Starting tomorrow (Feb 26, 2020), City Harvest Church observes Lent with a focus on prayer and studying the Bible.
In the days leading up to Easter, Christians all around the world observe Lent to remember Jesus’ journey to the cross.
Lent is the 40-day period leading up to Easter. It starts on Ash Wednesday, which falls on Feb 26 this year, and ends on Easter Sunday. While Advent, the period leading to Christmas, is a season of joyous expectation, Lent is a season of contemplation and fasting. But the two different paths lead to the same destination, that is, rejoicing in Christ.
Observing Lent means we, as Christians, go on the journey that led Jesus to the cross. We are not only remembering the three days of Easter, but we also remember Jesus’ journey from the time He predicted His death, to the day He resurrected. This is often done through fasting and studying of the Word.
The number 40 is significant in the Bible. The great flood lasted 40 days and nights before God gave Noah and his family His covenant (Gen 7:17). The children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before arriving at the Promised Land (Deut 1:3). Moses was with the Lord for 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the Ten Commandments (Exo 34:28). Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness before His launch into ministry (Matt 4:1-2).
Observing 40 days of Lent helps us identify with Jesus’ period of fasting in the desert. As we walk with Jesus, not only do we share in His suffering, we also partake of His resurrection.
This year, from Feb 26 to Apr 11 (excluding Sundays), City Harvest Church is holding its first church-wide observance of Lent with a focus on prayer and studying of the Bible.
Here’s how you can be part of it:
THE CROWNING SESSIONS (FEB 26-28)
CHC’s inaugural online morning prayer meetings in 2019 were well-received last year, with numerous testimonies of the goodness of God. This year’s Crowning Sessions will mark the commencement of the church’s observance of Lent.
Join the church to pray online via The CHC App or CHC’s website from 26 to 28 Feb, 7 to 8 am. If you have a prayer request, put it up on the chat and the intercessors will reply you with a prayer for your need.
40-DAY BIBLE-READING PROGRAM
In his sermon early this month, CHC’s senior pastor Kong Hee taught that to follow Jesus, we must first understand who He is.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
CHC coincides its Lenten observance with a 40-day Bible-reading program for 2020, titled “In The Sandals Of Christ”. It guides readers through Who Jesus is, what He has done on the cross and the eternal, abundant life that is now made possible for us through Him.
“In The Sandals Of Jesus” is supported online via The CHC App, and it allows you to track your reading progress. There are also daily devotionals written by the pastors of CHC which will help you to study the Bible more meaningfully. At the end of 40 days of reading your Bible, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the journey Jesus took leading Him to not only the Cross but the Resurrection. Because of His victory, we too have victory over every situation in life.
CHURCH-WIDE BIBLE STUDY
Pastor Kong will also be conducting an online Bible study on the Book of Revelation. Log on to the church’s website or The CHC App on three Fridays—13, 20 and 27 Mar—at 8 pm to join in this deep dive into the Word.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
