With the new year beginning soon, many people will be looking for a Bible reading plan. Here are some of my favorite plans to use for daily Bible reading.
Online Bible Reading Plans – I have three of these online plans on the home page of https://www.discipling.org/ below are some more. Scripture Union provides a great daily Bible reading plan called Encounter with God. This Bible reading program includes a daily passage of about 10-15 verses along with devotional thoughts and applications. Its brevity will help even the busiest person stay consistent in God’s word. It can be found at https://scriptureunion.org/encounters/ The American Bible Society offers an online Bible reading plan that includes a daily focus passage, devotional insights, and a daily prayer emphasis. This plan can be found at http://american.bible/daily-bible-reading. Our Daily Bread provides a daily Bible reading plan that includes a short daily focus passage and an additional passage that can be used to read the Bible through in a year. This plan can be found at https://odb.org/. Bible Gateway has a large number of Bible reading options. Check them out here https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/?version=NIV YouVersion – This is a Bible reading app for mobile devices and computers that includes many daily Bible reading plans. More information can be found at https://www.bible.com/ Offline Bible Reading Plans for those who are old school and like to read their Bibles in print. Here are some daily Bible reading plans that can be used. The Navigators provides several plans that can be downloaded and used for daily Bible reading. These plans can be found at Navigators Bible Reading Plans Ligonier Ministries has several plans that are in PDF format and can be printed out for daily use. These plans are at https://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/ Bibleplan.org – Ok, the plans on this site can be used online or offline. The Bible plan scriptures are linked to Bible gateway so they can be opened up in a browser, printed to be used offline, or sent to your email inbox each day. These plans can be found at https://bibleplan.org/ Back to the Bible – provides several Bible reading plans that can be printed out. Check out http://backtothebible.org/bible-reading-plans for more information. Blue Letter Bible – includes many Bible reading plans to print and use in your daily Bible reading. Visit https://www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading/ to see them. Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Jesus tells this story in response to the lawyer’s question, “who is my neighbor?” But if we look a bit deeper, Jesus is describing the type of person who inherits eternal life; the person who loves God and cares about the things God cares about. Undoubtedly, In the lawyer’s mind, this is surely people like himself and the other Jewish leaders. After all, they have committed their lives to the things of God. So, Jesus uses a story of a Jewish man desperately in need of assistance to answer the lawyer’s question. The first man, a priest, sees the man in his path and steps around him and continues on his way without offering any assistance. The second man, a Levite does the same. Both Jewish leaders continue on their way refusing to lend assistance to the injured and abused man who had fallen in their paths. Then, a Samaritan comes along and seeing the desperate man in his path, has compassion on him. Wait, a minute . . . a Samaritan had no reason to care about a Jewish person. Samaritans were despised by Jews with whom they were cultural and religious enemies. Yet, here is a man who feels compassion for a man who most likely despises him. The Samaritan then, at great expense to himself, shows the Jewish man mercy by providing for his needs. The leaders of God’s people who claimed to care about the things of God had deceived themselves. They were so distant from the heart of God, that a Samaritan man with a compromised faith mixed with idolatry and paganism was closer to the heart of God than they were. So, what can God teach me through this story?
Lord help me “go and do likewise”.
