 Lent Bible Reading Series
5 March
2014 to 20th April 2014
Week 1/7: by Major Kath Jones, Asst.
Spiritual Life Development Secretary
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Welcome to the Lent Bible Reading Series
by Major Kath Jones - Asst. Spiritual Life Development Secretary
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.
Consider: Sharing this Lent period with a group
of fellow travellers
Pray: Heavenly Father, as we begin our Lent journey
today may you be our companion: guide our thinking and inspire our hearts
through your son Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
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.’
Consider: Think about Luther’s comment and
discuss with others.
Pray: Repeat the Lord’s Prayer slowly and pause between
each line.
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.
Consider: Listening to a choral recording of
the Lord’s Prayer
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