CrimsonSnow http://crimsonsnow.posterous.com Simple Musings posterous.com Mon, 09 May 2011 23:05:00 -0700 Read the Bible. Two Tools To Help You. http://crimsonsnow.posterous.com/52494959 http://crimsonsnow.posterous.com/52494959

Most Christians know that reading their bible is a good idea. And most attempt it from time to time. However, centuries of Christian history teach us the same thing; that reading, studying, highlighting, searching and praying through one’s bible is more than just a good idea. It is essential to spiritual maturity and spiritual growth; no matter what spiritual-maturity base you come off.

 

In Willow Creek Community Church’s mammoth 2007 survey, in which they surveyed some 5000 people over 3 years, Willow Creek discovered that one of their fundamental assumptions regarding spiritual growth was flawed. Willow Creek describes how for years they had assumed that the more involved someone is in church programs, the more likely they are to grow spiritually. The REVEAL Research Report suggested that, that assumption was flawed.

Bill Hybels, described the research results as the wake-up call of his life. He confesses

"We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own." (Emphasis my own.)

 

This is all old news by now. It was amazing to watch this all unfold in 2007, but its no longer breaking news four years later. But maybe that’s just the point. We have a habit of always wanting the latest news, the latest research findings, the latest leadership technique to grow our churches; but Willow Creek’s research shows that we cannot depart from ancient paths of prayer, bible reading as well as some genuine relationships.

 

In light of this, here are two New Testament reading plans which you’re welcome to use.

The first is called NewThru30, and was designed by the guys at Elevation Church, in Charlotte, NC. The idea is to read the entire New Testament in 30 days; which works out to be around 12–15 chapters a day. What is clever about this little reading plan, and it’s the first time I’ve seen it, is that it is designed with two ‘grace days’ after 5 days of reading. At first, we might be tempted to wave our religious red-flags and shout, ‘you should read the bible every day, not just on week days’ – but lets be honest, how many times have you and those around you, started a bible reading plan, only to fall behind a few days and then never catch up. With two ‘grace days’ built in, it takes that out of it. The chances of finishing this bible reading plan are exponentially in your favour. Twelve to fifteen chapters a day can be intense but its worth it. You won’t get an intensive study of each book of the New Testament but you do get to the end of day 30 feeling full and saturated in the Scriptures. Reading Romans in a day, or Colossians and Hebrews in one day is quite incredible.

 

Myself and two friends did it in January this year, and concluded that each year for the foreseeable future, we’re going to start off the year saturating ourselves in the New Testament by going through NewThru30. If you want to hear other titbits on how much others have enjoyed it, search the hashtag #newthru30 on twitter to see the feedback.


 

While NewThru30 is a great way to drench oneself in the Scriptures, it is quite a mammoth task. That’s where NewThru90 comes in. We’ve taken the exact reading plan, and broken it down so that you get through the New Testament in 90 days. It’s based on the same principle of 5 days reading with 2 ‘grace days’ or ‘catch-up days’, and ends up being around 3 – 4 chapters a day. All credit needs to go to Elevation Church for the inspiration for NewThru90, while the design work was done by Nick Mills of CommonGround Church, Cape Town. So feel free to download either one, and stick it in the back of your bible. You won't regret it.

 

“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6v16).

The ancient ways aren’t always outdated. Its good to keep asking, keep searching, keep longing for the good way is; even if it’s the ancient way, and to keep walking in it, for there we find rest for our souls.

 

New_Thru_30.pdf Download this file
New_through_90_A4.pdf Download this file

 

 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1191289/Kevin_Picture.jpg http://posterous.com/users/hesfFqQG2Y4ky Kevin Murphy CrimsonSnow Kevin Murphy