An Unlikely Lent – Package

An Unlikely Lent – Package
Extraordinary People of the Easter Story

By Rachel Billups

[Allow 6-8 weeks]

Step into the Easter story through the eyes of its overlooked characters and discover how their stories invite you into something new, unexpected and alive.

This study will help you:

• Engage your worship or study group with fresh perspectives on the Easter narrative.
• Spotlight secondary characters in the Passion, resurrection and aftermath – so the “crowd” becomes meaningful.
• Explore themes of devotion, opposition, freedom, courage, companionship and alliances in a vivid way.
• Lead people to see how the resurrection isn’t just an event of the past but an invitation into today.
• Equip participants to recognise where God is moving – even in margins and unlikely places.
• Provide a media‑rich, session‑by‑session teaching element to support the companion book and leader guide.
• Spark creative conversation and worship responses among adults that go beyond the usual narrative.

Features

• Six video teaching sessions presented by Rachel Billups.
• Closed‑captioned for accessibility.
• Package includes base book, leader guide and DVD
• Focus on “side characters” and “in‑between” moments rather than just the major events.

Package comprises

Base book
ISBN: 9781791037338
Abingdon Press (2025)
Paperback, 144pp

Leader Guide
ISBN: 9781791037345
Abingdon Press (2025)
Paperback, 64pp

DVD
ISBN: 9781791037376
Abingdon Press (2025)

Description

What if the best way to enter Easter wasn’t by focusing only on the dramatic high points – the cross, the empty tomb – but by noticing the people around those events, the voices in the margins, the moments of silence and question? This study invites you on that very journey.

Across six engaging video sessions, Rachel Billups guides you into the Easter story not from the pulpit of certainty but through the lives of the often‑overlooked  –  the faithful, the hostile, the free, the bound, the companionable, the alone. You’ll explore themes such as devotion, opposition, freedom, courage, companionship and alliances, seeing how each of these played out in the crowd before, during and after the crucifixion and resurrection.

Ideal for small groups, adult education settings, worship teams or individuals wanting a deeper, more relational encounter with Easter, this resource works in tandem with the companion book and leader guide. It gives you a structured framework, but also space to reflect, converse and creatively respond to how God is still moving through unlikely places and unexpected people.

As a worship leader or preacher you’ll find compelling multimedia support here: the sessions lend themselves to group viewing, discussion and follow‑up worship ideas. For churches looking to refresh their Lent journey, the DVD offers a useful shift from purely devotional or lectio‑style approaches to a more communal, story‑immersive and participatory one.

From a theological vantage, Billups invites us to take seriously the crowd in which Jesus moved – not just the hero‑figures, but the community of everyday people, with all their flaws, hopes and risks. You’ll be encouraged to see that the resurrection is less a closed chapter and more an open invitation: into new life, into unexpected alliances, into freedom from the margins.

About the Author

Rachel Billups is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, speaker, author and pastor. She has served in multi‑campus ministry contexts and draws on a deep commitment to mission, innovation and formation. Her work focuses on exploring new venues for ministry and helping communities engage faith in dynamic, relational ways.

Contents

Session 1: Devotion
Session 2: Opposition
Session 3: Freedom
Session 4: Courage
Session 5: Companionship
Session 6: Alliances

Each session is structured to include teaching, reflection prompts and opportunities for group conversation and response.

SEO‑Friendly Description (160 Characters)
Six‑session DVD by Rachel Billups exploring Easter through unlikely characters – ideal for Lent studies, worship groups and meaningful reflection.

Keywords
Lent, Easter, Jesus Christ, disciples, small‑group study, church resources, devotionals, resurrection, Christian leadership, Rachel Billups