Following the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent Year B, this seven week Lent sermon series invites your congregation to ponder what new things God may be doing. It lifts up Lent as a time for restoration and renewal of trust in God’s promises.
Week 1: “A New World”
Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17
While Noah’s Ark is often treated as a child’s story, it exposes some difficult truths about the violence wielded by humans–and, once, by God. The ancient Hebrew people, who were hit by a great flood along with the many other middle eastern cultures, used their experience to tell the story of God turning away from the kind of violence all the other gods of the near east wielded casually. For the Hebrew people, the word qashet, bow, referred to both a rainbow and an archer’s bow equally. When God hangs the bow in the clouds, God is literally putting away a warrior’s weapon. God is holstering a gun, disarming a bomb, sheathing a knife. The rainbow is a weapon, cast away and turned into a symbol of peace. Although God knows that humans will still turn to violence, God’s choice is clear: God will not destroy. God has done God’s part to create a new world. Will we?
Week 2: “A New Family”
Scripture: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Abram’s story is one of God constantly making promises and covenants—by the time we get to this passage, they have had this conversation about Abram’s destiny, to be the father of many descendants, at least three times already. This one, however, uses language that looks far beyond just a family, to “nations.” The Jewish people who read this story understood themselves to be the family that God created, the one family connected across time and distance even as they were scattered throughout the nations. As Christians, we understand ourselves to be part of those nations descended from Abraham—not by blood, but by faith. To a degree, by choice. We are the nations, the goyim, those who have agreed to be family. To accept that belonging to God means we belong to each other as well—that to love God is to love all God’s children.
Week 3: “A New Law”
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17
The 10 Commandments are the Bible’s very own version of a DTR, that (in)famous talk where two partners “define the relationship.” Ironically, when both partners know the rules and boundaries of their interactions, they can relax and enjoy their relationship more. God commits to exclusivity and respect for the Hebrew people, and asks them to do the same. To live out the ten commandments is to commit to our relationship with God.
Week 4: “A New Purpose”
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10
This is as close as the Bible offers to a concise statement of Reformed theology. Paul assures us that God’s love, and mercy, and grace comes first. Always. We are saved through grace, through God’s choice, not because we earn it or deserve it but simply because God loves us that much. God cannot abide for sin to slowly suffocate us, to watch us live our lives as if we might as well be dead. God offers us a new kind of life now, and in Christ raises us up to the heavenly places. But that new life does not come without a purpose. It does not come without a call to this world. Ephesians reminds us that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works—that we are not just saved from sin but that we are saved for the purpose of doing good in our neighborhoods, our communities, our world.
Week 5: “A New Heart”
Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34
From his vantage point after the exile, Jeremiah writes about the new covenant written on our hearts. Before, God’s covenant with the people was external. Chiseled on to stone tablets, things that could be broken, passed around, lost. This time, God is going in for a bit of open-heart surgery on the people of Israel. They have gotten so lost—first in cruelty to each other, and later in wondering if God has abandoned them to Babylon—the externals no longer hold any power. This internal covenant, though, is not about looking like God’s people. It’s about loving like God’s people. This is a covenant of forgiveness, of restoration and renewal, of starting over. This is a story about just how far God will go to reclaim the people God has chosen. God has every reason to walk away now, but God doesn’t. God never does. God’s heart is determined to connect with our own, no matter how much we might feel we don’t deserve it.
Week 6: “A New Story”
Palm/Passion Sunday
Scripture: Mark 14:12-26 (this is a portion of the RCL passion text)
The ancient Roman empire had a strict script about what it meant to be powerful–one that involved familial prestige, military might, opulent wealth, and violent victory. In his compassion and crucifixion, Jesus flips that script, coming humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey, pouring himself out for his friends, and ultimately dying for us and our salvation. The power of God is not in being high above us, but right here with us, walking through our human story of pain, suffering, and new life.
Week 7: “A New Creation”
Easter Sunday
Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 + 2 Corinthians 5:13-21
On Easter, we celebrate the new life offered in Christ–but in our culture, newness often means tossing away anything old or broken. However, our newness in Christ doesn’t require us to be all shiny and fresh as the liturgical calendar commands. In Corinthians, Paul clarifies that being new is about changing how we see ourselves—or more accurately, seeing ourselves as God sees us. It is about recognizing that in Christ God has already made us new, is making us new each and every day. Paul knows that Christ has died and risen for his people, and so Paul is committing himself to seeing them as worthy of that gift. Can we do the same, for ourselves and those around us?
Ministry Resources
ReLent. Restore. Renew. Liturgy
- Weekly Call to Worship
- Weekly Confessional Prayer
- a Maundy Thursday Communion Liturgy
- an Easter Communion Liturgy
ReLent. Restore. Renew. Graphics (editable Canva templates)
Deep Well Worship 