David Donnan

Each Lent I remember how hard it is for preachers, at least this preacher, to decide what to give up/take up for Lent. I seem to have tried a lot: give up caffeine, fast food, social media, TV, or starting new disciplines.

After much debate I have decided to try to make 40 blog posts over Lent. It could be a reflection, a sermon, or simply a quote I find moving.

Looking forward to sharing with you in Lent 2020.

By the way, I am counting this as the number one post.

I recently had someone text me and ask for some advice. They wanted a Bible study podcast to listen to. I could not think of any. I actually think an audio version of a Bible study would be difficult to do well.

I could, however, think of several pastors who preach the Word of God in a powerful way that could meet the need of someone who enjoys listening. Here is a brief list with the iTunes links to their sermons. Most of these are available on multiple podcasts apps.

1. Tara Beth Leach is the pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, CA. She is a powerful and engaging preacher. She has started 2020 preaching on joy but has had to write several of these sermons from the hospital. Hear how God is showing her and her church what joy means. iTunes Podcasts 
2. Shane Bishop is the pastor of Christ Church, a United Methodist church, in Fairview, IL. He has a long tenure, serving since 1997. He proudly proclaims the Bible to win souls to Jesus. iTunes Podcasts
3. Jorge Acevedo is the pastor at Grace Church, a United Methodist church in the Ft. Meyers, FL area. Jorge is a winsome communicator with a heart for recovery. I really enjoy his messages and positive attitude. iTunes Podcasts
4. Jessica LaGrone is the Dean of the Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. She doesn’t preach every week but every time she preaches it will move you. She is one of the most powerful preachers I know of. iTunes Podcasts

Wow! This was way harder than I thought. I could have easily added another 20 to this list but I don’t want to overwhelm anyone starting out listening to sermons.

Who is your “go to” preacher you recommend when someone asks?

“Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection.” – United Methodist Book of Worship

How can you get the most out of Lent? Here are six helpful tips.

1. Read the Seedbed Daily Text or another devotional guide. If I am traveling and can’t find my Bible or if I get into a rut, my go to devotional is the Seedbed Daily Text. It is a short scripture based devotion. During lent find a way each day to get in touch with the scriptures.
2. Read through a Gospel. If you want something different from a devotion you should read through a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) in a Bible. I know reading the Bible can be a challenge. I have a whole podcast on it. A great place to start is with a Gospel. Read half a chapter a day and see how far you can get before Easter.
3. Spend some time in prayer. One of the best things we can do is stop and pray. I challenged my church to set a phone alarm for 12:12p.m. Each day when it goes off just stop and say a quick prayer to God. I am amazed at the difference it has made in my life.
4. Listen to some spiritual music. Listening to Christian music is a lot easier than it used to be. I remember buying my first Third Day CD at the Cordele, GA Wal-Mart. Now you can listen on your phone for free (with commercials). I use the Pandora app. I have stations that play hymns, contemporary Christian music, and instrumental Christian music. Even if it is just playing in the background it makes a difference.
5. Come to Church. No really, come to church. Come check out an Ash Wednesday service, especially if you have never been. It is one of the most meaningful moments of the Christian year. Also, check out Sunday worship at a local church during lent.
6. Develop a long range view of spiritual formation. One of the challenges with “to do” lists like this is we think, “if I check off everything I will arrive at some perfect level.” These actually are not quick fixes as much as they are about developing spiritual formation habits for the rest of your life. Check out this 3 minute video by Dr. Brian Russell about playing the long game with spiritual formation.

Bonus tip: Let these practices guide you into serving/loving others. My hope is these inner personal habits will lead you to an outward service of loving your neighbor!

More Lent Resources

• Seven Quick Notes About Lent via Seedbed by Andrew Dragos
• 4 Ways to Observe Lent
• Ash Wednesday Episode of Chuck Knows Church
• Lent Episode of Chuck Knows Church
• More Lent Resources