Reading through the Bible together provides many benefits.  We can ask questions, share insights and have meaningful discussions as we meet together whenever and wherever we happen to meet.  We’ll also be using portions of this reading plan as the focus of our Sunday morning messages.  Jesus has commissioned us to, “therefore go and make disciples…”  Getting into the Word of God is essential to our discipleship.  Responding with a comment to this post would be a good way to share what God is doing in or speaking into your life and encourage others.

God Bless,  Pastor Jim

Download The 2011 Reading Plan Now.

Happy New Year,
We believe it’s important to spend time daily reading, meditating on and
studying the Bible.
For the first quarter of this year we are incorporating our Sunday messages
with this reading plan. Our hope is that as we read through and
study the Bible together we will grow even more unified in our understanding
of just how great our Heavenly Father is and how He might use
us this year to do great things for His glory. We’re family and we’re better
together! Here are some reminders and helpful hints for you as you
begin this plan:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-172 Timothy 3:16-17
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16 Every writing inspired by God literally, God-breathed is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The most useful habit we can develop to grow in our understanding of
God and His purpose for our lives is Bible reading and study. We express
our love for God by our obedience to His commands.

Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one
who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too
will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21John 14:21
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21 One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

There are many benefits to a regular intake of God’s Word. Many
never experience these benefits because they haven’t developed the
habit of Bible reading. If you desire 2011 to be a year of great spiritual
growth, and we hope you do, then a daily intake of God’s Word is critical
to achieving this goal.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105Psalm 119:105
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NUN ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.

Knowing God’s Word will:
• Help me to resist temptation – Psalm 119:9-11Psalm 119:9-11
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BEIT ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. ¹⁰ With my whole heart, I have sought you. Don’t let me wander from your commandments. ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart, That I might not sin against you.


• Guide me to make wise decisions- Psalm 119:105Psalm 119:105
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NUN ¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light for my path.


• Strengthen me when I’m weak- 2 Corinthians 12:9-102 Corinthians 12:9-10
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9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.


• Comfort me when I’m sad- Jeremiah 15:16Jeremiah 15:16
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16 Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, Yahweh, God of Armies.


• Help me to witness to unbelievers- 1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15
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15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:

Before you begin reading make the decision to follow God’s Word in
your life. Be prepared to obey God’s instruction when He speaks to you
through His Word. God is a loving Father who knows what’s best for you
- Trust Him! (Proverbs 3:5-6Proverbs 3:5-6
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5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don’t lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths.

)

Make it your habit to have a daily quiet time, a time set aside to be
alone with God to get to know Him better. Jesus often went to lonely
places and prayed. (Mark 1:35Mark 1:35
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35 Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

; Luke 22:39Luke 22:39
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39 He came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples also followed him.

) If Jesus found His strength
through personal time alone with God, how much more do we need to do
the same?

Have a plan. Two keys to starting a quiet time are to select a time that
can be regular and a special place. Consistency and location are both
very important to having a quiet time.

Gather your resources. Grab your Bible and a notebook (to write down
what God speaks to you about and to keep a prayer list), and begin with
the right attitude. We should have an attitude of reverence, expectancy
and obedience.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–
he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25James 1:25
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25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

What if you miss a day? If you miss a day don’t feel guilty, don’t become
legalistic, and don’t give up. It’s been said that it takes 3 weeks for
most people to become familiar with a new task and another 3 weeks
before it will become a comfortable habit. Let us not become weary in
doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give
up. Galatians 6:9Galatians 6:9
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9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.

We were created to have fellowship with God. He made this possible
through Jesus’ death on the cross. We each need to have daily time
alone with God. Make a commitment to spend at least some time every
day with God in a quiet time of Bible reading and prayer. Ask God for
the strength you need to be consistent, and remember, Don’t give up!