Have a Blessed Easter!
Please enjoy an Easter greeting from the InFocus family to your family. May your holiday be blessed as you spend it with those you love!
https://www.greetingsisland.com/ecard/pyr3cogthpml
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Lent Challenge: 5 Questions to Make Holy Week More Inviting
Hard to believe that Holy week is just around the corner. What are you doing to lead people into their journey with Jesus? Below are 3 reflection questions to consider as you lead your people into Holy Week.
What is the significance of Holy Week?
I grew up in a home that valued following Jesus, and Holy Week was a part of our church practice. To be honest, when I was younger, I did not understand why we went to church on a Thursday, kind of understood Friday, and genuinely got the meaning of Easter. Reluctantly, I went to services, although I was not an active participant.
My earliest memories of Easter included Sunrise service (if we were super motivated). Instead of gathering at our campus for services, we traveled to a local high school football stadium where we combined the services into one big celebration. The worship director and his team pulled out all the stops; the pastor preached the gospel. The entire morning was intended for people to invite their friends and relatives with the hope that they might hear the gospel and respond. It is forever engraved in my memory.
If you grew up in a church environment, are leading in a liturgical congregational setting, or are educated in the rhythms of the church calendar – this will be boring and redundant. But if Holy Week is fuzzy in your mind or you are curious, hopefully this blog might fill in some gaps. Let’s get started!
Holy Week is the week beginning with the Sunday immediately leading up to Easter.
Day 1: Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday
Day 2: Jesus Clears the Temple on Monday
Day 3: Jesus Goes to the Mount of Olives on Tuesday
Day 4: Holy Wednesday
Day 5: Passover and Last Supper on Maundy Thursday
Day 6: Trial, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial on Good Friday
Day 7: Saturday in the Tomb
Why is this important?
Most churches in the West give their attention to Holy Week. In addition to Christmas, Easter is the prime weekend to invite people to a worship service. Many people who have never been to church are more likely to show up if invited by a trusting friend or relative; Easter still holds religious connotations in our culture.
Typically, as churches strive to be relevant to their constituents in the name of “effectiveness,” many have put Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday services in the background. The reasons are many, varied, and rational. At the same time, the rhythms and traditions that are lost can hurt the next generation because these events are like muscles that, when under-utilized, atrophy! Memories are short-lived.
Back to the point. Easter is a wonderful time to invite people to church. Even if your church is not a classic seeker church, this time of the year is strategic for church attendance.
3 Questions To Consider When Preparing for Holy Week
- What practices can you introduce to your people?
- What tools are you putting in people’s hands to make invitations easy?
- What are you doing to imprint Jesus on the next generation?
- What are you doing to make services inviting for visitors to your church?
- How are you following up with people who come to your services?
Lent Challenge – Week 5 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
May I suggest you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
- Day 1 – The Cross (See poem below.)
- Day 2 Or Day 3 – Stations of the Cross
- Day 4 – John 13:1-38 Lord’s Supper
- Day 5 – John 19:28-42 Crucifixion
- Day 6 – Holy Saturday
- Day 7 – Resurrection Sunday
The Cross by Lois Cheney
I stand before the cross
And wonder.
I stand before the cross
And fear.
I kneel before the cross
And weep.
I pray before the cross
And rejoice
To know the cross
Is to know Christ.
To feel the cross
Is to feel Christ.
To gaze at the cross
Is to gaze at Christ.
To carry the cross
Is to be a Christian,
And not until then.
God, forgive me.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Lent Challenge: Test a Contemplative Practice – How to Capture Intrusive or Negative Thoughts
What is a contemplative practice?
Let’s begin with terminology. A contemplative is someone who intentionally sets time aside to be with God, engaging and listening to Him. A contemplative practice is a discipline, exercise, approach, or tool to engage and listen to God.
How are contemplative practices different from the way I read the Bible and pray – or other spiritual disciplines?
In my experience, the ”typical” approach to reading the Bible, etc, is to transform beliefs. And this is obviously very, very valuable.
Contemplative practices are focused on spiritual formation. Yes, these two worlds overlap, but they can also be very different. Spiritual formation results in a transformation in the mind, body, and soul. It is fair to think of the “typical evangelical” approach as a precursor to contemplative practices. Not better, but different.
Before I lose you, let’s distill this down to an essential practice of “capturing intrusive or negative thoughts” (II Corinthians 10:5; Ephesians 4:23-24; Col 3:9-11). When you study the Desert Fathers and consider the depth of wisdom they gleaned in their monastic practices, you will see a continuity between evangelicalism and contemplative practice. Skip to the bottom to learn how to Capture Intrusive or Negative thoughts.
