Reading His Word

This is an article I wrote for my church about reading God's Word. I challenge you to take this Bible challenge. 

God’s Word

The Extreme Bible Reading Plans!

I came across a Sunday school lesson I did when I was a youth pastor. It was a lesson about the importance of reading the Bible. This lesson has been tucked away in my things for quite a while. Three months ago God put on my heart to read His Word like I have never done before. I of course tried to ignore this nudging of the Holy Spirit. I kept having the same thought in my head for days. “Gary, have you ever really read through the whole Bible?” The answer was quite simple, I don’t know. Then after that thought came “you have the time so you better start reading!” This whole thing seemed pretty ridicules to me. I went to Bible College so I studied the Bible and I know the Bible. I even was a teacher of the bible and a preacher. So I gave God as many excuses and answers to prove that I of all people did not need to read through the whole Bible. Especially all of the names and Old Testaments Laws. Then God reminded me of some things. First I have for many years encouraged people to read through the Bible. Second I say I believe what the Bible says, but don’t read it like I should. Third, if I really want to walk as Jesus did I need to read and know His Word. So, I finally gave in and read through the Bible and now I have a passion to encourage others to do the same.

How can we as Christians live godly lives if we do not read His word. Below I have verses that talk about reading God’s word and how it is powerful. These verses talk about how by reading God’s word we can live more godly lives. That when we read and know God’s Word we sin less. Do you believe that these verses are true? If so we all need to be reading God’s word more and purposeful. I want to challenge everyone to a Bible Challenge. We have three options. 90 days, 6 months or 1 year. Now if you have a smart phone you can get a great Bible app called YouVersion. You can get that in your app store. You can also go to www.bible.com which is the same thing as the app. You can read or listen to the bible with the app or online on there website. There will also be hard copies of each plan if you don’t have access to these two things are would just like to do it that way. Another app and website for the Bible is www.biblegateway.com If you sign up to do one of the plans and finish the Bible reading plan you will be presented with a certificate from the Church.

We all have excuse to why we don’t daily read the Bible. As a Church we believe in the inerrancy and inspiration of scripture. If we really believe those two things then we must read His Word! Anything good for us seems hard to do. Pray and give those excuses to God. If you get the YouVersion bible app or use www.bible.com you can add friends and you can use your friends to help you stay on track. We can encourage each other to read God’s Word. I believe revival starts in two important ways, prayer and reading God’s Word. I truly believe if we commit to do these two things as a Church our spiritual tempter will rise to heights that none of us have ever seen.

There will be sign-up sheets for each plan and plans available on the first part of July. If you decide to accept this challenge we will check on each other once a month to see how we are doing. Probably will add it to P.F.C. If you need help accessing any of the apps or websites I will be happy to help you. After each plan is complete we might even meet together to celebrate together. I will also add a facebook group called, the extreme bible reading plan. In that group we can check in with each other and talk about what we have been reading. Let’s commit to do this together! Each week or even daily we can check in with each other on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gbcgilbert?fref=ts Will you join me in this so important challenge?

·       ⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 1 Timothy 3:16

·       ² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

·       ⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ 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. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

·       ¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children,talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:19-21

·       ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

·       How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word. Psalm 119:9

·       I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11