What is Lent?
Lent is a 46-day period (40 when Sundays are excluded) that commemorates the time Jesus spent in the desert prior to beginning His public ministry as Messiah.
As described in the gospel accounts for Matthew, Mark, and Luke, following His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where He fasted for forty days and was subject to temptation by Satan.
To honor this sacrifice and conquest over the devil, many Christians elect to set aside the season of Lent to refocus on Jesus as we look ahead to His death on the Cross and celebrate His victorious resurrection.
What is Centering Prayer?
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us. By focusing and praying through a verse or phrase, it gives us an opportunity to listen to what God may want to say to us. Each week, try and spend 3-5 minutes praying through the verse or phrase below and actively listening to what God wants to say to you. If you can listen longer, do it!
Family Reading Guide for Passion Week
Reading Guide
Below you will find a text for each weekday, working our way through the final week of Jesus' life, often called the Passion week.
You will also notice a memory verse for each week. Memorizing verses is a great practice toward helping solidify the text in your mind and remember the story as a whole.
You can also try one of our Deeper Dive Challenges, focused on pushing us just slightly outside of our comfort zone:
- Fast one day each week from sunup to sundown – use hunger pains as a call to prayer
- Pray the Lord’s Prayer daily (Matthew 6:9-13)
- Write a letter of apology to someone you have wronged.
We hope this guide is helpful as we begin moving toward Easter!
Week 1 - March 10-14
Centering Prayer: Jesus, I need You.
Monday: Luke 19:28-44; Mark 11:12-19
Tuesday: John 12:20-50; Mark 11:20-33
Wednesday: Matthew 21:28—22:14
Thursday: Matthew 22:15-46
Friday: Matthew 23:1-39
Memory Verse: Matthew 22:37-40
Week 2 - March 17-21
Centering Prayer: Jesus, You are faithful; help me be faithful.
Monday: Mark 12:41-44; Matthew 24:1-28
Tuesday: Matthew 24:29-51
Wednesday: Matthew 25:1-13
Thursday: Matthew 25:14-30
Friday: Matthew 25:31-46
Memory Verse: Matthew 25:40
Week 3 - March 24-28
Centering Prayer: Jesus, You are love; love through me.
Monday: Mark 14:1-11
Tuesday: Mark 14:12-21
Wednesday: Luke 22:14-23
Thursday: Luke 22:24-30; John 13:1-20
Friday: John 13:31-35; Matthew 26:31-35
Memory Verse: John 13:34-35
Week Four - March 31- April 4
Centering Prayer: Jesus, guide me according to the truth.
Monday: John 14:1-31
Tuesday: John 15:1-25
Wednesday: John 15:26—16:33
Thursday: John 17:1-26
Friday: Matthew 26:36-56
Memory Verse: John 15:4-5
Week Five - April 07-11
Centering Prayer: Jesus, You died for me; I will live for You.
Monday: John 18:2-14
Tuesday: Matthew 26:57-75
Wednesday: Matthew 27:1-10
Thursday: John 18:28-38; Luke 23:6-12
Friday: John 18:39—19:16
Memory Verse: John 18:36-37
Week Six - April 14-18
Centering Prayer: Jesus, may I forgive as I have been forgiven..
Monday: Matthew 27:27-36
Tuesday: Luke 23:32-43
Wednesday: John 19:25-27; Mark 15:33-36
Thursday: John 19:28-30; Luke 23:46
Friday: Matthew 27:51-56; John 19:31-38
Memory Verse: Luke 23:34