The mind is the gateway to the heart. Reading scripture and prayer can be a wonderful gateway into contemplative practice. Read on to learn how to establish new rhythms for spiritual formation in your life.
Where do I start with contemplative practices?
Begin with where you are. But how do you know where you are? This is a legitimate question.
It is easy to get overwhelmed when you consider where to start. If you have tried to develop a new hobby, you can relate. Pick a hobby, any hobby. Let’s say you want to learn how to maintain your mountain bike. One of the first jobs you want to learn is how to clean and lube your chain. This is essential. Perhaps you watch a video or read a blog, and you learn what tools are needed. The essentials include a cleaning agent (like Simple Green), rags, and lubricant. Once you have what you need, you execute. You might feel like you don’t exactly know what you are doing, but you do your best.
- Spray the chain with a cleaning agent, wipe it down, and repeat a couple of times.
- Once it dries, you apply the lubricant on the chain one link at a time.
- Let it sit overnight.
- Wipe off before you ride.
- You are good to go.
With regular practice, you become more comfortable with the process. Repetition creates familiarity; familiarity breeds habits.
Contemplative practices work in a similar manner.
3 Lessons I’ve Learned About Engaging in Contemplative Practices
- Create the space in your schedule to be with God
Intent is key, and that means scheduling a designated time in your daily routine. Guard it with your heart and mind. It does not matter when, but find a time that works for you to be quiet and attentive.
- Do more with less
Start with a time limit, and stick to it. If it is 5 minutes, then consistently show up. Repetition is key. It is like going to the gym. For years, when we were raising our family, I dragged myself to the gym at 5 in the morning even when I was tired, had sick kids, or didn’t feel like going. That discipline has formed a habit that I can draw from today.
- Ask for help
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the willingness to seek help. Once I recognized my need for help, AND sought out people who had more experience,I was able to make progress. In my case, I was able to connect with a spiritual director. You might need a spiritual friend or listener. I discovered when I engaged in direction, that things changed quickly .
5 Steps to Capture Intrusive or Negative Thoughts
Designate a time, preferably first thing in the morning, to give your attention to God
Sit in silence for 5 minutes
Pray the Jesus Prayer (see below)
Capture intrusive or negative thoughts throughout the course of your day
Determine if you want to accept or reject the thought
Lent Challenge – Week 4 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
May I suggest you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
- Day 1 – Mark 15:33-36
- Day 2 – Isaiah 53:3-6
- Day 3 – Luke 23:44-46
- Day 4 – Review the past three days.
- Day 5 – John 19:30
- Day 6 – Luke 23:47-49
- Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
The invitation the Lord presents is to simply carve out time for Him. That is really the essence of spiritual formation. Intent!
The Jesus Prayer is a simple and memorable prayer to be present with Jesus that combines three Bible verses:
- Philippians 2:6–11 (verse 11: “Jesus Christ is Lord”)
- Luke 1:31–35 (verse 35: “Son of God”),
- Luke 18:9–14, in which the Pharisee demonstrates the improper way to pray (verse 11: “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican”), whereas the Publican prays correctly in humility (verse 13: “God be merciful to me a sinner”).
Photo by Jake Young on Unsplash
Lent Challenge: 7 Reasons to Engage in the Suffering of Jesus
Why would I want to suffer?
Great question!
The answer is – “You shouldn’t!” Unless you understand the “why?”
Below I attempt to explain the intent, desire, and purpose behind this week’s grace from the pen of St. Ignatius:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
Sitting in the uncomfortable posture of Jesus’ suffering is not life-giving; it is difficult to contemplate the period of time leading up to His crucifixion. Jesus suffered in his humanity. He prayed to His Father to “take this cup from me”, “being in anguish”, with “his sweat like drops of blood”, and then expressing disappointment with His disciples when they fell asleep (Luke 22:39-46).
We lean towards the last week of Christ: Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, and finally Easter – because suffering is uncomfortable!.
3 problems when you skip through Holy Week and rush to Easter.
- Ignores Christ’s Humanity
It is a serious oversight when we see a film, read a passage, or are entertained by a dramatic portrayal of the suffering Christ because nothing can capture the true indignity, pain, and turmoil Christ experienced. This is one reason Lent is so valuable. It causes us to slow things down. Read scripture. Reflect. Pray. Imagine what it was like for Him over a prolonged period of time. Not a brief, momentary exposure of another’s interpretation.
