by Leo Schuster | Lead Pastor
Each year at City Church we observe the season of Lent, as millions of people do throughout the world. We think it’s an excellent opportunity to be more intentional about spiritual searching and growth.
The origins of Lent trace back to the ancient church. Historically it has been recognized as a season of preparation for Easter, often characterized by spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, repentance, care for the poor, and fasting. Lent spans the forty days leading up to Easter, excluding Sundays, which are considered feast days.
But why forty days? It echoes the forty days Jesus spent being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. Forty, however, is also connected to other important biblical stories, such as the forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. Moses, who led them, has interesting links to the number forty, as do other notable figures like Noah, David, and Elijah.
For our Lent series this year we’ll explore passages like these that are associated with the number forty. This isn’t about uncovering hidden codes or secret messages found in scriptural numbers. The Bible isn’t some numerological code we need to decipher. It’s the substance of these passages that can help us cultivate a robust experience of Lent, inspiring us to develop our own rhythms of spiritual seeking and renewal.
Please join us each Sunday in Lent, beginning March 9, and invite a friend to come with you.
