Now that Epiphany is over, it’s time for preachers to think about their Lenten sermons

Image

LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian preachers looking ahead to nailing down their Lenten sermon topics were rewarded this week during the Synod of the Covenant’s monthly preaching workshop, offered this month by the synod’s executive, the Rev. Dr. Chip Hardwick.

Appearing on the webinar from his home, Hardwick noted his Christmas decorations are still up, “and yet it’s already time to start thinking about Lent,” he said, launching the Preparing for Lent 2025 workshop attended by nearly 30 people. Hardwick helped webinar participants get up to speed on the coming Lenten season, which starts with Ash Wednesday on March 5, by playing a recording of “What Wondrous Love” sung by the St. Olaf Choir.

He began by asking participants — frequent preachers in faith communities within the synod as well as preachers serving in other places — about a favorite Lenten memory. One participant recalled his college years, when some of his fraternity brothers gave up beer for Lent. The problem from this preacher’s perspective was they decided to substitute hard liquor for beer. “I told them they weren’t quite grasping the idea of sacrifice for Lent,” he quipped.

Another recalled participating in the musical “Celebrate Life!” during his youth. Hardwick had the same experience growing up. “We saw the impact it had on people during the Lenten season,” the participant explained. It also made an impact on the young singers, he said.

Another reported being “incredibly moved” by a Stations of the Cross service at a local Catholic church, adding, “I had never been to anything like that before.”

Hardwick assembled a packet of resources to give preachers a few ideas on series they can pursue for Lent, both lectionary-based and not. Ideas included a series on doctrines of atonement or on the Heidelberg Catechism. Illustrated Ministry has a number of Lenten resources, and Westminster John Knox Press has published two new books in time for Lent: Kathy Escobar’s “Turning Over Tables: A Lenten Call for Disrupting Power,” available beginning Jan. 14, and N.T. Wright’s “From Wilderness to Glory: Lent and Easter for Everyone.”

Other lectionary resources for Year C include A Sanctified Art’s “Full to the Brim,” N.T. Wright’s “Lent for Everyone: Luke, Year C,” and “Lenten Longings: Seeing with God’s Eyes,” by Catherine Nerney.

Non-lectionary possibilities for a Lenten sermon series include Elizabeth Liebert’s “The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making,” Illustrated Ministry’s “Stations of the Cross” and Cole Arthur Riley’s “This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation and the Stories That Make Us.”

Image

Hardwick said he’s served congregations that included talented artists as members. When he embarked on a sermon series on the parables of Jesus and another on the Book of Revelation, he asked artists to draw and paint the parables and scenes from John’s Revelation. “It feels like Lent or Advent would be a good time to share that,” Hardwick said.

Midway through the webinar, Hardwick put participants to work, dividing them into groups to scan Lenten texts from the liturgy found in the Old Testament, New Testament and the Epistles. Participants looked for common themes and insights, then reported back to the group what they’d found.

“You’ve done great work in a short amount of time,” Hardwick told them. “Imagine what you’re going to be able to do as you study this during Lent.”

Next month’s webinar offered by the Synod of the Covenant will feature the Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan, Professor of Homiletics at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Her recent book is “Scripting a Sermon: Using the Wisdom of Filmmaking for Impactful Preaching.” The webinar, which is also available to frequent preachers toiling outside the Synod of the Covenant, is scheduled for 10 a.m. through 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 5. Learn more here.