New Sermon Series: Praying Grace

Welcome into Lent, Redeemer! Lent is meant to be the church's springtime, when out of the darkness of sin's winter, a repentant, empowered people emerges. (Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter) “Lent” is derived from an Old English word meaning lengthening. Just like the sun stays out longer as spring begins, the 40-day season of Lent is a time for us to take longer looks at Christ crucified for us and the grace he offers, even as we reflect on the depths of our need through a fresh awareness of our sinfulness. Lent is a time to take long, honest looks at yourself, and even longer looks at Jesus, who is rich in mercy and abounding in lovingkindness.

During this Lenten springtime, we will look to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus by coming back to prayer, a primary means of grace for us as Christians. This Sunday, February 22nd, we will begin a short sermon series for the Lenten season on prayer, entitled “Praying Grace.” Using Jesus’ own instructions to us on how to pray, we will walk through the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6, discovering along the way that there is great grace for us there.   

A few days ago, I stumbled onto a pastor friend’s Substack post on hope for those who have suffered trauma – a category of persons which certainly includes all of us in one way or another, though some of us have suffered it far more severely than others. He shared some of his own stories of trauma, including trauma he experienced through his involvement in the church as a pastor’s child, then as a pastor himself for over 20 years. As he neared the end of his post, he offered some avenues to find hope in our trauma. His first recommendation is that we “say our prayers.” Certainly, this is not the only avenue for hope in these kinds of spaces, but prayer is a great place to start.

It always is, no matter our context. Are we delighted by great blessing or victory? We should pray and give thanks. Are we crushed by heavy burdens or disappointments? We may cry out with prayers of lamentation. Do we feel confused or lost? We can ask in prayer for guidance or direction. Are we utterly defeated and feel we cannot go on? We can pray for the Lord to raise us up and fight on our behalf. Prayer is always a good first response; it is “always in vogue.” (Tim Keller)

We tend to make Lent about giving up stuff — chocolate, sugar, alcohol, social media, watching sports, or streaming series. Those can be good choices that leave you more room to contemplate your need for Jesus and the grace he offers. If you go this route, good on you. We will, in fact, be offering you weekly opportunities to fast as a congregation on each Monday in the Lent season; more on this to come. But remember, the purpose of fasting is not to pat yourself on the back for how strong and disciplined you have been in giving things up; it is to make more room to be hungry for God and his grace. (John Piper) So, let us open wide our mouths and look for the Lord to fill us up (Psalm 81:10) with his grace, as we learn to pray his way.  

I look forward to taking this Lenten journey with you! May the Lord grant us a holy and blessed Lent, full of his grace as we learn to pray his way. Amen.

Much love in Christ,

Rev. Paul Hahn

RPC Lead Pastor