- Overfocuses on Christ’s Divinity
Culturally it is comfortable to celebrate; it is uncomfortable to suffer. It is natural to gravitate to Easter. It is easier to follow the narrative leading to the resurrection; difficult to sit in the uncomfortable space of seeing Jesus tormented, tortured,and abused. But that is precisely the part of the gospel story that needs equal attention. The more we engage with His suffering, the more human Jesus becomes.
- Undervalues the Sacrifice Christ Made on Behalf of All Creation
When we grasp that Jesus was and is fully human, then we can appreciate His divinity differently. I read this line from a book recently entitled Gentle and Lowly by Dane Orland that caused me to stop and think:
“The Son of God clothed himself with humanity and will never unclothe himself”.
Jesus did not unclothe Himself after the resurrection. Orland further says:
“One implication of this truth of Christ’s permanent humanity is that when we see the feeling and passions and affections of the incarnate Christ toward sinners and sufferers as given to us in the four Gospels, we are seeing who Jesus is for us today.”
Jesus has not put His humanity aside, nor has He put His divinity aside; He knows your suffering, intimately.
7 Reasons to Engage in the Suffering of Jesus
It will expand your ability to understand Jesus’ divinity.
It will grow your capacity to empathize with people.
It will help you navigate the sense of feeling overwhelmed.
It will create greater openness to reach out for help.
It will allow you to see different sides of a problem you face.
It will allow you to see different sides of a problem other people face.
Lent Challenge – Week 3 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
May I suggest you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
- Day 1 – Matthew 27:32-44
- Day 2 – Luke 23:33-44
- Day 3 – Philippians 2:5-8
- Day 4 – Review the past three days.
- Day 5 – Luke 23:38-43
- Day 6 – John 19:25-27
- Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
10 Ways to Walk Through Lent
It’s not too late to take up a spiritual practice for Lent! Winfield Bevins has several ideas for how to make room in your life to grow closer to God in his article, including:
- Reflect on the Cross
- Pray Daily
- Read the Bible
- Give Up Something
- Start a Good Habit
- Give Your Time
- Keep a Journal
- Make Time for Your Family
- Give Your Money
- Forgive Others
The invitation the Lord presents is to simply carve out time for Him. That is really the essence of spiritual formation- being intentional. It is up to you to take the next step.
Photo by Nigel Cohen on Unsplash
Lent Challenge: 7 Benefits of Spiritual Discernment When Making Decisions
What’s the deal with the Ignatian Exercises?
Since the fall of 2020, I have been on a steep learning curve in spiritual formation. That is, I have intentionally engaged in the process of learning from the Desert Fathers, Mothers, and influential Jesus followers—ancient practices that have survived the crucible of time. Part of that journey has been engaging in the Ignatian Exercises with a spiritual director.
The purpose of the Ignatian Exercises is for spiritual discernment in making decisions.
Aren’t The Exercises outdated?
Though Ignatius lived over 470 years ago, his life and the spiritual insights he gained have stood the test of time. They have been critiqued, criticized, and discounted; however, they have been passed down through the generations. My experience is that this is a tool that has helped me engage in my spiritual formation, so I want to share it with you!
But I’ve heard they’re problematic…
You’re right, there are some things to consider:
- It’s a bit “old school”: Ignatius was a soldier, so his orientation to spirituality is coming from a male perspective and specifically from the view of a young man who was seriously injured in battle, convalescing, and reflecting on his life. During that time he read two influential books: Ludolph the Carthusian’s Life of Christ and Jacobus de Voragine’s The Book of the Lives of the Saints. If you would like more background on Ignatius, I recommend reading the brief biography of Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner.
- It has a Catholic vibe: Ignatius was Catholic, so there are references to saints and certain Catholic beliefs, but you can adapt it to your own faith journey. Think of it as using a framework that you personalize and adapt to evangelical theology.
- It’s structured: Some people find that too rigid, but let’s be honest, most of us could use a little more structure in our spiritual lives. It’s like having a map when you’re lost.
- It uses imagination: Yes, you’ll be asked to imagine scenes from the Bible or your own life. Some worry that this is dangerous, but when done in the context of scripture, it can be a powerful tool to connect with your faith.
Why is this helpful?
When making decisions, it is helpful to have a process that has a strong discernment component embedded in it to engage the mind and the soul. You are probably familiar with secular decision-making processes such as the decision-making tree, writing a list of pros vs. cons, or various prioritization exercises. I have discovered that when I only use my mind, I run the risk of missing out on other aspects God wants me to engage to gain the greatest benefit.
