Lent 2025
Resources
These resources accompany this year’s Lent Studies booklet, Restoring the Story: The Good News of Atonement by the Rev Dr Anne van Gend. You can buy copies of it here.
They are designed to help you go a little deeper in your own reflective time outside of your group studies. Each of us encounter God in different ways for each week you’ll find:
· a doodle page from the booklet illustrations based around a keyword
· a simple Lectio Divina exercise around a scripture passage
· some questions and prompts for journalling
We hope they’re helpful!
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the words ‘Good News’ and draw or doodle your thoughts
DownloadLectio Divina on Ephesians 3:14-21
Read Ephesians 3:14-21 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· How does this passage makes you feel?
· Where is the ‘deep magic’ of this passage for you?
Journalling Prompts
What do you already understand about atonement? What questions do you have that you hope to explore surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection and why it is good news today?
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the word ‘LIFE’ and draw or doodle your thoughts.
Lectio Divina onHebrews 9:22-28
Read Hebrews 9:22-28 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· Which phrase or idea stands out from this passage?
· What does the passage make you wonder about?
Journalling Prompts
How do you clean up an oil spill? Here’s a video created by some US children which features just that: https://youtu.be/SakDOUlDWDs
The Temple existed to clean up things that resembled oil spills: things that people did or that happened to them that spread out and “polluted” everything around them. What “oil spills” like that can you think of today? What would the spills look like, and who would they affect? Does the Gospel have anything to offer that might help to clean them up?
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the words ‘Light’ and ‘Dark’ and draw or doodle your thoughts.
Lectio Divina onRevelation 22:1-6
Read Revelation 22:1-6 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· What image stands out from this passage?
· How does this passage make you feel?
Journalling Prompts
This story shows that God’s victory in Christ is not through violence but through love and light. Think of the story of Parihaka, and others in the history of this land who lived the Gospel through non-violent resistance. You can learn more about the story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fok2o7cSpZQ
Facing darkness with light will not always appear to be successful, at least at the time. Peacemakers have often, in history, been killed. The land was taken from the people of Parihaka. But we are God’s children and therefore peacemaking is in our DNA: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are God’s children.” It has taken too long for the injustice of Parihaka to be recognised, but the journey has come much further.
Over the week, think about what it means to face darkness with light. What would it mean in your relationships? Your work? Our country? What can we continue to learn from non-violent peacemakers?
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the word ‘PEACE’ and draw or doodle your thoughts.
Lectio Divina onIsaiah 54:5-10
Read Isaiah 54:5-10 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· What phrase or idea stands out from this passage?
· What does the passage make you wonder about?
Journalling Prompts
Peace (“shalom”) in the Bible is all about relationships. Shalom is the state where we are in right relationships with God, with each other, and with creation. It is closely tied to justice, since Biblical justice means putting those relationships right, healing them. And it is closely tied to forgiveness, since forgiveness means a willingness to seek healing in relationships.
Over the week, think about these definitions of peace, justice and forgiveness. Do they mean what you have always thought they meant? If the kingdom of God is “justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17), how might we help bring God’s kingdom to earth? And if the Covenant we are part of is the promised Covenant of Peace, how might this shape the way we fulfil our part of that Covenant?
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the words ‘IMAGE OF GOD’ and draw or doodle your thoughts.
Lectio Divina on2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· What phrase or idea stands out from this passage?
· What does the passage make you wonder about?
Journalling Prompts
Through the week, think of the image of metal being filled with fire—being transformed while still remaining itself. What might that look like in your life?
-
Doodle Page
Meditate on the word ‘HOMECOMING’ and draw or doodle your thoughts.
Lectio Divina onLuke 15:11-24
Read Luke 15:11-24 slowly and contemplate the questions below. What might God be saying to you through your responses?
· Which word stands out to you from this passage?
· What phrase or idea stands out from this passage?
· How does this story make you feel?
Journalling Prompts
Through the week, think of the stories you tell yourselves about yourself. Are they stories that will bring you closer to God? What if the story that shaped your identity was that God had come from the far country to search you out and bring you home? How would that shape who you are?
YouTube Videos of Rev Dr Anne Van Gend Leading the Lent Studies
OPENING DISCUSSION QUESTION:
What do you think God's ultimate aim is with each of us?
What is God trying to form us into?
CLOSING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When you think of Jesus making atonement for us, what do you normally think about: his birth, his life, his death, or his resurrection? Why?
Has this story changed your mind at all?
List as many devotional practices or disciplines as you can think of. Which jumps out to you?
Which might help you peel off some layers that get between you and God?
If the purpose of our being is tobe transformed intothe likeness of God, pause for a moment.
Sit quietly with your eyes closed for 3-4 minutes, thinking about the others in your group.
Where can you see the likeness of God in each of them?
How do we help each other glow with the image of God?
How might the idea of theosis speak Good News into the Bad News of our day?
Sunday Sermon Videos
Week Five: Rev Sue Brown
Sue Brown reflects on the Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 1-8, focusing on the anointing of Jesus by Mary with expensive nard. She discusses the story's sensory details, emphasizing its significance to first-century Jews. Brown connects the story to modern issues of poverty and extravagance, highlighting the tension between Jesus' teachings on caring for the poor and the extravagant act of Mary. She calls for a balance between stewardship and generosity, urging followers to be extravagant in their devotions, worship, and love, especially towards the poor and needy, and to appreciate the extravagance in God's creation.
Week Four: Rev Mel McKenzie
Rev Mel McKenzie from St Anne's Northland-Wilton and Victoria University chaplaincy discusses Jesus' parable of the prodigal son, emphasizing the Father's unconditional love. She highlights the Pharisees' muttering due to Jesus' inclusive table fellowship, contrasting with their strict rituals. Jesus' story underscores the Father's constant, welcoming embrace, challenging believers to embody this love. McKenzie reflects on the emotional experience of parents sending children to university, likening it to the Father's love. She invites the audience to confront their fears, embrace spiritual parenthood, and join God in welcoming others back into His household.
Week Three: Rev Jethro Day
Jethro Day discusses Luke 13:1-9, emphasizing Jesus' message of repentance. He explains repentance as turning towards God and aligning with His agenda, essential for life and goodness. Jesus uses the metaphor of fruitful trees to illustrate spiritual growth and contrasts it with barren, prickly ones. Day suggests four practices for spiritual fertilization during Lent: fasting, prayer, generosity, and scripture reading. He highlights the importance of being relationally connected to God and living a fruitful, giving life, while acknowledging God's compassion and grace.
Week Two: Rev Chris Darnell
Chris parallels Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and a well-prepared traveller at an airport. They discuss Jesus' resolute path towards Jerusalem, despite warnings from the Pharisees and Herod's threat. He highlights the complex relationships among Jesus, the Pharisees, Herod, and Pilate, emphasizing Jesus' certainty about his mission.
Week One: Rev Kath Bier
Kath explains the significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent in the Anglican tradition, likening it to training for a marathon.
