2009 Initiative - "365 Holy Days": This week we focus on Lent, a season of 40 days, excluding Sundays, established by the Roman Church in the 4th century, for the purpose of focusing the believers forward, toward Resurrection Sunday.
Warm-up: Fishing Prep - Class creates business cards referring to www.gzssavz.com to distribute as they go through their lives. Discussion during prep about fishing in general and fishing for people specifically.
Exercise: Fishing Roleplay - Volunteers roleplay situations that would contain opportunities for "peoplefishing".
Lesson: 40 Daze! - In Sacred Scripture, the number 40 is significant; it represents preparation for service. Moses was 40 days on Mt. Sinai with the LORD, who was showing him the ten commandments, as well as all the means and methods of worshipping Him; the Hebrew spies spied out the promised land for 40 days, preparing to take it under God's leadership; because they feared the inhabitants of the promised land more that Yahweh, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, preparing for the Promised Land. Our Lord Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days, after which He was tempted by Satan himself three times. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was with the Apostles for 40 days after He rose from the dead! This time was to prepare them to receive the Holy Spirit, in order to carry out the Great Commission.
Bible References: Exodus 24:12-18; Numbers 13:25, 14:34; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13; Acts 1:3
Life application: Do not be discouraged! If life is hard for you now as you are living you life for Jesus Christ, then rejoice! If you're going through a hard time right now, perhaps this is just a preparation for the important work that the LORD has for you! Take heart!! This life is merely a preparation for the wonderful eternity and place that He is preparing for us! 40 days prep is worth forever! 40 YEARS prep is worth forever! 40 decades, centuries, millenia are all worth forever with Jesus!
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