Bible Reading Checklist

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Canonical Daily Bible Reading Plan

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MCheyne DailyBibleReading

Shirkers Slackers Bible Reading Plan

The KINGDOM Bible Reading Plan

All for Jesus,

Fletch

Throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms, we see the authors of Scripture looking back on what God has done in their lives.  God is active and constantly at work on us, transforming us into the image of His Son, Jesus.  This is a great time to reflect on our year and to thank God for His steadfast love and faithfulness.  Even if you went through a serious crisis this year I would imagine that you saw the hand of God in your life.  So I encourage you to take a few moments and chronicle some key events that happened and give God the glory for them.  Below are some questions to get you thinking.

I also want to encourage you to think about your life in four key areas: spiritual, emotional, physical and relational.  Not that you would compartmentalize these areas, but that you would consider them as four major parts of your life that impact the whole of your life.

1. What were some highs and lows?
2. What did you do that you really enjoyed doing?
3. What did you do that you really did not enjoy doing?
4. Who did you spend time with that you really liked?
5. What acts of service or mercy did you do? Did you like it?
6. Did you learn to do something new this year?
7. What material possessions did you acquire? What impact did they have on your life?
8. What were some major themes you saw God working on in your life?
9. What did you read this year?  Did it change or impact your life in some way?
10. Did you accomplish any goals that you set for yourself this year?
11. What are you thankful for from this past year?
12. Do you feel like you spent quality time with your family?
13. Where did you go on vacation?  Was it a good time with your family?
14. Did you date your spouse this year? Any overnights?
15. Did you have an exercise plan this past year?
16. Did you smash any idols this year?
17. Who did you spend time with this year that was encouraging to you? Challenging to you?
18. What ways were you involved in church/Kingdom work?  Was it challenging?  Do you feel like you were using your God given gifts?
19. What Scripture did you read or study this year that had a profound impact on your life?
20. Where has the gospel been at work changing your life?

Looking ahead to 2012…

1. What spiritual disciplines are you going to create?
2. What friends are you going to invest in?
3. How are you going to cultivate the relationships with your family?
4. What God honoring things are you going to do for yourself this year?
5. What steps are you going to take to stay in shape physically and stay healthy?

All for Jesus,

Fletch

Go ahead. Read it.

Let me first say, I’m not pretending to have all the answers.  Instead, I’d like to share how our family has addressed these issues by looking to God’s teaching and applying it to our family.  Thankfully, He’s given us a wonderful instruction manual (the Bible)!

Let’s look at Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 (a small portion of scripture with a big command).

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

From this passage of scripture and others in the Bible, our family has concluded that Sunday morning is not enough for us or our children.  As parents, it our responsibility to guide our children to seek the truth, and our church family supports us in this effort.  Do I have to be a Bible scholar to impart God’s word to my children?  Thankfully not!  Instead, He asks us to be faithful in obeying his commands – to “talk about him when we sit at home and when we walk along the road, when we lie down, and when we get up.”  It’s been a gradual, but intentional change for Brian and me as the Holy Spirit keeps pointing us towards taking on the responsibility of shepherding our children.

So if we, the parents, are primary in teaching our children the ways of God as Christ has directed, how do we go about teaching them?  For our family, family worship (or family devotions), has been an integral part of our time together at home.  Psalm 78:1-7 talks about intentionally passing on God’s word to continue through the generations.

Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments.

We believe family worship is something beautiful designed by God!  It allows us to…

1. Honor God by obeying His commands (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
2. Equip our children to grow spiritually (Ephesians 6:1-4)
3. Build healthy family relationships (Proverbs 4:1-4 provides a multi-generational picture of how teaching children impacts families even beyond the grave.)
4. Be more engaged at church because the words of God are familiar

So what does family worship look like?  Our family keeps evolving in our time together but the Holy Spirit is evident in these times and it is always a blessing.  From our studying, this is how we approach family worship.

