Lent Series Fasting Guide
Lent & Fasting Introduction Sermon
Fasting Overview
Why fasting?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which we intentionally lay down things that define or sustain us order to be more fully defined and sustained by God. For a time, we stop certain habits (eating, entertainment, distraction) in order to develop new habits (Scripture, prayer, community, justice). During this year’s Lenten fast, we are all participating together in a fast that combines laying down distracting habits and picking up a greater awareness of the biblical call to justice.
Week 1
Lay down: all unnecessary screens
Pick up: watch and discuss the film Just Mercy
The average American spends an inordinate amount of time looking at screens each week, and often this prevents us from truly seeing the world and the people around us. This week, beginning on Monday, don’t use screens unless you need them for work, school, or family life. Use the free time created to read the Word of God, pray, and spend time in community. In your only screen time this week, watch the movie Just Mercy (which is available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and other platforms). After you have watched the film, discuss it community (with your family, your friends, your house church).
Week 2
Lay down: the 24-hour news cycle
Pick up: a habit of interceding through the news
There is certainly nothing wrong with being informed about what’s going on in the world (in fact, this is a good thing), but the advent of the 24-hour news cycle has made a dangerous idol in the name of being informed. This week, rather than being consumed by the news, we are going to thoughtfully and prayerfully engage with the news. Dedicate no more than 30-minutes per day to reading the news from a reputable, non-biased source (refer to the guide to identify a useful source: stay in the green rectangle). Use the provided intercession guide to help you pray through what you read.
Week 3
Lay down: social media
Pick up: read and discuss Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Social media is one the primary distractions of our 21st century world. This week, we set it aside in order to more thoroughly engage with God and one another in vitally important conversation about race, reconciliation, and justice. Use the time created by fasting social media to read Martin Luther King’s brilliant piece: Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Be sure to discuss what you’ve read with your family, your friends, and/or your house church.
Week 4
Lay down: non-essential spending
Pick up: donate to justice seeking non-profits
It’s amazing how much money we all spend on non-essentials every week. This week, let’s buy only what we need (groceries, bills, etc.) and use the extra money we have to support non-profits who are caring for the vulnerable both locally and around the world. If you need some help identifying reputable non-profits, refer to the provided guide.
Week 5
Lay down: hurry
Pick up: neighborhood prayer walks
The frantic pace of our lives is one of the primary reasons that we miss out on what God wants to do in and through us. This week, as we slow down and learn to be where we are, we will begin to cultivate an awareness of the presence of God at work in our lives and our communities. Refer to the provided strategies for fasting hurry, and in its place spend some time walking and praying for the neighborhood around your house or church. Use the provided prayer guide to help structure your time.
Week 6
Lay down: food from Wednesday to Friday
Pick up: memorize Isaiah 58:1-12
The most simple and powerful thing we can give up during Lent is food. When we give up regular meals, we are making a statement that we are sustained not by food “but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This week, as you are able, fast food for 72-hours, from Wednesday through Friday (eat dinner on Tuesday night and again on Friday night). In place of those meals, take the opportunity to feast on the Word of God by memorizing our theme passage for this year’s Lent: Isaiah 58.