Today.
The day we come together as an expectant community to unwrap the story of God.
We never expected the thousands of individuals, churches, small groups, families, youth groups, and more who are joining in the #LentChallenge.
Still not sure if the #LentChallenge is for you?
I don’t know exactly what the next 40 days will look like in your life. You may be facing a pile of bills, a heart-wrenching diagnosis, the pieces of a broken relationship, a schedule that just.won’t.stop.
But I do know that God has something wonderful in store for you and for me. Verses that will breathe life to your soul. Passages that will come alive in a whole new way. Facets of Jesus’ character that will seep their way into your heart. Challenges and convictions. Whispers and echoes.
And here’s the one requirement: Come to him.
My hope and prayer is that at the end of the next 40 days—just over 6 weeks—you’ll be so spiritually full, you’ll never want to live on empty again.
So will you join us? Will you commit to reading just about 7 chapters of the New Testament every day (with a Sabbath rest on Sundays)? [Tweet this]
We want to make it as easy and accessible as possible. Along with downloading and printing a copy of the #LentChallenge: 40 Day New Testament Reading Guide, we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with YouVersion to provide a free reading guide for the #LentChallenge. When you sign up for the reading guide, you’ll receive daily reminders during the #LentChallenge at a time you specify.
#LentChallenge is now available on YouVersion
YouVersion makes the Bible (including the audio versions) available on phone, tablet, and computer for free. Simply download the YouVersion app from the iTunes or Android app store.
To locate the reading guide, simply CLICK HERE or follow these instructions:
→ Go to YouVersion.com
→ Click on Reading Plans
→ Search “The 40-Day New Testament Challenge”
→ Begin Plan!
Click here to sign up for the free 40 Day Bible Reading Challenge Reading Guide on YouVersion.
We’re launching into the Gospel of Matthew today. Come sit at the feet of our Rabbi. [Tweet this]
Check out this AWESOME video made my my friend, Heather Zempel, from National Community Church:
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Parents—this week’s giveaway is for you. Invite the entire family to join the #LentChallenge, too!
This week we’re giving away THREE copies of The Jesus Storybook Bible written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and beautifully illustrated by Jago.
The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the Story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David—every story points to him.
Through this unique Bible, children are invited to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation—and at the center of their Story too.
To win ONE of THREE copies of The Jesus Storybook Bible, leave a comment on the original blog post at MargaretFeinberg.com. Winners will be selected and announced on Monday.
Congratulations to the winners: Mike Kelly, Lisa Shuler, Debbie Brainer
Thank you , Margaret, for doing this plan for YouVersion!! My devotional plans through this wonderful app are how I start my day! I am delighted this one is there, too!
Hello Margaret…..
This link to your Lent plan is just what I needed at the start of Lent.
Lent this year feels so much more different to previous years and I am really looking forward to your challenging reading plan. The Jesus Storybook Bible also looks like a great way to involve children at this time of year but in a more child orientated way.
You have just pointed out that as well as our devotion in Lent we should also look after our children’s Lent time too…
Many thanks,
Yours in Christ.
Gary
I feel so blessed to have found this challenge. Perhaps it found me? Looking forward to walking with you for the next 40 days. Thank you for including ideas for our entire family!
Thanks for the challenge!!
Thanks for this guide.
The children’s Bible looks wonderful. I would love the opportunity to win a copy for my niece. Her mommy would love to read it to her.
So excited the plan is on YouVersion. It will make it so much easier to take it with me. To everyone else: we can do it!
Love Heather’s video, she did an amazing job kicking off the #LentChallenge. I’m expectant. We have started our conversation this morning at Redemptions Beauty Book Club and I’m already getting messages from people. Woot!
Already loving this. 🙂 We LOVE the Jesus Storybook Bible so if I win I’m giving it away to one of my favorite families. 🙂
I’m with you on this Lent Challenge, Margaret. I was so STUFFED with God’s Word last year, reading through the entire Bible – it was AMAZING!! Looking forward to what God does in my life THIS year.
I know 4 little girls who would LOVE the giveaway today.
Thanks for your ministry. I truly appreciate it.
Hi Margaret,
You say to leave a comment on the original post – I assume this is the original one.
I would love this book. We are running a VBS at our church (by ourselves for the first time). We are talking about where Jesus walked and talked. This would be a great addition to our program
Blessings,
Janis
I love that it is on you version…I will be traveling next week and I like to listen while I am in the car…so I like that it will be synced to the written version too…
And I love this Children’s bible…I give it to every new momma.
Looking forward to this journey again this year…I must say…It feel a bit less daunting…but i know it will be so very rich as well!!! blessings and blessings to you this lenten season!!
Sent this reading guide out to all my Bible study peeps! Hope they will join me on this challenge! Heard you at AACC and listened to CD from that Plenary session this morning. Still laughing over the machete! Also reading Scouting the Divine.. Love it!
I downloaded the plan and signed up through youversion. We’re going out right now for a journal to write in as we read. Thank you!
I am thrilled to be part of the challenge again this year! Last year was such an awesome, eye-opening experience! Thank you so much for challenging me again this year. My 5 y/o grandson could really benefit from the Jesus Storybook Bible. I watch him before/after school and I can see this as an opportunity to spend more quality time with him! 🙂 God bless you Margaret for the way you show God’s glory. Blessings to you!
