Rev. David Holwick I
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 29, 2004
Isaiah 58:1-8
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I. Catholic girlfriends.
A. Daniel announces he is giving up Instant Messaging for Lent.
Giving up for Lent?
Isn't that Catholic?
He is being influenced by his girlfriend!
B. Ash Wednesday.
1) I was at movie theater buying our tickets for "The Passion."
2) Several in the lobby had gray splotches on their foreheads.
a) Devout Catholics do this on Ash Wednesday.
1> (Gibson's movie came out on that day for a reason)
b) Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a 40-day preparation period
for Good Friday and Easter. Been done 1,600 years.
C. Why don't Baptists have these traditions?
1) Closest we come - old Lenten folders you put quarters in.
II. Calendars differ between churches.
A. Catholicism's lectionary calendar.
1) Holy seasons and days.
2) Lectionary and pre-arranged emphasis for each Sunday.
3) Days dedicated to saints.
4) Worship service follows a "missal" - book with all the
prayers and songs and Bible passages arranged.
B. Baptists have no official calendar.
1) We are more likely to honor secular holidays.
a) Memorial Day and Valentine's Day may get mentioned.
b) All Saints Day and Epiphany probably do not.
2) We don't have to have special days.
a) Every day is special if it is devoted to God. Rom 14:5f
b) Rigid calendars can hinder the Holy Spirit.
III. Are we anti-Lent because we are anti-Catholic?
A. Many here grew up Catholic.
1) Converts often get intense about their past.
2) Recent Sunday School class had lots of stories about
Catholics by our ex-Catholics.
3) Anti-catholicism may explain part of why we reject Lent,
but it is not the whole story.
B. A stand against Formalism.
1) Baptists believe in simple worship, not complicated
rituals.
a) Consider prayer in a formalistic church - the pastor
reads the prayer, the people read their response.
b) Can the Holy Spirit use such a prayer? Certainly.
But it is more likely a rote procedure.
c) Jesus says rote rituals are just a waste of time.
Matt 6:7
2) Biblical truth can get overwhelmed by human traditions.
3) Jesus ALWAYS favored the Bible over tradition. Mark 7
IV. Lent has its place.
A. The symbolism of Lent is appropriate.
1) Ashes symbolize our sorrow at causing Jesus' death.
2) 40 days of self-denial.
a) Recalls Moses on Mount Sinai, and Jesus in his
temptation.
b) We have done several 40-day celebrations ourselves.
3) Focusing our thoughts on Good Friday and Easter.
B. Lent is always an option, but never a requirement.
V. Doing Lent right.
A. Self-sacrifice can focus our thoughts. Matthew 9:15
1) Even Jesus endorsed fasting.
a) We can fast to focus our prayer life.
b) We can fast in sorrow at absence of our bridegroom.
c) We cannot fast to draw attention to ourselves.
2) Lenten fasting is often a joke.
a) We give up candy or soda or something silly.
John Woods writes:
During the time of Lent in 2003 the film "Chocolat" was released.
The film relates the story of a small French town during Lent.
Everyone is trying hard to avoid rich foods but what should open
at the same time?
A chocolate shop.
It is agony to walk past the shop with its velvety chocolate
smells.
You can't help but think that the townsfolk had missed the point.
- Especially when one of the most self-righteous characters breaks
into the shop and gorges on the chocolates inside.
Lent is not about that kind of 'self-denial.'
There is very little value in simply giving up stuff!
Real Lent is about giving stuff.
Namely, the giving of your life to Christ.
#26912
B. Isaiah's rebuke to Israel.
1) False sincerity about their religion.
2) They fast to get results. 58:3
a) There is no impact on their behavior.
b) If anything, they act worse.
3) Fasting is more than ashes.
a) Freeing oppressed. 58:6
b) Concern for the poor.
1> God will honor this!
C. What to give up for Lent.
1) Give up evil practices. Judges 2:19
2) Give up violence and oppression. Ezekiel 45:9
a) Compare Jonah 3:6 and repentance of Nineveh.
b) They repented, and cast themselves on God's mercy.
3) Give up religious compromise. Daniel 3:28
4) Give up your possessions. Luke 14:33
D. What not to give up.
1) Don't give up prayer. Luke 18:1
2) Don't give up doing good. Galatians 6:9
3) Don't give up church attendance. Hebrews 10:25
VI. God gave up more than we give up.
A. He gave up his Son for us.
1) Mel Gibsons' passion film.
2) Local Rabbi - it's not about Jews, but about Jesus.
3) Christ's suffering is exhaustingly detailed.
a) Just remember - he went through that for you.
B. What will you say to him?
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SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#26912 "Chocolat," John Woods, adapted from "Tests of Life," in
Rev. Brett Blair's Illustrations by Email,
www.sermonillustrations.com, February 29, 2004.
This and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
Another illustration that can be used for a Lent theme:
KERUX ILLUSTRATION DATABASE
ID Number: 5955
Roddy Chestnut Collection
WHAT TO GIVE UP . . .
Give up complaining. . . . . . . focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism. . . . . . . . become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments. . . . . think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry. . . . . . . . . . trust God's provision.
Give up discouragement . . . . . be full of hope.
Give up bitterness . . . . . . . turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred . . . . . . . . . return good for evil.
Give up negativism . . . . . . . be positive.
Give up anger. . . . . . . . . . be more patient.
Give up pettiness. . . . . . . . become mature.
Give up gloom. . . . . . . . . . enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy . . . . . . . . pray for trust.
Give up gossiping. . . . . . . . control your tongue.
Give up sin. . . . . . . . . . . turn to virtue.
Give up giving up. . . . . . . . hang in there!
Give up evil practices Judges 2:19
Give up violence and oppression Ezekiel 45:9
Give up religious compromise Daniel 3:28
Give up evil and violence Jonah 3:8 (repentance of Nineveh)
Give up your possessions Luke 14:33
Don't give up prayer. Luke 18:1
Don't give up doing good. Galatians 6:9
Don't give up church attendance. Hebrews 10:25
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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