I wrote a blog entitled How to Make a Prayerful Decision that outlines the process I adapted, with the help of my spiritual director.
7 Benefits of Spiritual Discernment When Making Decisions
It helps you stay curious. Instead of thinking you know everything, you’re open to new ideas.
It helps you consider all your options. You don’t just jump at the first thing that comes to mind.
It helps you stay focused. You don’t get sidetracked by distractions.
It encourages you to ask for help. You don’t have to do it alone.
It helps you seek what’s truly best. Not just what’s easy or convenient.
It helps you stay humble. You remember that you’re not in control.
Lent Challenge – Week 3 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
May I suggest you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
- Day 1 – Matthew 26:57-68
- Day 2 – Matthew 26:69-75
- Day 3 – Luke 23:1-7
- Day 4 – Review the past three days.
- Day 5 – Luke 23:8-12
- Day 6 – Luke 23:13-25
- Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
The invitation the Lord presents is to simply carve out time for Him. That is really the essence of spiritual formation. Being intentional. It is up to you to take the next step.
Photo by Jens Lelie on Unsplash
Lent Challenge: Finding Spontaneity through Spiritual Disciplines
“Interestingly, by intentionally practicing spiritual disciplines, my relationship with Jesus has become more spontaneous.”
Dallas Willard
Sounds like an oxymoron!
Can you relate? The more you do a certain thing, the better you can respond in the moment. Especially through regular, disciplined practice.
For example, I ride mountain bikes. 30+ years ago when I first started riding, I learned the importance of looking forward vs. looking down, leaning into turns instead of slowing down, and the keys to good balance. Now I am much more able to remain in the moment, anticipate obstacles ahead, and leverage my momentum. The discipline of riding over 8,000 miles and climbing over 100,000 feet since 2016 (which is when I began logging miles on Strava) has contributed to my ability to become more agile, responsive, and spontaneous on the trails.
Practicing spiritual disciplines works in a similar manner. The more hours you put in, the more familiar you become to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit – until His voice becomes the dominant voice you hear, listen to, and obey. This is the goal of Christian spiritual formation.
At the bottom of this blog is a challenge for Week 2 of Lent!
Before you go there, let’s focus on three common disciplines during Lent:
- Sabbath Rest: Take time to disconnect and recharge.
- Silence: Find moments of quiet to listen to God.
- Fasting: Explore how less can lead to more.
What are the benefits?
- Sabbath Rest: You feel more alive.
- Silence: You will discover new opportunities to engage with Jesus throughout the day.
- Fasting: You will cleanse your body of impurities that clutter your heart and mind.
How does discipline lead to spontaneity?
Great question! Discipline feeds new habits. New habits feed new behaviors. New behaviors feed creative responses. Spiritual formation works the same way.
What difference does it make?
Another great question! I believe there is a correlation between spiritual formation and ministry fruit. The disciplines I have engaged with and practiced alongside my ministry development gives me the ability to discover creative solutions, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
What does that look like?
I have a project that I am working on with a team that involves a disciple-making and leader development process. We have clarified the vision of when we know we have been successful, then worked backwards, breaking down the problem into manageable pieces. Now that we have the manageable pieces, we can address each one, one-by-one, making adjustments as necessary.
Lent Challenge – Week 2 of Lent!
As we journey through the weeks leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion and eventual resurrection, I will draw from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The exercises have helped me and many, many others throughout church history to listen to and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, especially when discerning direction.
I invite you to consider the “grace” (or “prayer of intent”) for this week:
“The grace you are seeking is to sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, with tears and interior suffering because of the suffering Christ endured for you.”
St. Ignatius (1491-1556)
Perhaps you read through the following passages on this schedule beginning next Monday:
- Day 1 – Matthew 26:36-41
- Day 2 – Luke 22: 39-44
- Day 3 – Matthew 26:47-54
- Day 4 – Review the past three days.
- Day 5 – Matthew 26:55-56
- Day 6 – John 18:12-27
- Day 7 – Review the past week.
* Journey with Jesus by Larry Warner
The invitation the Lord presents to you, is unique to you. If you are reading this blog, chances are you are searching. Chances are you want a change. Chances are you are desiring a different outcome. If so, the Lord’s invitation might be for you to engage differently than you have in the past. Take courage! He desires more and more of you. He is not passively waiting; He desires to connect with you. He is urging you to take the next step.
Photo by Omar Gattis on Unsplash