Lent with The City

What is Lent? 

In the Christian liturgical calendar, a significant period that is observed is Lent. Lent (“fortieth” from Latin) is the forty days beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending with Holy Saturday, just before Resurrection Sunday (not counting Sundays). 


Biblically, the number forty carries great importance, representing preparation, trial, revelation and supernatural provision, e.g. Noah’s ark and the flood, Israel’s years spent in the wilderness. During the forty days of Lent, which commemorates Jesus’ time of fasting in the wilderness, we set aside time to contemplate on Jesus - his life, sacrifice, suffering, death, burial, and ultimately, resurrection. Typically, Christ-followers observe a period of repentance, fasting, self-examination and reflection.

While it is not mandatory to observe Lent, we believe you will find the richness of this season drawn from both scripture and church tradition immensely helpful to remind us of Jesus’ work on the cross. When we engage in these forty days as an intentional rhythm, with spiritual practices both personally and communally, we avail ourselves to God’s work of deeper spiritual formation in us, thus we will experience renewed vision and meaning for our lives and in the world.

Why Observe Lent? 

Key practices for Lent

  • Time with God

    Time with God is critical for creating opportunities for reflection and prayer. In solitude and quiet, you can attend to God’s voice, examine areas of disordered desires, confess and repent from sins, and so grow in intimacy with the Father.

  • Fasting

    Fasting is typical of Lent, inspired by Jesus’ fast in the wilderness. Fasting is abstaining from food and turning instead to communion with God. For example, a person may skip breakfast and lunch, and during those meal times he or she would pray.

    More on Fasting

  • Partner with others

    Partner with others for encouragement and accountability. Make it a point to buddy with two others as people to whom you are accountable. Meet to share more deeply and pray together, to grow in humility and love as disciples.

  • Giving

    Giving is a powerful practice in this season. While we seek God and draw close to Him, He invites us to focus less on ourselves, confront our selfish ways, give to those in need, and live simply and justly.

Lent is the season in which we ought to be surprised by joy. Our self-sacrifices serve no purpose unless, by laying aside this or that desire, we are able to focus on our heart’s deepest longing: unity with Christ. In him -- in his suffering and death, his resurrection and triumph, we find our truest joy.

— - Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter

Recommended Resources

The City Resources:

Devotional books on Lent:
(some are also available in digital version)  

  • Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson
    A beautifully minimalist book in which he focuses on one word for each day of Lent. You are invited to pause, focus on the word, read a scripture and a brief meditation related to the word, and then offer a prayer. 

  • Walking in the Wilderness by Beth A. Richardson
    We are living a time of wilderness and exile. Yet this is a familiar place for followers of Jesus. This book is a companion for your journey through Lent, by either individuals or groups. Each reading contains a quotation, a short scripture passage, a reflection and prayer. A spiritual practice is introduced each Sunday. 

  • The Beauty of the Cross by Tim Chester
    A Lent devotional on the familiar yet extraordinary chapters of Isaiah 52 and 53 to help you delight in the beauty of Christ afresh. Constraints 47 days of short, stirring reflections that challenges how you see Jesus alongside these prophecies and his sacrifice on the cross. 

  • Journey to the Cross by Paul David Tripp
    In this forty-day Lenten devotional, you are invited to set aside time from the busyness of our lives to focus on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Each short reading encourages us to abide in and encounter the Savior more fully and follow him more faithfully. 

  • Living the Same Faith Lent 2023 by Bible Society of Singapore
    Lent is a time of preparation, self-examination and reflection as we journey towards the cross. These daily readings will remind us of the gift of salvation through Christ. 

  • From the Grave by A. W. Tozer
    “The neglected heart will soon be overrun with worldly thoughts.” Careful cultivation yields a harvest, and the heart requires great attention. This 40-day devotional reflects on this critical spiritual dynamic, with brief portions of scripture followed by a reflection. Features Tozer’s best insights on faith, repentance, suffering and redemption, carefully selected from sermons, editorials and published books, for Lent. Also available from NLB.

Apps & Bible plans:

Lent-related resource sites: 

  • Sacred Ordinary Days resources on Lent 

  • Lectionary for Lent, Holy Week and Easter by Vanderbilt - scripture readings comprising an Old Testament text, a psalm, an epistle and a gospel that share a common theme (can be added into your Calendar) 

  • Lent calendars - one way of journeying through the days of Lent that is creative and visually-interesting 

Family-friendly books: 

  • The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton
    This storybook takes kids on a journey from the Garden of Eden to God’s perfect new creation to understand why Jesus' death and resurrection are good news for us. It is a gospel presentation that focuses on the significance of the temple curtain. Suitable for children ages 3 to 6. 

  • The Friend Who Forgives Family Bible Devotional by Dan DeWitt
    Easy-to-read devotions, based on passages from the award-winning storybook The Friend Who Forgives which points children to Jesus, the friend who will forgive them again and again and again. Each session can be done in under ten minutes and is easy to lead. The sessions include a Bible study, reflection questions and prayer prompts. There are also optional extras designed to engage older children, plus bonus puzzles and coloring activities for younger children. Suitable for children from age 5 and up.
    Related free downloads here 

  • The Wonder of Easter
    This is a devotional that allows both adults and children to walk through Luke’s gospel and the Old Testament to discover why the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the most amazing story ever told. There are five devotions for each week, that takes about 10 minutes, with differentiated questions for 304s, 5-7s, 7-12s, teens and adults. Sample here. 

LifeGroup Materials for Good Friday:

  • This Guide is designed for LifeGroups to gather in person on Good Friday to remember the sacrifice of Jesus (feel free to use it on Thursday or Saturday, if your group is unable to do so on Good Friday). It can be 60 minutes as suggested, or longer if you prefer. Link to Good Friday LifeGroup Experience Guide


Lent immerses us in Jesus’ life, increases our appreciation for Jesus’ work on the cross, which brings about a powerful longing and joyful gratitude for the resurrection, the joy of Easter!