a beautiful life
daily prayers for lent
Calvary Church | Grand Rapids, MI
lent & holy week
What if… What if an entire church committed to spend Lent in prayer, fasting and giving? What would happen? What would that look like? How would that church be different? For the next seven weeks, you are invited to join with the Calvary Church community to pray, fast and give.
Prayer. Each week we will focus on one of the seven divine statements in John’s gospel. Jesus utters “I am the bread of life; I am the light of the world; I am the gate for the sheep; I am the good shepherd; I am the resurrection and the life; I am the way the truth and the life; I am the true vine.” We will pray with one divine statement in mind for each week of the Lenten Season. Each day, you will be asked to read one of Jesus’ divine statements as found in the Gospel of John. Each day we have included a prayer request focused on the following themes: • Each Sunday, we receive from God, who provides for our needs through participation in the worship assembly. Out of the provision of participating in his Body, the Church, we once again realize that He is present with us in a unique way and we celebrate His resurrection together. We do not fast on Sundays, as we enjoy Christ’s presence with us. (Mark 2:19) • On Monday, our focus of prayer will be our nation and our world. • On Tuesday, we will focus on praying for the three people in our lives who need Christ. • On Wednesday, we will pray for our church family, the body of Christ at Calvary Church.
• On Thursday, our focus will be on our families. • On Friday, we will pray for our greater Grand Rapids community. • On Saturday, our focus will shift to ourselves, examining our hearts and confessing our need for Jesus. We invite you to join with the Calvary Church community twice daily, at 7:00am and 7:00pm, stopping together with hundreds of others to be still before the Lord and bring our requests to Him. (Psalm 131:2)
Fasting. We also encourage you to continue the practice of giving something up for Lent again this year, perhaps television, dessert, eating out, or whatever the Lord directs you to do. Our hope in fasting is that it will be a reminder of Jesus’ suffering for us, and that it will prompt us to pray for those who do not know Him, that they will come to the Easter services and hear the gospel.
Giving. As we continually think about Jesus’ sacrifice for us this season, our hearts should be stirred toward gratitude. During Lent, consider how you, your family and our body might give extravagantly in worship to our Savior, who gave His life for us. Would you join us in this Lenten Season and see how God answers our “What if…”?
Weekly Blogs
Resources
During Lent, Pastor Jim Samra will be doing weekly video blogs that go a little deeper into the purpose and meaning of Lent, and even answer some of your questions.
If you would like additional devotional reading for Lent, we recommend:
Visit the weekly sermon blog at talk.calvarygr.org.
– Devotions for Lent, by E.M. Bounds. – Journey to Jerusalem: Bible Readings from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, by David Winter
Teach us to pray ...
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13
Week One: March 6–12
march 6
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35
march 9
march 8
march 7
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Pray for those around the world who only have one meal per day.
Please pray for your 3 people, that they will realize that Jesus is the Bread of Life.
Please pray that our Calvary community will continue to be nourished through the word that is preached on Sunday.
I am the Bread of Life
march 12
march 11
march 10
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Pray for those in your family who need to know Christ.
Please pray for those who provide meals to those in need. May they be warmed by this act of love.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Bread of Life for you today. Are there needs in your life that you are not relying on Jesus to provide? Confess those needs and thank Him for being the Bread of Life.
Week two: March 13–19
march 13
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
march 16
march 15
march 14
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray that our missionaries will continue to be a Light to the world.
Please continue to pray for your 3 who do not know Christ, that they would see the Light in your life.
Please pray that we would be a Light to our city, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, etc‌
I am th e li g ht o f th e wo r ld
march 19
march 18
march 17
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Pray for your family to continue to grow in Jesus, that his Light would shine to those around you.
Pray for local churches in our area and the communities that they reach.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Light of the World for you today. Are there areas in your life where you are not allowing Jesus to shine? Confess those areas and thank Him for guiding and shining as the Light of the World.
Week three: March 20–26
march 20
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
march 23
march 22
march 21
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray for countries that are closed to Christianity, that their doors would open.
Please pray for your 3 people to understand that Jesus is an open Gate offering everlasting life.
Pray that we would open our doors and be willing to invite and love those who come through no matter the cost.
I a m t h e g at e
march 26
march 25
march 24
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Pray that our homes would be filled with dancing.
Pray for the homeless in our city, that they would find a haven of rest.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Gate for you. Are there areas in your life where you are not allowing Jesus to guide you? Can you hear his voice? Confess your reliance upon yourself and thank Him for guiding you as the Gate.
Week four: March 27 – April 2
march 27
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
march 30
march 29
march 28
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray for God to protect those who are persecuted for their faith.
Please pray for your 3 people that they would feel their need for unconditional love from the Good Shepherd.
Please pray that we would lay our lives down for one another and love how Jesus loves us.
I am the good shepherd
april 2
april 1
march 31
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Please pray that your family would sacrifice in their love for each other.
