I may shock a few folks. . .

Now that both Lent and Easter are behind us -- at least for this year -- it is with some fear and trepidation that I offer these words.  Lent is not to be an extended version of Holy Week.  I am sure that some on both sides of the pulpit will disagree but let me continue to poke the lion anyway.  Not all the readings appointed for the Sundays in Lent (no matter what lectionary you use) rehearse over and over again the readings of Holy Week.  You should not either.  I grew up with an understanding of Lent that basically affirmed the whole purpose of this season was to render as explicitly as possible the horror of sin, the agony of the cross, and the details of everything from Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday.  It could have been worse.  I am not at all saying this was the worst thing that could have been preached but I am saying that the purpose of Lent is not to dwell solely on the final days of Jesus' life before His rest in the tomb and resurrection.  The personal discipline of Lent as well as its churchly focus is on the shape of Christian living under the cross.

It might be odd for a Lutheran to say this but I think it is okay to preach morality in the extra services of Lent.  Sanctification is not a topic alien to Lent but very appropriate.  We need to be taught how to mortify the flesh (when did you ever hear a sermon on that in a Lutheran congregation?).  We need to be taught how to practice the self-denial and walk worthy of our calling that befit those who have been baptized and who believe in Jesus Christ.  Calls to morality are far too few and far too careful not to offend.  Perhaps we ought to be offended during Lent.  

It might be odd for a Lutheran to say this but I think it is okay to preach over and over again the Creed (Apostles fits Advent and Nicene fits Lent).  We need to have this creed preached into us so that we can speak it forth within the gathering of the faithful on Sunday morning, teach it too our children, and grow up in its faith and truth.  Lent is a great time to rehearse for the people what the words mean which we confess so matter of factly on Sunday morning.  Preach the creed regularly or else they will become largely ceremonial words (which they are not).  This we believe is a good way to begin a Lenten homily.

It might be pretty normal for a Lutheran to say this but I think it is okay to preach the catechism (the Small one by Luther).  We tend to think of the catechism as words for a kid to learn until they are confirmed when they never deal with them again.  Wrong.  Preach the catechism.  Help us to hear the words we should be reading and praying regularly already and help us to learn them so that we might teach them well to our children.

Don't worry about a gimmick.  An acrostic might be nice but you don't have to create a sermon meme in order to preach during the penitential seasons of the Church Year.  You don't need to be clever by half to prove your people were smart to call you pastor.  Preach faithfully the things we ought to know already and you will find how many things we do not know as well as how earnest people are about things as common and ordinary as the stuff of daily life.

It is June and you have six months to think about it before Advent is upon you and Lent shortly thereafter.  Think about it.  Leave the Passion narratives for Holy Week and preach faith and life in Christ the crucified and risen Lord.  If you cannot help yourself, you can go back to preaching Lent as an extended Holy Week in a couple of years and tell me off by saying you tried it and it did not work.  I don't think that will happen but it is your out if you think I am wrong.