What is a family worship time? It is an intentional time or times we consistently set aside to teach our children spiritual truths.
How long does family worship need to be? This can vary depending on the ages of children, possibly starting with 5 minutes and building up.  We have found this training time helps increase attention spans in church, too.

When do we have family worship? Each family is different and must find the time that works best for them.  Because scripture talks about teaching all the time, we try to have a variety of times where we gather to focus on Him.  You can have family worship in the mornings, evenings, meal times, or while traveling.

What do you use for family devotions? We try to incorporate these key components:  music/singing, scripture, memorization, catechism, and prayer.  There are many resources available for families.  Listed below are some our family has used.  The children also enjoy when we read missionary stories or stories that emphasize God’s character.  And if we skip a day, we just pick up where we left off!

As it’s been my prayer for my own children, it is my prayer for the children of Spring Run that they will delight in worship and love Jesus with all their heart.  This is not an easy task ahead of us!  My own heart attitude towards worship is not always pretty and my own desires often take over instead of bringing my focus on the One who should be worshipped.  Thankfully, we have a grace-filled, faithful God who loves us and has given us His Word to better know Him.  Regular times of family worship have given me a greater sense of how to give of myself in worship on Sunday morning and during the week.  And it has equipped me in my discipleship of my children as God has given me the privilege to do.  What a blessing to be a part of God’s multi-generational plan of living out the gospel!

Resources we have used:

The Bible (NIV, ESV, or other versions):

• Proverbs has 31 chapters.  We read the chapter that corresponds with the day.
• The Gospels
• Genesis
• Daniel – our children really enjoyed reading through this book
• Discussing the sermon text from Sunday morning

Bible storybooks and devotional materials:

• The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. This is an excellent resource that shows how Jesus Christ plays a role even in the stories of the Old Testament rather than giving a moral end to the story as some children’s Bible books tend to do. Highly recommended for homes with younger children!
• The Family Worship Book:  A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson
• Sunday School “take home” papers are an excellent resource as a springboard for family worship.
• Audio Bible – great for rest or nap time (in addition to family worship)
• Audio stories – Jonathan Park series (in addition to family worship)
• Bible videos – NEST Video Productions (in addition to family worship)
• Stories about missionaries
• Seasonal materials – Various Advent and Lent devotionals

Music

• Hymns for a Kid’s Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada
• Praise songs from church  – ask a worship member for a copy of songs sung each Sunday

Memorization

• Sunday School memory verses
• My ABC Bible Verses:  Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt
• Hide ‘Em in Your Heart:  Bible Memory Melodies (Audio CD) by Steve Green
• The Family Worship Book:  A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson

Catechism

• The First Catechism by Great Commission Press
• Big Truths for Little Kids:  Teaching Your Children to Live for God by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt
• The Family Worship Book:  A Resource Book for Family Devotions by Terry L. Johnson

Prayer

• Focus on different things to pray for according to days of the week (ex: Monday – family, Tuesday – neighbors, Wednesday – church, etc.)
• Pray through church prayer chain
• Pray for missionaries

These words were penned on the wall of an asylum in which William Cowper was once kept. He lived in the 18th century and wrote many poems and songs. One of his friends and pastor was John Newton (author of Amazing Grace) who often visited him while ill. William Cowper suffered from severe depression and though he often comforted others he rarely found himself comforted. He knew what it was like to live in and survive the Spiritual Desert.

Over the last 2 Sundays we studied where to find happiness (Psalm 1) and how to survive in a spiritual desert (Psalm 42-43). I hope that these are encouraging to you in whatever circumstances you find yourself over this holiday season from Thanksgiving to Christmas. For some people it is light and happy; for others it is dark and sorrowful. I pray that all of us will be refreshed by the light of the world this Christmas season.

Sometimes a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord Who rises
With healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after the rain
(William Cowper, Sometimes a Light Surprises)

I was reminded this morning in the story of the widow at Nain, that pain and suffering are pervasive in this life.  I know this comes as no news to most people.  However, we often think about our Christian life as reaching the top of a mountain.  We create our own little mountain of success and we think that the peak of the mountain is the place to be. More often than not people are in the valley rather than at the top of the mountain.