Please pray that Grand Rapids would be a city that embraces and serves one another.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Good Shepherd for you today. Are there parts of your life that you have not fully surrendered to Jesus? Confess these parts of your life and thank Him for being the Good Shepherd and laying down His life for you.
Week five: April 3–9
april 3
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26
april 6
april 5
april 4
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray for the 2.3 billion unreached people in the world who have never heard about the Savior, Jesus.
Please pray that your 3 people would choose to believe Jesus for life.
Pray that our entire congregation would truly see that we do have A Beautiful Life through Jesus.
I am the resurrection and the life
april 9
april 8
april 7
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Please pray that our families would live life to the fullest and see the abundance that Jesus has for us.
Please pray for a revival in our city.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life for you today. Thank Him for giving you life and providing the reassurance of the resurrection.
Week six: April 10-16
april 10
Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me� John 14:6
april 13
april 12
april 11
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray for our government that they would see the Truth and the Life.
Please pray for your 3 people that they would know that Jesus is the only way to Life.
Please pray that our congregation would take the time to mediate, memorize and read the Truth.
I am the way, the truth, and the life
april 16
april 15
april 14
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Family
City
Yourself
Please pray that we would be bold in sharing how Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life in our lives with others.
Please pray that our city would turn away from wickedness and rebellion to Christ.
Take time to examine your heart, asking how Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life for you today. Do you really believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life? Is your life an example of this belief ?
Week seven: April 17–23
april 17
Palm Sunday:
A day to receive from God.
Rest.
read daily
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
april 20
april 19
april 18
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
World/Nation
3 people
Calvary Body
Please pray that new believers around the world will cling to the vine and will bear fruit.
Please pray for your 3 people to realize their need for Jesus.
Please pray that we would draw nourishment from Christ and bear much fruit.
I am the the vine Good Friday:
Family
City
Please pray that our families would continue to witness and pour into the lives of others.
Please pray that we would continue to plant seeds in our city that will bear fruit.
april 23
april 22
april 21
Maundy Thursday:
Saturday: Yourself
Take time to examine your heart, asking yourself how Jesus is the Vine for you today. Is your life bearing fruit? Are you relying on the strength of Jesus? Confess ways you are attempting to live apart from Jesus and thank Jesus for being the Vine.
lent & holy week
Lent
Palm Sunday (April 17)
(March 9 – April 23)
services at 8:10, 9:40 & 11:15am
Lent is a time for spiritual preparation, leading up to Holy Week and Easter. It’s about focusing our hearts on our relationship with God. During Lent, we encourage you to fast from something, setting aside certain foods or nonessential activites. The purpose of fasting isn’t depravation, but dedication to God.
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem the week before His death and resurrection. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week.
Here at Calvary, we encourage you to participate in this early Christian tradition. The fruit of Lent is both a deeper relationship with God now and a more exuberant and mindful celebration of Easter in six weeks. During this season, every time you think about what you have given up, the hope is that you would do two things: 1) Thank Jesus for suffering for you; and 2) Pray that those whom Jesus suffered for, who do not know Him, will come to the Easter service and hear the gospel.
The Bible tells us that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted Him by waving palm branches and covering His path with them. Immediately following this great time of celebration, Jesus begins His journey to the cross. The Bible passages of Palm Sunday can be found in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44 and John 12:12-19.
Maundy Thursday
(April 21)
Good Friday
(April 22)
service at 7:00pm
service at 7:00pm
Traditionally the Christian Church has referred to this day as Maundy Thursday, from the Latin word “mandatum.” The term is usually translated “commandment,” from John’s account of this night. According to the book of John, as Jesus and the disciples were eating their final meal together before His arrest, He washed the disciples’ feet to illustrate humility and servanthood. During the Passover (Lord’s Supper), Jesus took bread and wine and asked His Father to bless it. He broke the bread, giving it to His disciples saying, “This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then He took the cup of wine and said, “This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you−an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.” During our Maundy Thursday service, you will see people washing the feet of others to demonstrate humility and servanthood. We will also partake in the Lord’s Supper just like Jesus did on the night He was betrayed.
Good Friday is the day Christ died on the cross, the Friday before Easter. As the most somber day in the Christian calendar, it is a day for prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. Since Christ’s death on the cross is central to the Christian faith, the events of that day should be ever on our minds. We celebrate Good Friday with a subdued evening service, remembering the night of Christ’s death.
The Bible passages of Maundy Thursday can be found in Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-17, and I Corinthians 11:23-25.
The Bible passages for Good Friday can be found in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19.
Easter Sunday (Sunday, April 24) services at 7:00, 8:10, 9:40 and 11:15am From the earliest days of the church, Easter has been celebrated by all Christians everywhere. As the most important day in the Christian calendar, Easter Sunday is the day that we celebrate the bodily Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our observation of Lent and Holy Week will better prepare our hearts to celebrate the power and joy of Christ’s resurrection on Easter. The Bible passages for Easter can be found in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.
Calvary Church 707 East Beltline NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 (616) 956-9377 | calvarygr.org
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