Okay today is the day. I like how YouVersion is laid out. I can check off each chapter as I read it. I normally would not read the entire New Testament online because I prefer book in hand, but I am willing to give this a go. I emailed my pastor and told him that I am doing the challenge and sent him a link to your website.
Thanks again for your obedient heart in putting this plan together for us and for making it accessible thru YouVersion, removing as many obstacles as possible. We can do this! We are also starting our Wonderstruck Study for our Women of Influence group at church tonight. So excited to see what God is going to speak to us thru all of this! Praise The Lord! Blessings to you and your family and team. <3
I am so excited this plan is on YouVersion, I planned on doing it anyway but YouVersion is a plus:-) I’ve completed today’s and very much looking forward to this challenge!!
Thank you for developing this plan; I’m very excited about diving into the New Testament during this season of Lent.
I’m already enjoying the 40 Day Lent Challenge. Excited to see what the next 40 days hold!
Thanks for what you’re doing to promote this. I’m looking forward to each day’s reading and getting a great response in my little corner. So excited to see where God leads us together. I already posted some thoughts from Day 1 with a great reminder that this Jesus that Matthew’s introducing isn’t just for the insiders. http://imminentcrash.com/god-invites-the-outsiders-in-lentchallenge/
Thank you for this challenge. This is something that I gave been looking for with my walk with Jesus. I really loves that children’s book, this will be truly wonderful for my grandchildren, who have been asking about Jesus. I have been reading to them from my bible, and gotten them their own bibles. But having this one book will be an insight in helping them to learn more about Jesus and even helping the wee little ones growing into the Lord. Thank you once again!
Congratulations, Debbie! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.
I’m so so so so excited that Lent is finally here, Margaret!
I remember last year, when some of us read through the entire Bible, how great of a community you have here, and enjoyed corresponding with you and other readers. I hope this year will be the same?! Anyways, I’m taking notes while reading this year, and maybe I’ll share some throughout Lent (would love others to do the same!!!), but for now, I have a few questions that came up while I was reading. I was wondering if I could ask them here, and then you or other readers try and answer them? I love discussion! 🙂
1.) In Matthew 1:20, 2:12, and 2:22, there is talk of God revealing things to people through dreams. Do you think God still does that today, and if so, for everyone or just certain people, and what is your Biblical evidence of that?
2.) Matthew 5:17-I could be misreading this verse entirely, but from how I’m understanding it right now, Jesus is promoting the Law (the Old Testament). There are so many things and rules and regulations in the Old Testament that we don’t do/observe anymore. Why? What it sounds like here is that Jesus is saying DO the Law!! Any helps here?
3.) Fasting. Matthew 6:16. I have never fasted. Is It an actual command to fast, or an option? I have a medical condition now that prevents me from doing so at the time…Just wondering if that is wrong, and also wondering how fasting unlocks our prayers.
Thanks, all! The community at Margaret Feinberg.com is crazy-wonderful!!
And, also, I’d love to win the storybook. I love love love to teach littles about Jesus! 🙂
Found you on YouVersion. Yeah! I’m in for the 40 days! Thank you.
Thanks for making this easier by connecting with YouVersion. I’ll receive this plan as well as the two other plans I’m currently reading through each morning. This will guarantee that I’ll be able to complete this.
Starting Matthew today is water to my thirsty soul! Thank you for the challenge. I have borrowed a Jesus Storybook Bible from a friend and loved it. Would love to win a giveaway copy. Thanks for doing it.
Your one smart cookie! My sister, sister in law, and a friend saw you speak this last weekend at Tulsa, thank you for your story!
And we are all doing the Lent challenge!
Thanks, sweet Lenne! We had a blast in Tulsa last weekend!
I’m in! Timing was really great with getting an iphone yesterday. 🙂
I’m looking forward to spending Lent this way–rather than just giving something up–tuning in, so to speak. I’m reading in the message version, hoping for the words to fall fresh on me.
PS we have at least 3 Jesus Storybooks, so I don’t need the giveaway. It is my favorite! 🙂
I’m really looking forward to participating in the Lent Challenge! So far, so good…. #dayone
Thanks for this great challenge Margaret.I will be reading and listening over these 50 days. I have 3 others joining the challenge plus a possible 2 more! I love the Jesus Storybook. BIBLE! I give it as a gift to every expecting mom to read to their child. I hope I win one to give to a new mommy.
Congratulations, Lisa! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.
Lent Challenge
Morning…a new day….hunger…anticipation….an unexpected journey… startling vistas
Thrilled about this – anticipating a sweetness near to Jesus these next 40 days!
This sounds great
I’ve begun the challenge! Excited to see how God speaks!
That’s great that the plan is on YouVersion! I’ll have to check it out. I’ve heard several people recommend The Jesus Storybook Bible, saying that both kids and adults have enjoyed and benefitted from reading it. I’d love to see what it’s like for myself. Thanks so much!
The Story book Bible is awesome, would love to have another copy for my family. We have 5 kids and two can be reading it at once. Happy Lent Challenge everyone.
Congratulations, Mike! You’ve been selected as a winner! Please send your mailing address to carrie@margaretfeinberg.com.