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Are You a Regular Reader ?
How is your check list going?
Decorations done
Tree up
Cards out
Presents purchased
And wrapped
Baking
Inviting people to worship…
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ABOUT YOUR PLAN FOR BIBLE READING IN 2010
Let me encourage you to develop a plan to be in the Word in the coming New Year.
And let me help! Questions? Concerns? Call. Email.
• Which translation will you use? I suggest any of these: New International Version, English Standard Version, New King James.
• How much of the Bible will you read? There is no “magic amount” to read each year. Colossians 3:16 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Figure out an amount that will enrich you. Reading all the Psalms and the Gospel of Luke is a good place to start. Or choose to read the whole New Testament. Or, why not work through the whole Bible—takes not much more than 20 minutes a day.
• When and how often will you read? Morning? Noon? Evening? I recently shared with you that four times a week seems to be the frequency that changes things.
• What will you learn by heart (memorize)? Go to our web site for this. There you will find 25 Key Bible. All are suitable for memorization.
• Where does prayer fit in? Reading the Bible is more relational than informational. Make sure that prayer is part of Bible reading discipline.
• What tools do you need that you do not have? Get a good study Bible. I suggest the new Lutheran Study Bible or the Concordia Study Bible. This past year I used an Archeological Study Bible. You might find the Chronological Bible helpful—the editors rearranged the entire Bible into a general chronological form. Good web sites include http://www.Biblegateway.com and http://www.greekbiblestudy.org. Get a Bible handbook that includes outlines and maps.
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SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH
A recent study entitled Reveal indicates the following points about spiritual growth:
Involvement in “church activities” does not predict or drive long-term spiritual growth. We need ushers and greeters and coffee hostesses to be sure!! But those activities will not drive spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is about increasing relational closeness to Christ
Church activities help most at the initial stages of spiritual growth.
Personal spiritual practices drive spiritual growth. Hence our accent on personal Bible reading and prayer time.
Sounds like knowing the Bible better everyday!
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SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT BEING A REGULAR BIBLE READER
• Your pastor can’t read the Bible for you.
• Choose the Bible over “inspirational.” Devotional and inspirational material has its place, but it should not replace reading the Bible itself.
• Something is better than nothing. If you are just starting, making a commitment to four days a week will change things.
• Make sure the children and teens are involved. The key reason to teach our children to read is not so that they can get good jobs, but so that they can know their Savior revealed in his word.
• The Pharisees “knew” the Scripture. We need to not just “know” the word, but “know” it—believe it, trust it, live it.
• Satan is not crazy about this. As you give yourself over to Bible reading, expect some monkey wrenches.
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ANNUAL BIBLE READING SYSTEMS
You can follow any number of systems:
• Daily Bible Editions can be found at any bookstore.
• http://www.Biblegateway.com emails daily Bible readings.
• The L.C.M.S. offers Today’s Light. Go to http://www.cph.com.
• I like the Navigator’s system: http://www.discipleshipjournal.com
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ONE MORE THING
Don’t forget to bring your Bible to worship this Sunday, December 20.
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HOLIDAY WORSHIP
Christmas Eve Services 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. (special Christmas music begins at 9:30)
Christmas Day Service 10:00 a.m.
December 27 Services 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (no Sunday School or Adult Bible Classes)
New Year’s Eve Service 7:00 p.m.
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Keep working on your Christmas Check List. Christmas is coming… soon.