Welcome to 40 Ways in 40 Days with Essendon Baptist Community Church as we seek to follow Jesus through reading Matthew’s Gospel together during the Season of Lent 2026.
In the tradition of the Church, the 40 days of Lent mirrors Jesus’ own journey of 40 days in the wilderness, testing his own identity and call to baptism and ministry.
For those who were new in their experience of Jesus, this process was often a learning preparation for the initiation rite of water baptism on the morning of Easter Sunday, where people would symbolically be ‘born again’, rising from the waters of death with the risen Christ.
As part of our ongoing formation at Essendon we seek to immerse ourselves in a collective ‘whole gospel’ reading each year.
You are invited to join our 40 Ways WhatsApp Community and share a 'Way’ or ‘Pray’ of the Day about how the daily readings connect with you. You may want to share a personal story, a photo, a link, some art or a poem that reflects your own personal joy or struggle in response.
WEEK 4:
KINGDOM MYSTERY - THE PARABLES
Weekly Read: Matthew Chapter 11:2-13:53
Weekly Plotline/ Synopsis:
The ‘wild’ celebrations of the Jesus’ movement once again comes under question, this time from within by an imprisoned John the Baptist, prompting a crisis of identity and about the true nature of the mysterious ‘Kingdom of Heaven’. In response Jesus tells stories that challenge and inspire imagination around the problems and the possibilities.
Daily Read:
17. Mon. March 9. Matthew 11:2–19 ‘Kingdom Response: When Expectations Shake’
18. Tues. March 10. Matthew 11:20–30 ‘Kingdom Response: Invitation Amid Rejection’
19. Wed. March 11. Matthew 12:1–21 ‘Kingdom Response: Mercy Greater Than Ritual’
20. Thurs. March 12. Matthew 12:22–37’ Kingdom Response: The Point of No Return’
21. Fri. March 13. Matthew 12:38–50 ‘Kingdom Response: True Family, True Sign’
22. Sat. March 14. Matthew 13:1–53 ‘Kingdom Response: The Mystery of the Growing Kingdom’
SUNDAY MARCH 15: EBCC Sermon Series Matthew 5:38-48 ... turn the other cheek? - Adam Hince
40 Ways In 40 Days Reading Plan
You can download the reading plan for the whole period here
Location
134 - 138 Buckley St
Essendon
VIC 3040
Australia