Begin with Prayer
(example) Father, fill me with a passion to know you and love you with all my heart. (Matt. 22:37) Lord, teach me to pray so that I can experience a sweet and powerful time of fellowship with you. (Luke 11:1). Help me father to hear you voice today and pray in the center of your will. (1 John 5:14-15) Praise and Worship Thanksgiving Spend some time thinking about how God has blessed you. Name some of those blessings and thank God for them. Praise God for His Character and Nature by meditating on how our Father is: Loving Kind Merciful Patient Forgiving Gracious All-powerful All-knowing Faithful Just Sovereign King of Kings Worship God by thinking and reading about the meaning of some of His biblical Names Almighty Gen. 17:1 Jehovah Ex. 6:3 Father of Lights James 1:17 Judge Gen. 18:25 Fortress 2 Sam. 22:2 Our Strength Ex. 15:2 I AM Ex. 3:14 Lord of Lords Deut. 10:17 Wonderful Counselor Is. 9:6 Our Healer Jer. 17:14 Prince of Peace Is. 9:6 Alpha and Omega Rev. 1:8 Confession (Work through these types of sins and ask God to forgive you for any thing He convicts you of) Sins of Thought or Attitude (Matt. 15:19) (2 Cor. 10:5): Lustful thoughts, earthy pursuits that distract from God, anger-bitterness, unloving attitude, fear and doubt, pride, prejudice, lack of spiritual fervor Sins of Speech (Matt. 12:36) (James 3:10) (Deut. 5:11): Course or profane words, gossip, slander, unkind words, critical words, untruth, exaggeration. Relationship Sins Who have I offended? (Mt. 5:23-24) Am I bitter or holding grudges against anyone? (Mt. 6:14-15) Are there any improper relationships in my life? Do I have good fellowship with my church body? (Heb. 10:25) Family Relationships (Eph. 5:23,25) (1 Pet. 3:7)(Mt. 18:6) Sins of Transgression What things have I done that displease God or represent disobedience to Him? Sins of Omission What things have I not done that displease God or represent disobedience to God? After your time of confession, meditate on this passage of Scripture: 1 Jn. 1:9; Ps. 103:12 Personal Petition Begin your time of petition by thinking about God’s top priorities for your life? Use some of the suggestions below to guide you through this time. Pray the fruit of the Holy Spirit for your life Love – Rom. 5:5 Father, fill me with a deep love for You and the things of your kingdom. Help me to love my family, my fellow church members, and my neighbors as you would love them. Give me a love for those who don’t yet know you and lead me to pray for them and share your gospel with them. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your powerful life-transforming love. Joy – 1 Pet. 1:8 Father fill me with Joy today. Help me to rejoice in knowing You and experiencing the life that you offer me. Peace – Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Longsuffering – 2 Cor. 4:16-18 Lord, give me the ability to wait on You and calmly endure hardships without complaining. Gentleness – Col. 3:12 Lord, fill me with a gentle and gracious attitude toward others. Goodness – Phil. 2:3 Lord, help me to think of the welfare of others as a priority of my life. Fill me with a generous attitude that seeks to help those around me and demonstrate your love and compassion. Faith – Prov. 3:5-6 Lord fill my heart with trust and faith in You. Give me a powerful mountain moving faith that empowers me to live the life you have called me to live. Help me trust in your with all my heart. Meekness – Psalm 51:16-17 Father, fill me with genuine repentance, brokenness, and humility. Show me how I have been proud, arrogant, or rebellious. Temperance – 2 Timothy 1:7 Lord, help me have self-control and discipline. Give me spiritual power to follow through with your plans for me and to live the life you. Some additional ways to pray prayers of personal petition: Use the example of praying the Fruit of the Spirit to help you pray through the Beatitudes Matt. 5:1-10 and ask God to conform you to these Godly characteristics. You can also use this example to help you pray through 2 Pet. 1:5-11 and ask God to develop these qualities in your life. Pray for other personal needs as the Holy Spirit leads. Powerful Intercession Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. How will you make a wall and stand in the gap for those you know who are dealing with difficulties and trials in their lives? Key intercessory prayer needs
How to pray for a lost person Ask the Lord, to pour out His Spirit on (name) and: Pray for conviction of sin. John 16:8 Pray that God would reveal Himself and what Christ has done. Ask God to open the eyes of this person’s understanding Eph. 1:18. Ask God to remove spiritual blindness. 2 Cor. 4:4 Pray that he would be drawn to God in a powerful way. John 6:44 Pray that God would bind Satan from him and guard him from having His word stolen from Him Matt. 13:19 Pray that God would send people to be a witness to this person. Pray for grace and mercy to surround him. Pray that you could be used by God to lead this person Christ. Pray for pastors and church leaders Pray that God would pour out His spirit on (name). Pray for an overwhelming sense of God’s presence Pray for powerful conviction of sin Pray for a deep spiritual zeal and love for you. Pray for anointing power and filling of the Holy Spirit. Ask God for clear discernment and direction. Pray for deep purity and holiness. Ask God to provide a wall of protection from Satan’s influence. Pray for abundant provision for personal and family needs. Ask God to protect his marriage. Pray for fruitfulness in ministry. Specific ways to pray for your church. Pray for a powerful move of God’s Spirit to bring deep conviction, repentance, and a mighty release of God’s power. Pray for powerful anointing and direction upon our pastor and all teachers and church leaders (name them). Pray for deep love among the members Pray that the church will clearly receive God’s direction in all decisions and ministries Pray that the church will clearly discern God’s vision Pray for a spirit of zeal Ask God for blessings, provision, and resources to do His work Ask God to send a powerful spirit of worship, prayer, and holiness to permeate His church. Follow these examples to pray for national leaders, and for spiritual awakening. Hearing God’s voice through meditation on Scripture Spend some time reading the Bible, and ask God to speak to your heart. Daily Bible reading plans can be found at Discipling.org Homepage In our highly charged and often dysfunctional political culture, I have struggled as a disciple of Jesus Christ, with the role I should have in the political process. Some of my friends view politics and politicians as allies to accomplish God’s purposes, while others avoid any political entanglement, viewing its divisive nature and worldly focus as a potential threat to their faith.
