In His book, Reverberation, pastor and author Jonathan Leeman says, 

God’s Word working through God’s Spirit, is God’s primary instrument for growing God’s church.” 

From the very beginning, it has been His Word that God has used to bring life, growth, and health. This is why we would suggest that our core value of Biblical Truth is foundational to our church. It’s the spring from which all the other values flow and the bedrock in which all the other values are anchored.

WE HONOR THE BIBLE AS GOD’S REVELATION TO MAN AND OUR FINAL AUTHORITY FOR BELIEF AND BEHAVIOR

This leads us to:

• Prioritize the faithful and accurate teaching and preaching of the Bible,

• Elevate the centrality of the Word in our life together as a church, and

• Commit to the personal reading, meditation, and application of God’s Word.

As a result of these commitments, each year we seek to give ourselves to a simple, yet consistent reading of the Bible. For 2024, here are two different Bible reading plans we are encouraging the church family to consider.

CHOOSE A PLAN

One of these plans works through the entire Bible at multiple chapters a day, the other works through the New Testament at only one chapter a day. Visit Treasuring Scripture Together for the details on both of these plans.

• BOOK-AT-A-TIME READING PLAN

• NEW TESTAMENT PLUS (NT+)

REMEMBER THE CHURCH

While reading the Bible is vital to your spiritual growth, it’s important you don’t do so in isolation! As members one of another, we are to encourage each other toward faithfulness (Heb 10:23-25). The reason many people give up when trying to read through the Bible is that they go at it alone. Taking this journey with each other helps us stay on track. We receive help from others when we’re stuck. Others help us to see things we often miss when we’re alone. We can also provide much-needed mutual encouragement, accountability, and prayer.

Many already have a Bible reading plan that you follow on your own. But as members with each other, each year we look to run this race together. So, if you’re consistently in the Word, how can you encourage others in the church to be consistent, too? If you are not consistent in the Word, would you appreciate someone helping you establish consistency?

USE THE TOOLS

If you’re ready to begin, here’s how to make it happen.

1)  CHOOSE A PLAN

• BOOK AT A TIME (Read for Distance)

  • This reading plan will take you through the entire Bible this year. It provides two readings for each day.

    • The first reading alternates between Old and New Testament books, giving you three or four chapters a day.

    • The Gospels are spread throughout the year.

    • The second reading takes you through a chapter or so of the wisdom literature and Isaiah.

    • To prevent the frustration of falling behind and to provide some reflection time, each month consists of only 25 readings. You’ll have several days each month to meditate more deeply on something that was significant to you in the past week, to catch up on missed readings, or to revisit favorite passages.

    You can download a printable plan at navigators.org.

• THE NEW TESTAMENT + (Read for Depth)

  • This approach will give you the opportunity to read slowly through the New Testament

    • Read 6 days a week; rest 1 (or catch up).

    • The readings will consist of only one chapter per day.

    • The plan groups books together by author. For example, to start out the plan, you will read John’s writings – the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation. Later in the year, you will read Luke and Acts together.

    • Five of the days each week will come from the New Testament. The sixth reading that week will be a chapter from the Old Testament referenced in the New Testament passages earlier in the week.

    • Utilize the Bible app to aid you in your reading. (If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one at bible.com)

2)  GET SOCIAL

• Meet up with 1 or 2 others from your small group each week. Discuss what you’ve learned through your reading and pray together for God to continue to use His Word to grow and deepen our church.

• Consider joining the Treasuring Scripture Together Facebook group. Share your insights, ask questions, and provide encouragement to others.

• When posting your thoughts, ideas, and encouragement to any social media platform, use the hashtag, #treasuringscripture and tag Lebanon Baptist Church. We are on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

MAINTAIN THE RIGHT FOCUS

Be careful. Do not approach this as a “New Year’s Resolution”. That mentality will quickly decline into checking off boxes. It will get overwhelming to keep up with a schedule or count the number of verses and chapters to conquer in any given week. Remember, Bible reading isn’t about getting through a checklist and completing a plan; it’s about knowing Jesus and learning to treasure His Word. Don’t turn it into something mechanical. Just get to know God and let His Word inform your beliefs and captivate your affections.

Will you commit to reading the Bible this year?

The plans begin on January 1, 2024. We look forward to taking this journey together. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.