Bible Reading and 2010

I want to encourage you to regularly read your bibles in 2010. So often, we get discouraged and even feel guilty for not living up to our desire. We feel less spiritual (whatever that means) and a "bad" Christian when we start reading our bibles, but then fall away. God doesn't look at it like that. God is our loving Heavenly Father always looking to help his needy children. We don't need to live under the weight of condemnation (if we are in Christ)when we fail to do what is necessary. Instead, believing God is here to help us, we can continually turn to God for forgiveness and help.

In our attempt to read the scriptures faithfully, we tend to bite off more than we can chew. We need to challenge ourselves, but yet, still be realistic. Below are two links for Bible reading plans. Both will lead you through the entire bible in a year. But there are no rules that say, "you have to read the bible through in a year." If that feels too much, pare it down a little. In both of these plans, there are four columns to read each day; instead of reading all 4, just read 2 if that will help you. The first bible reading plan even gives you grace days to catch up when you miss. The second plan is a little more daunting. You read the OT once, NT twice and the Psalms twice.

Below, tell me and one another your story of bible reading. Tell us your successes and failures. Tell us what you're going to do in 2010. Let's encourage one another.

http://www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf

http://hippocampusextensions.com/mcheyneplan/

Pastor Brian

The Apostle John and Metaphors

In our sermon Sunday, the Apostle John (like other scripture writers) uses a lot of images and metaphors. Its really important that the scripture writers refer and teach theological truth in a variety of ways; truth about God can hardly be "captured" so the best way to get some handle on theological truth is getting at it from a variety of angles.

I made reference to 4 words or phrases on Sunday. Here are scripture passages for you to examine to understand how they are used.

1. "fellowship" as a reference to our salvation

1 Cor. 1:9
1 John 1:3, 6
2 Cor. 13:14

2. "walk" as a reference to "living life."

Gal 5:16
Eph 2:1-2
1 John 2:6

3. "darkness" as a reference for evil, sin and impurity

Psalm 82:5
Prov. 2:13 (get a running start by starting in vs. 6)
John 3:19

4. "practicing truth" as a reference to living in accordance with Jesus and his way

"practicing truth" is very specific to John so we don't have other references like this. This has a similar connotation to "walking"... it has to do with how we live our lives. "Tom practices medicine." 1 Kings 11:11 says, "Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant....'" Consequently then, "practicing the truth" is similar to "walking in the light." It's a metaphor describing how one is living life.

What do you think about these metaphors? Am I missing something that's important to bring up? Also, what are ways you examine your heart to see if you're walking in the light?

Blessings,
Pastor Brian