Tag: bible

Bible Study

“For Lent, rather than giving something up, I’m taking something on. Here is what and why…”

Although change is ever-present, during Lent it gets put a bit more in the spotlight. One original description of Lent is “a Christian season of spiritual preparation before Easter, focusing on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the miracle of His Resurrection.” Along the same lines, Christians give up something as a form of penitence or repentance. So, in simple terms, making a sacrifice to request forgiveness for our sins.

Makes sense, but I have always struggled a bit with the logic. Not asking for forgiveness, as I need to do that daily, but how giving up chocolate exactly helps me ask.

A few years ago, I read about adding something versus giving something up, to take extra time for reflection and to draw closer to God. That felt much more like getting prepared for our Savior than feeling guilty over chocolate. So, since then, I have taken that route.

This year, before Lent started, my husband and I came upon the series “The Chosen”, about Jesus and his ministry with the disciples. If you haven’t watched it, I highly suggest you do, as it really brings the Gospel into a very relatable and relational focus. Since Jesus and the disciples were Jewish, they spend much of their interaction discussing the Torah and Jewish law, and how Jesus’ teachings differed yet aligned with them. Honestly, I have never been a real fan of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) as I didn’t really get the lineage and rules and really don’t have much overall recall of the entire Old Testament, to be truthful. (Ever so thankful, however, for all SUMC’s Bible studies, as they have been my real education over the past few years!). However, after watching this show, I was suddenly more aware that Jesus and the disciples only had the Old Testament; and if I wanted to get closer to Jesus, I needed to understand where he was coming from when he set out on his change of the world. So I decided to read the Bible for Lent!

Okay, I probably won’t get through it all by Easter, but I have finished Genesis! I curl up in bed at night and read a few chapters. To help me along, I am following the Bible App (You Version), and they have a “365 days for reading the Bible” plan — well, they have many plans actually; but I am following the one with the Bible Project because it really helps simplify and summarize the various books of the Bible with discussions and wonderful drawings. (I finally figured out how the tribes got to Egypt and why book 2 is Exodus from there –- I know, pretty sad at my age to just figure that out.)

Regardless of my slow Biblical progress, I already feel much closer to Jesus. I think this Lent will be different, and I am hoping with all my heart that it is, as I can think of nothing better than understanding Jesus, so I can “walk close to thee”.

-Jen Rockwell

Entering God’s Presence

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say; rejoice. Let your gentleness be made known to everyone. Do not worry about anything but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4: 4-7

This is a favorite Bible verse of mine. Lent can be a time to evaluate our relationship with God, and to think about what we need to change in our lives to please God. We might ask: Does God have a plan for my life? Am I living out that plan? What hinders me?

I tend to be a worrier. I often see the possible problems in given situations or circumstances, rather than the possibilities or positives. This verse tells me not to worry, but to trust God and turn over my concerns to Him. Prayer is that tool for doing this, but my/your prayers should not just be requests and cries for help. They should be punctuated with thanks for my/your blessings (which are many). And then a peace that surpasses understanding will come. I’m still working on that feeling!

Belonging to a faith community for fellowship, support, and understanding of God’s word has always been important to me. I have been part of a faith community since childhood. My dad helped start a church in our lake community in New Jersey. I went to Christian overnight camp. In college, I attended chapel each morning. I was a member of SUMC for 45 years and now of a UCC church in Plymouth. I taught Sunday School, served on Commissions, was in a Women’s Circle, and enjoyed Bible studies and many retreats. Some of my best friends I met through the faith communities I belonged to.

I think God put into my heart to enter His presence every day and to share my faith with others. Jim and I spend time each morning to pray together and read several devotions. I was part of a Covenant Group at SUMC, and Jim and I started one at our church in Plymouth.

There are so many ways you can enter into God’s presence daily. This pleases God. Gratitude for God’s creation, reaching out or visiting someone who is ill or hurting, thanking God for blessings rather than complaining, attending and participating in worship, and encouraging others are just a few of the ways that please God.

What will you do this Lent and beyond to please God and enter into God’s presence?

-Nancy Sweeney
[former SUMC member, now living in Plymouth, MA]