Dear First Pres,
I can’t help myself. Whenever it comes to the end of anything, especially a year, I think about how it went. I wonder what I could have done differently. And I think about the next iteration of whatever it is I’m considering. So, now you know what I’m doing this week. Yes, I’m thinking about 2020. And, I’m thinking about 2021.
One of the things I’m planning to do in 2021 is to read through the Bible, and I’d love for our congregation to do it together.
When I gave my life to the Lord at summer camp between my 7th and 8th grade year, I realized that I knew a lot about God, but I didn’t really know God. I had been attending worship services and Sunday school my whole life, so I knew many of the stories from the Bible. But I didn’t really know the heart of God in the Bible. So, one of the most important things I did when I got home from summer camp was to take my Bible off my shelf, dust it off, and start reading. No, I didn’t read through the Bible in a year. I would try to read a chapter a day. I started in the New Testament. I don’t remember if I slowly worked my way through the New Testament or not, but I do remember what reading the Bible did in my life. I remember feeling close to God when I read. I remember the Holy Spirit convicting me of things I needed to confess and things I needed to believe. I remember growing in my faith … big time.
Here’s the truth: regularly reflecting on Scripture is one of the most impactful ways to grow in faith. God uses our time reading Scripture to help us know His will, to encourage our souls, to teach us how to live, to know the promises of God, to have power over temptation, to help us know how to pray, to increase our faith, to convict us of sin, and to draw us closer to Himself. All of these have been true in my life. And I long them to be proven true in your life as well.
Would you join me in reading through the Bible in 2021? You’ll need to set aside about 30 minutes every day (some of you will need less because you read faster than I can). I believe it will be a great encouragement to you, especially as we do it together.
If you’re in, please add your name to the church’s participant list by clicking HERE.
Then, if you’d like to use the Youversion Bible app on your phone or computer, join my group by clicking HERE.
Or, if you’d rather have your own printed plan to keep with your Bible, download this Bible Reading Plan.pdf.
We’re starting on January 4, 2021.
May the Lord grow us in His Word.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeremy
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