In the past, I embraced politics as a friend and ally. As a college student in the late 80s, I attended a conference with Ralph Reed and embraced the mission of the Christian Coalition. I was thrilled to be part of a political organization that championed the causes I cared about. In those early years of my Christian life, I couldn’t imagine a fellow believer not being interested and engaged in the political process. As a seminary student, I remember a professor talking about an upcoming election and explaining that he was very careful not to confuse his faith with politics. He believed the inherent power and influence of politics did not mix well with faith. He warned us against allowing our politics to shape our faith rather than being shaped by it. My professor refused to be engaged in politics beyond fulfilling his civic responsibility by voting in major elections. I was astounded by my professor’s seeming lack of spirituality. How did he not realize the potential benefits of aligning with politicians and political movements that championed Christian causes? As time passed, I continued to be serious about politics. I stayed abreast of political news, advocated for political causes, and encouraged my friends and family to be political. But I also began to grow disenchanted, and eventually disgusted, with the unfulfilled promises, divisive culture, and ineffectiveness of my nation’s politics. What is worse, I hated what my engagement in the political process was doing to me. While probably not the most articulate one in the room when it came to politics, I was at least the loudest. I espoused my views often and I boldly challenged those who disagreed with me. I had become a self-appointed culture warrior. Until one day, I realized that while I did an awful lot of talking and arguing about what was important in my faith, I did not actually do much of anything. My political views and advocacy had become a large part of “doing ministry”. In some ways in my life, politics had become a surrogate for the gospel and Kingdom work. God showed me that I had misplaced my faith. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I felt compelled to repent of my misplaced faith in politics and seek a better understanding of how I could be more effectively involved in God’s Kingdom work. While I was once merely politically pro-life, God led me to live out my pro-life beliefs by participating in adoption and foster care ministry. I was also led to roll up my sleeves and get to work ministering among people who have been broken by homelessness, drug addiction, sexual immorality, and various other societal problems I once thought only to talk about or preach against. I have had the profound privilege of seeing God work mightily in healing many broken lives. I also developed a new set of eyes to see the people I once considered enemies as precious beyond measure to God. I repented of the hardness of my heart and asked God to help me truly love people that lived in ways or espoused views with which I disagreed. I also asked God to help me treat them with God honoring respect and compassion. As a citizen of the United States, I stay politically informed and I vote my conscience because it is my right and my responsibility. But, I no longer have the illusion that the political process is an ally to my faith. In my case, politics and allegiance to a political ideology hindered my faith. I understand that there are differing views on political involvement by Christians, and I don’t dispute that there are great examples of politics and politicians being used by God. I’ve simply come to believe that one’s level of political involvement as a believer is a matter of conscience to be carefully and prayerfully discerned. |
Tony HoffmanCampus Pastor at First Baptist Church in Leesburg, FL where his passion is to help people discover and live out their calling in Christ. Tony regularly consults, speaks, and teaches about discipleship and Christian education. Archives
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