In a Friday morning men’s Bible study that I lead, we are reading a book called Mighty to Save, by Richard Phillips.  In it he writes concerning this story in Luke 7:11-17, “One thing you will notice if you study the Bible is that there is a great deal of weeping going on…With few exceptions all the major figures of the Bible are seen weeping, and in all sorts of situations.”  The truth about life is that sin has caused a great deal of pain, heartache, suffering and ultimately death.  Like the widow of Nain who had previously lost her husband now she has lost her only son.  She is in a desperate and confusing state.  All her earthly hope is gone, it has literally died.  But approaching her is Jesus, who can not only bring hope but life to her situation. The text tells us that “Jesus saw her and had compassion on her” (v.13).  Jesus “sees” the agonizing situation of this woman and walks into the valley with her.  Jesus then literally speaks life back into her son and raises him from the dead.  The woman now has hope and has been given her life back.  Jesus, who is the life and the resurrection, has the power and authority over death.  Jesus, our Savior, empathizes with us, and He walks through the darkest valleys with His people.

There is nothing wrong with looking forward to the mountain top.  Joy and hope and encouragement should always characterize us.  But we have to realize that most of life is lived in the valley.  Yes, one Day all things will be made new; no more tears, no more suffering, no more death.  But for now, we face those trials with the presence of Christ.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:1

May we walk confidently through the valley, knowing Christ is at our side and may we go into the valley with others showing them the hope and life that is found in Christ.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

The concept of God’s presence is nothing new. But seriously, shouldn’t this truth cause you to live differently today? The God of the universe, who upholds and sustains all things, without whom everything would cease to exist. The most powerful and awesome God, who cares for you deeply, is with you today. Are you facing any troubles today? Do you have any meetings that you are nervous about today? Do you need to have a difficult conversation with someone today? Are you overwhelmed at work? Do you feel like everything is crashing down on you? Then believe this truth: God is with you today. The triune God will take care of all your needs today. God the Father will love you unconditionally and back you up 100%. God the Holy Spirit, will counsel you and guide you throughout your day. God the Son will give you grace upon grace, showering you with mercy, forgiveness, courage and strength to get through this day.
You are not in this alone, God is with you. Read the verse again…

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

All for Jesus,
Fletch

All for Jesus,
Fletch

Growing is a natural part of all of our lives.  But while there is an automatic aspect to growth as we get older there is also a very intentional part of growing.  Physically, we can help along our growth by eating healthy and exercising.  Spiritually, the Holy Spirit is always at work in our lives, conforming us to the image of Christ.  But we have the privilege of participating in our spiritual growth as well.  The challenge for disciples is to not get stagnet or lazy and think that our participation doesn’t matter.  While I firmly believe that we are saved by faith and sanctified by faith, I also firmly believe that God wants us to be a part of the process He is taking us through to be more like Jesus.

For instance, God provides us with His Word, the Bible.  When we read it the Holy Spirit works in us to understand and apply it.  However, WE HAVE TO READ IT.  God won’t read it for us.  God provides us with excellent communicators, like Andrew, BUT WE HAVE TO LISTEN AND ENGAGE in the sermon.  God provides us with a direct line of communication with Him, BUT WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY PRAY.  God provides us with friends, BUT WE HAVE TO LOVE THEM.  Do you see where I am going with all of this?  We have to be intentional about our own growth as a disciple.

Now, we know that growth can happen through some of these spiritual disciplines, but we also grow through the circumstances of our daily lives.  We face trials and temptations and we grow through them as we pay attention to how they shape us, how we react to them, how we apply the gospel to them.  We face suffering in various ways and we grow through that suffering by trusting in God, being patient with what He is doing and latching hold of God with a death grip.

Let us be intentional  disciples.  Diligently seeking God’s grace each day, preaching the gospel to ourselves, finding and searching out ways to grow in Christ.  God is doing a mighty work in us, let’s join Him in the effort.

All for Jesus,

Fletch