‘We would all like a religion that kept us within our comfort zone. But just as C.S. Lewis’s Aslan is not a tame lion, neither is the Christ of the gospels always a comfortable Saviour, saying and doing things that are often unexpected and challenging.

‘Nor is this a comfortable Lent course. Lent, of course, was never intended to be a time of comfort. It was traditionally a time of sackcloth and ashes and rumblings in the stomach, a drab, grey run-up to the glorious resurrection theme of Easter. Discomfort is much less fashionable nowadays. But whatever your Lenten attitude to chocolate or alcohol maybe, for this Lent at least, you will be willing to submit your spirit to a little bit of mental exercise and your mind to a little bit of spiritual challenge.’

Not a Tame Lion is the latest Lent course from Hilary Brand. Based around three films: The Chronicles of Narnia’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, and Shadowlands (Attenborough cinema version), the course aims to bring ideas from C.S Lewis’s writing to a wider contemporary audience.

Each film clip is related to one of the sayings of Jesus and there is introductory material to be read before each session, as well as a wide range of discussion starters and questions. Topics covered range from the challenging – suffering, God’s absence, hell – to the distinctly unfashionable – sin, judgement and the devil. Each session ends with a brief meditation. An engaging and original resource for Lent.

PLEASE NOTE: DVDS OF THE FILMS ARE NOT INCLUDED