Posts tagged Lent
‘The Chosen: The Last Supper Part 3’: Finale Achieves Cinematic And Spiritual Greatness

(REVIEW) This is why a crowdfunded series ended up reaching box office heights. People don’t watch this series because they love it. They watch it because they love Jesus. The show, through its artistry and creativity, helps people see Him more clearly. It succeeds because film has a unique power: It can offer pure experiences that go beyond words.

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The Forgotten Role Of Sunday Schools In Church Planting

(ANALYSIS) For many modern Christians, Sunday School is primarily seen as a children’s ministry – a place where kids are taught Bible stories while their parents attend the main worship service. Yet historically, Sunday Schools played a far greater role. They were not only centers of religious education but also powerful tools for evangelism and church planting.

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When Someone Cares Enough To Embrace Your Imperfections, Be Thankful

(OPINION) No one cares about the “mistakes” we make because 99.995% of people don’t notice, don’t care or care enough about us not to care about such minor flaws. The Japanese have a philosophy known as wabi-sabi, which emphasizes the beauty of imperfection. Among other things, this is expressed through the art of kintsugi.

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Some Conservative Protestants Spark Debate By Embracing Lenten Traditions

Although a recent study reveals that Lent is largely ignored by many Christians in the United States, there is a trend among members of some conservative Protestant denominations to incorporate it in their Easter observances. Some who are members of conservative Presbyterian denominations have even taken up Lent in a break from tradition.

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Word for Word Bible Comic Brings Scriptures To Life For A New Generation Of Christians

The Word for Word Bible Comic is not trying to reinvent the Bible. Rather, it is a genuine attempt to represent the scriptures as accurately and as faithfully as possible for a new generation of readers for whom images hold the key to a greater understanding of the world’s best-selling book. This is not the first project that has transformed the Christian scriptures into a comic.

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Kenya’s Houses Of Worship Under Scrutiny for ‘Disruptive’ Sound Levels

Worship centers in Kenya are increasingly facing scrutiny for conducting activities at noise levels that exceed acceptable limits. Concerns have been raised in various parts of the country about religious services blatantly violating existing regulations, disturbing the peace and quiet of neighborhoods.

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Your Kin Aren’t Anywhere Near As Dysfunctional As Jesus’ Family

(OPINION) All humanity is royally screwed up. As a result, your family is screwed up. Likely, you are screwed up, too, and your family may have contributed to that screwed-upness. But your ancestry doesn’t have to define your destiny. With God’s help, you can break the cycle of dysfunction, no matter how far back it goes.

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Animated Easter Film ‘The King of Kings’ Makes Jesus Boring (Especially For Boys)

(REVIEW) There’s a kind of soothing boredom that settles in throughout the film. Everything about it is mild. The jokes are gentle. The characters’ anger restrained. The sadness subdued. The animation is beautiful, but unremarkable. The voice actors deliver their lines without much intensity. Because the emotional highs and lows are nonexistent, the experience is more like watching a screensaver.

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Rising Egg Prices Threaten Easter And Passover Traditions

Egg prices typically increase every spring as Easter nears, largely due to demand. However, already-high prices have caused many to forgo eggs altogether this Paschal season. And it isn’t just Christians who are impacted by the high cost. Jews who are preparing to celebrate Passover look to eggs as a special part of their Seder meal. Not this year.  

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Lent Not On The Radar For Most US Christians

Lent may be on the calendar, but it’s not something most Americans are observing. A traditional 40-day window of fasting before Easter, Lent is celebrated by around a quarter of U.S. adults, according to a Lifeway Research study. Three in four Americans (74%) say they do not typically observe Lent, while 26% participate.

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5 Facts About The Origins Of Modern-Day Easter Traditions

Easter is a holiday rich in religious significance, history and symbolism. At its root, Easter — also known as Resurrection Sunday — is a Christian festival commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus as described in the New Testament. Then where did eggs and bunnies come from?

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Good Friday Passion Plays Help Churches And Communities ‘Come Together’

Easter pageants have become an increasingly frequent sight on Good Friday around the world. The idea dates back to the Middle Ages when town guilds performed individual scenes telling the story to mainly illiterate audiences. Although these public events are still performed on an irregular basis, it was over a decade ago that the first contemporary Passion Plays began to be staged in the U.K.

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Georgia County’s First Spanish-Speaking Church Reflective Of Hispanic Growth

Victor Lyons’ work in collecting information for the 2020 Census made it clear to him that Wilcox County reflected the burgeoning Spanish-speaking population of South Georgia. The pastor of First Avenue Baptist Church will officially add another title this Sunday as pastor of Iglesia Vida Abundantè (Abundant Life) Church, which will meet in First Avenue’s sanctuary.

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Tattooing Has Held A Long Tradition Dating Back To Jesus’ Crucifixion

(ANALYSIS) Holy Week and Easter are perhaps the most important days in the Christian calendar. Many associate those celebrations with church services, processions, candles, incense, fasting and penances. However, there is another tradition that many Christians follow — that of tattooing.

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Some Theologians Call for ‘Liturgical Audit’ To Combat Antisemitism

Acutely aware of the painful history of Christian participation and complicity in antisemitism, and a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents nationally and globally, Christian scholars and clergy are calling for a new level of reflection and accountability for churches, starting from the pulpit.

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Religious Freedom Can Be About Recognizing Our Brokenness During Lent

(ANALYSIS) Despite the often polarized views on religious freedom, its essence remains timeless and profound, particularly for Christians. For believers, religious freedom finds its most profound expression in the image of a God baby born over two millennia ago to a virgin. This freedom is not just about the ability to practice one’s faith openly, but also about the freedom to cultivate a personal relationship with Christ and to navigate the intricate tapestry of His church and the world. It's about recognizing our brokenness.

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What Religious Freedom Can Look Like During Lent

(ANALYSIS) Lent serves as a profound reminder of the spiritual freedom we have in Christ, mirrored in His death and resurrection. As we journey through this season of contemplation and preparation, we are invited to make space for God in our lives, just as Jesus did in the wilderness. This concept of making space extends beyond personal reflection to encompass broader religious and spiritual freedom.

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Christians Challenged To Connect With God’s Creation During Lent

In an effort to care more for nature over the next six weeks, Christians around the world can improve lives through eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyles emphasizing the transformative nature of Lent. A group based in the U.K. hopes Christians across Britain and around the wold will heed that call this year.

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Valentine’s Day And Ash Wednesday Coincide This Year: What’s a Catholic To Do?

Not everyone will be enjoying chocolate this Valentine’s Day. For the first time since 2018, Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day fall on the same day. In fact, this rare occurrence is taking place once again in less than a week. It has happened three times in the last century — 1923, 1934 and 1945 — and will happen again in 2029.

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