We are just over a week away from Easter. In some church traditions, the period leading up to Easter is meant to be marked by fasting during Lent. Similarly, of course, Advent would have marked a period of fasting up until Christmas rather than an excuse for a daily chocolate! Now, I’m from a background… Continue reading What is fasting really all about? Should Christians fast or not?
Tag: Lent
Isaiah in Lent
If you are looking for something to work through in the build up to Easter why not have a look at Arise and Shine. I put this together a couple of years ago specifically to include reflections for each of the 50 days of Lent.
40 days in Isaiah – a Lent course
We are approaching Lent, the build up to Easter. Whilst there is no compulsion on believers to observe particular seasons, fasts and festivals, many do find it helpful to set aside specific time for prayer, reflection and study. Last year I put together a series of readings and studies working through Isaiah as a potential Lent course. You… Continue reading 40 days in Isaiah – a Lent course
The New Heavens and New Earth
What is your experience of living in “the now and the not yet” between Jesus first coming and second coming? Are you looking forward to his return, excited about eternity? Do you ever become despondent and ask “How long?” Does it ever feel as though God is distant and silent? Read Isaiah 65 -66 Yahweh’s… Continue reading The New Heavens and New Earth
Vindication
The “Day of the Lord” is both a day of “favour”, a jubilee of jubilees and a day of vengeance. God pronounces judgement on sin and evil. For believers in Jesus, there is the good news that their sin was judged on the Cross but for those who reject Jesus, there is still the judgement… Continue reading Vindication
The Lord’s favour
We now arrive at one of those big hitter chapters in Isaiah, one of the best-known parts of Scripture and the bit that Jesus takes and makes his manifesto at the outset of his ministry. Having seen how Isaiah has built up to focus on the Servant as the one who ushers in God’s reign,… Continue reading The Lord’s favour
New Dawn
A big theme in Isaiah is “light in the darkness.” The situation described earlier in the book is of darkness falling on the land causing people to become lost, stumbling about. It’s the darkness of night because night and sleep are associated with sadness, despair and death. So, here in the later chapters, we are… Continue reading New Dawn
Isaiah in a week – breaking the book down
Some of you have been working through Isaiah, a day at a time through Lent. Other’s wont have had time to do this but perhaps you’d like a different or additional challenge, to read through the book in the week leading up to Easter. Here’s a possible outline to help you do this. Even if… Continue reading Isaiah in a week – breaking the book down
God’s chosen fast
Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that the Old Testament is all about law and judgement whilst the New Testament is about grace, love and mercy. We rightly respond by showing that the Old is full of references to God’s love and compassion whilst Jesus and the apostles all talk about what it means… Continue reading God’s chosen fast
The barren and the outcast
The impact of Christ’s death and resurrection on our behalf is meant to be life transforming and community transforming. Read Isaiah 54-56 Isaiah pictures an infertile woman, seemingly deserted with it seeming impossible for her to have children. However, the barren one is blessed and now able to sing, she will have children and so… Continue reading The barren and the outcast
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