Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ! Welcome to our 2024 Lenten Journal. 2024 is our year for Digging Deeper at Bethel AME Church. This Lent, we will reflect on the seven last words of Jesus from the cross on Good Friday. Our reflections will be deepened by journaling and the practice of spiritual disciplines. You will find in each week that our Christian Education Director - Sis. Heidi Stevens has paired the weekly scripture with a spiritual exercise and journal prompts. This way, we will dig deeper into Christ's words from the cross through spiritual practice and written reflection. Our theme for the year comes from Luke 6:46-49 (NRSV). In this text, Jesus says true discipleship involves coming to him, hearing his words, and acting on them. When we set aside time to pray, fast, read the Bible, and journal, we move toward Jesus. When we integrate the words of Jesus into our hearts and thinking, we genuinely hear his words. When we act on and obey Jesus's words, we lay a protective foundation for our lives. Jesus says that when we hear and act on his words, we build our houses by digging deeply to lay a foundation on the rock where the house can be anchored. When the storm comes and hits our houses, our houses will not shake! The storm may hit us, but it won't shake us! Hallelujah! This Lenten season, may we all find strength and guidance by immersing ourselves deeply in our spiritual journey with God. Through dedicated prayer, fasting, reading, studying, listening, meditating, serving, worshipping, and praising God, and by loving our neighbors as ourselves, let us build a strong foundation that safeguards our lives, marriages, families, health, careers, dreams, finances, ministries, and communities. When the storms hit - and the storms will come - the storms won't be able to shake us. Please take advantage of this amazing journal. Each week, meditate on the corresponding word from the cross. Do the exercises. Answer the questions. Listen to God. Follow what God tells you. Then, you will find that you've begun to Dig Deeper! Here's the promise of God: when we Dig Deeper - we become UNSHAKEABLE! LET'S START DIGGING DEEPER!!!!!! In the Grip of His Grace, Rev. Patrick D. Clayborn, Ph.D. Senior Pastor Bethel AME Church, Baltimore
Lenten is a season of self-reflection, an inward journey designed to allow the Holy Spirit to create an atmosphere of repentance, healing, and hope in our hearts. Our intention this Lenten season is to become one with Christ as we experience the intimate interactions between Jesus and his Father and others as Jesus breathes out his last words on the cross. We are praying this Lenten Season Journal will encourage and challenge you to go beyond “giving up” your favorite treats this season to dig deeper and then a bit deeper to hear and uncover what God is revealing to you. Our response to God’s expansion is to go deeper in our relationship with Him. At the end of these 40 days, our spiritual growth will be proportionate to how deep we are willing to go. You can go basic using spoons, shovels, spades, or digging bars, or go deeper with a tiller or an excavator. What You Can Expect Each week during our seven-week Lenten journey, we will focus on one of the seven last statements of Jesus, a corresponding scripture, and a spiritual discipline that will help open the door to true inner transformation. Tips for the Journey 1. Set aside quality private time between Monday and Saturday beginning on Ash Wednesday, which encompasses the 40 days of Lent, for your reflection. 2. Read the scripture in various bible translations and focus on the version that speaks to your understanding. (NIV, KJV, NRSV, MSG). 3. Use the spiritual disciplines and Dig Deeper prompts to journal in the notes section to capture your thoughts and feelings over the 40 day journey. Journaling will help you to measure your spiritual growth. Use an additional journal if needed. 4. God is about to do something special in your life. Expect distractions that threaten your progress and time with God. Acknowledge that it is a distraction, and stay committed to moving forward. 5. Prepare for a wide range of feelings during your journey. Pray through the uncomfortable feelings by presenting them to the Lord. If you need to, reach out to us for spiritual support or a mental health provider for emotional or mental health support. 6. Invite someone to journey with you- sharing only those feelings and thoughts you feel comfortable sharing. Digging Deeper
My Spiritual Goals By the end of my 40-day 2024 Lenten season journey, I want to...
