It’s Time to Step Up Your BIBLE Game!
Pastor Mickey Eckles
9.3/4.22
Most of us would say we want to be healthy and fit physically.
The only way we can know and obey God is to be in the Word of God regularly!
The Value of Scripture (The Bible)
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ? Charles H. Spurgeon
“I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible.” —D. L. Moody
“In fact, the Devil is delighted when we spend our time and energy defending the Bible, as long as we do not get around to actually reading the Bible.” R. C. Sproul, Jr.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV84) - Protection
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Psalm 1:1–3 (NLT) - Health/Healing
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV84)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
John 14:21 (NIV84)
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NLT) - Protection
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
Psalm 119:165 (NLT) - Peace/Word/Stability
Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NLT) - Peace
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
3 John 2 (NIV84) - Health
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
Proverbs 17:9 (NLT) - Forgiveness
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Psalm 113:9 (ESV) - Pregnancy/Adoption
He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
The only way we can know and obey God is to be in the Word of God regularly!
A Simple Bible Reading Plan (ESV, NLT)
Shoot for 5 days a week (give yourself grace)
Shoot for 1 chapter a day (be flexible)
Write down what you see (journal)
What does God say?
What does God do?
How will you respond to what God shows you?
Pray through the things you wrote down
Where to Start: This plan allows you to read the entire New Testament over a period of time
Mark
John
Matthew
Luke-Acts
Romans-Revelation
Once you have completed the New Testament, you can now begin to backfill in the Old Testament. The Bible is the story of God’s plan to reconcile mankind to himself.
1 John 3:23 (NIV84) - Discipleship
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.