During Lent, we take special care to ready our hearts for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Similarly, the prophets called God’s people Israel to prepare for God’s coming. Throughout the books of the prophets, we see a vision of what God’s kingdom looks like—a vision that could be summed up by the word shalom. More than just the absence of violence, shalom is the holistic flourishing of all of God’s creation. We look toward Easter and recognize that shalom is only possible because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. So this Lent, we look at what the prophets had to say about shalom—sometimes stark warnings, sometimes beautiful visions—in the hope that we might arrive at Easter ready to receive God’s shalom in the resurrection.
First Sunday of Lent
Looking for Shalom in All the Wrong Places
Text: Jeremiah 8:4–5, 8–11
Sermon Notes
Jeremiah had tough words for the people of Israel. They were acting in wickedness and self-destruction but did not want to be told that they were in the wrong. Isn’t that a message for us today? We prefer comfortable lies rather than painful truth. True shalom requires repentance in light of the (sometimes uncomfortable) truth.
Song Ideas
“Song of the Prophets” Morgan
“Come to the Savior Now” Wigner
“Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers” Reed
“Create in Me a Clean Heart” Bannister
“Lord, I Need You” Maher
Second Sunday of Lent
Rest in the Wilderness
Text: Isaiah 32:1–8, 14–18
Sermon Notes
God promises that wicked, oppressive leaders will have no place in his kingdom. When God pours out the Spirit, we see justice prevail and the wilderness burst to life with new growth. Shalom allows God’s people to rest.
Song Ideas
“Jesus Is a Rock in a Weary Land” Spiritual
“Jesus, Lover of My Soul” Wesley
“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Clephane
“Deliverance is a Song of Peace” Partain
“When We See Your Face” Kauflin and Kauflin
“Lord, You Hear the Cry (Lord, Have Mercy)” Latty
Third Sunday of Lent
Shalom that Draws
Text: Zechariah 8:14–22
Sermon Notes
God does not let wickedness stand, but God is also eager to bless. When God’s people “render verdicts . . . that lead to peace” (NLT) and exhibit virtue, they become a light to their neighbors.
Song Ideas
“Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns” Beddome, LUYH 261
“In the Day of the Lord” Ridge, LUYH 485
“Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise” Wesley, LUYH 515
“O Jerusalem” Porter’s Gate
“Spirit, Break Out” Bryant
“As We Seek (Hallelujah)” Red Rocks Worship
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Brought Together to Dwell with God
Text: Ezekiel 37:21–28
Sermon Notes
The people of Israel had gone into exile, but God will gather them back together. God will create a covenant of shalom with them. God will dwell with God’s people, and all nations will know that God is ruler of all.
Song Ideas
“O God of Every Nation” Reid, LUYH 282, GtG 756
“For the Healing of the Nations” Kaan, LUYH 289, GtG 346
“Canto de esperanza / Song of Hope” Mitchell et al., LUYH 941, GtG 765, SSS 721
“Gather Us In” Haugen, LUYH 529, GtG 401, SSS 393
“The Earth Shall Know” Bailey et al.
“All Glory Be to Christ” Kensrue
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Astonishing Shalom
Text: Isaiah 55:1–13
Sermon Notes
Shalom is good news! Food and drink flow freely; all who hunger are satisfied. God’s people lift their eyes from wickedness to see how God’s ways transcend earthly standards. When God’s people live in joy and peace, it’s not just good news for people. Even the earth rejoices!
Song Ideas
“All Who Are Thirsty” Perry, LUYH 807
“Send Your Word, O Lord” Imakoma, LUYH 767
“Table of Plenty” Schutte, LUYH 808
“Speak, O Lord” Getty and Townend, LUYH 755, SSS 561
“Come As You Are” Glover et al.
“We Will Feast” McCracken and Moore, SSS 370
Palm Sunday
True Humility
Text: Zechariah 9:9–10
Sermon Notes
The Israelites were wondering how they would ever be a prosperous nation again. God promised that he would send them a king, but this king would be humble and destroy the weapons of war. On Palm Sunday, Jesus embodied this prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. On Good Friday, in what seemed like a defeat, he disarmed death itself.
Song Ideas
“Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” Milman
“Rejoice, O Zion’s Daughter” Stuempfle
“At the Name of Jesus” Noel
“Humble” Assad
“Jesus Messiah” Tomlin et al.
“Joy to Be” Eichelberger and Bolen