: Spiritual Discipline Lectio Divina- Divine reading, a dialogue with God through scripture. 1. Read-Luke 23:33-34. What word or phrase speaks to you? Linger with that word or phrase. 2. Reflect- What is God saying to you in this passage? What is He asking you to do? 3. Respond -Read the passage again. Offer your thoughts, feelings, insights to God. 4. Rest -Rest in God’s presence and listen. Let’s Dig Deeper: How will I live the scripture this week? : Week One February 14-17 First Word “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: Luke 23:34, NIV (New International Version)
: Spiritual Discipline Meditation- Slow down and feel the weight of God’s word. 1. Sit in a comfortable and quiet place to receive your gift from God. 2. Breathe deeply on the count of one and slowly release dropping your shoulders and relaxing your mouth and entire body on the count of five (four times) 3. Read Luke 23: 39-43 and imagine yourself in the scene. Let’s Dig Deeper What are you noticing about the criminals? What are you noticing about Jesus? What do you want to say to Jesus? What do you want Jesus to say to you? : Week Two February 19-24 Second Word Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: Luke 23:43, NIV (New International Version) “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
: Spiritual Discipline Service- Service that builds community. 1. Think of one person you know is struggling or isolated from family members. Text, call, or send them a card to see how you can bless them. 2. Share a word of hope. Let’s Dig Deeper Be aware of people coming into your mind this week and ask God how you should pray for them or serve them. List your prayers below: : Week Three February 26-March 2 Third Word “Woman, here is your son.” Son, here is your mother.” Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: John 19:26-27, NIV (New International Version)
: Spiritual Discipline Silence- Entering a quiet space within yourself. This week, find quiet time to focus on Jesus’ experience on the cross. Through prayer, drive out fear of being alone or rejected to create a space to hear from God. 1. Move through your day and evening with as little conversation as possible. If you can, experience total silence as you prepare for and end your day, commute to work, and at mealtimes. 2. Turn off your television and music, and unplug from the internet, social media, and unnecessary conversations. Let’s Dig Deeper What is most challenging about silence to you? What have you learned about yourself through silence? What is God saying to you through the silence? Has silence made you a better listener? Has the silence made you feel helpless or hopeful? : Week Four March 4-9 Fourth Word Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: Mark 15:34, NIV (New International Version) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
: Spiritual Discipline Fasting-Feasting on the word of God Incorporate a fast of your choosing this week. Select from a Daniel Fast, a 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. fast, a partial fast of one or two meals, a fast from television, social media, or unnecessary conversations. During your fast, feast on the word of God by reading Passion Week scriptures from Jesus’ Triumphal Entry to the Resurrection and comparing accounts from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You can also focus on the scripture of the week, John 19:28-29. Let’s Dig Deeper How did the word of God empower you to move through your fast? Did your fast enable you to hear more clearly from God? What did the fast reveal about your life? What did the fast reveal about the ministry of Jesus? : Week Five March 11-16 Fifth Word Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: John 19:28-29, NIV (New International Version) “I am thirsty.”
: Spiritual Discipline Daily Examen- Prayerful reflection on the events of the day to see where God is working in your everyday life. 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your emotions. 4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 5. Look toward tomorrow. Let’s Dig Deeper Is there any “unfinished business” from the day that you need to offer to God? Is there anything that worries you about tomorrow? If so, offer it to God. What is God saying to you through John 19:30? : Week Six March 18-23 Sixth Word Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: John 19:30, NIV (New International Version) “It is Finished.”
: Spiritual Discipline Submission-Freedom to live the “cross-life.” In the Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster calls the cross-life the life of voluntary submission. We see the cross-life best demonstrated by Jesus’ life of servant leadership and willing death on the cross. What does Luke 23:46 show us about Jesus’ revolutionary subordination? Let’s Dig Deeper Are there areas in my life where I’ve refused to submit to God? How did I walk out the cross-life to demonstrate servant leadership this week? How can I practice self-denial and put others first this week? : Week Seven March 25-30 Seventh Word Lenten Season 2024 Scripture: Luke 23:46, NIV (New International Version) “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Study Resources Below are a few resources that will help enhance your experience this Lenten Season. BibleGateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/ (Various bible translations, reading plans, study tools) Jesuits Daily Examen: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatianexamen/ Blue Letter Bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/ (Timelines, Commentaries, Maps, Charts) BibleProject: https://bibleproject.com/ (Various learning resources) Bethel AME Church School, Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom. Bethel AME Bible Study, Wednesday at Noon @bethelamebaltimore Bethel AME Call to Prayer, Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 a.m. 701-801- 1211, access code 195-543-462 Resources I Want to Explore
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