Couples bible study5/17/2023 ![]() This allows us to dive deeper into the story of Christ and get a close-up view of the life of Jesus. Our reading plan involves two to three chapters per day. Leif and I will sometimes nudge each other, asking, “Have you ever noticed that detail in this passage? What word is popping off the page for you?”Īfter much prayer, this year Leif and I have decided to read through the Gospels. The shared readings provide a platform for shared discovery. Lent provides a time for couples to grow closer together. ![]() We were on the same page - literally - each morning. ![]() These moments of studying together didn’t just prepare our hearts for the arrival of Easter, they knitted a sense of connection between us. When we completed the daily readings, we’d discuss what we’d discovered or what caught our attention in the text. Meanwhile, Leif scrolled through the Bible on his phone. Whenever I completed a day’s reading, I delighted in checking off one more box. My printed out Bible reading plan rested nearby. A thick, hardback Bible rested on my lap. Throughout Lent, Leif and I sat on our ivory couch many mornings. Last year, I felt compelled to hone the reading plan, so my husband and I committed to read through the New Testament during Lent. It provided an overview of the great big story of God and revealed the breathtaking views of redemption and divine affection. The exercise felt like flying at 30,000 feet. Other days we didn’t want to stop reading. ![]() Some days the discipline boiled down to checking a box. Some days the reading was easy and delightful. We understood that this was a big commitment. And we heard from people around the world - parents and co-workers and neighbors all reading through the Bible at supersonic speed. We put together a free reading plan on our website and invited people to join us as we read through the Bible in 40 days. When I mentioned the idea to my husband, Leif, he thought the premise sounded a little “crazypants.” I felt nudged by the Holy Spirit to read the Bible. In 2013, I prayed about how best to prepare my heart and mind for Lent. The Latin word for Lent is Quadragesima, meaning “the 40th part.” It’s based on the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert before His brief years of ministry. Searching online, I studied Lent’s vibrant heritage and background and read about his long-time connections with the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, as well as his newfound popularity among Mennonites and Baptists. Each time I encountered his name, I felt like Lent was looking over my shoulder smiling. Even a few of my favorite bloggers bragged about knowing him. A pastor shared with enthusiasm the difference Lent made in his own life. Though noble, I dismissed Lent with barely a glance, like a stranger at a crowded dinner party. He spent every waking moment petitioning believers to prepare for Holy Week through a blend of prayer, repentance, giving and self-denial. Until then, my faith tradition was decidedly non-liturgical and such attentiveness to the church calendar was new to me.įrom their shoddy descriptions, I imagined Lent as a formidable character who rode into town each year on Ash Wednesday and stayed until Easter morning. Some Anglican friends, wearing soot on their foreheads, introduced me to Lent more than a decade ago.
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