a Family

Lent is a prime time to introduce spiritual disciplines—prayer, fasting, remembering, simplicity, celebrating—into your family’s lifestyle and rhythms.

Lent is the 40 days—not including Sunday!—from Ash Wednesday to the Saturday before Easter. It’s a time to get our hearts ready to truly appreciate Jesus’ death for our sins and celebrate His resurrection.

Lent for kids could look like a fast from complaining, TV or movies, sugar or soda, social media, fast food, backtalk, even video games. Fasting chooses to snip the ties of habits that control us. It learns to appreciate the Giver more than our gifts.
To think about a meaningful fast, ask questions like, “What’s one thing that occasionally becomes too important to me. Or even masters me?” Or “What’s one activity that, instead of doing it, I could be hanging out with God?” The answer will probably be different for each of you.

Eric Ferris - Ash Wednesday
Christ Community Church