The Best Book You'll Ever Read

We are about to read the most important, most accurate, most exciting, most influential, most persecuted and ridiculed book ever written!

The following is a quote from the BBC Manual:

"The Bible was written over 1,600 years, by over 40 different authors from very different walks of life, on three different continents, during times of war and peace, in three different languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. These facts make the Bible an impossible book to write . . . if man had written it. The hands of men recorded it but the mind of God wrote it through those hands. There is a unity that cannot be mistaken. We can begin at Genesis and read through to the end. There is no jar. We can pass from one style of literature to another as easily as though we were reading a story written by one hand and produced by one life, and indeed we have here a story produced by one mind (2 Peter 1:21) though not written by one hand."

The Bible – there is no other book like it and there will never be another book like it. It is God’s Book to man.

Are you excited to seek, learn and understand what God wants to tell us through His marvelous Word?!

A couple of things to consider before you start:

1. As we seek a closer walk with the Lord, the Enemy is going to try to come against us. Let’s be PRAYER WARRIORS for each other! Do you have any specific requests to share? What do you see as being your biggest obstacle as you begin this challenge? Time? Discipline? Understanding?

2. Have you thought about when you will be doing your daily reading? It’s a good idea to have a plan. You’re always going to have those days when you are not able to read at that specific time, but for most days it will help to know what you are going to do. Will you be reading in the morning, at night, some other time?  Make a commitment to yourself.  You might think about it like this, "No Bible, no breakfast" or "No Bible, no bed." Let’s share with each other what our plan is as part of our accountability to one another.

Don't be shy........I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you!

Challenge begins Monday, July 1st!

Bible Challenge 2013 Reading List

Are you ready?!  The new Bible Challenge begins this Monday, July 1st.

Below is the reading list for the first month.  It works well to print it and use for a bookmark.


       July
❏1   Genesis 1,2
❏2   Genesis 3-5
❏3   Genesis 6-9
❏4   Genesis 10,11
❏5   Genesis 12-15
❏6   Genesis 16-19
❏7   Genesis 20-22
❏8   Genesis 23-26
❏9   Genesis 27-29
❏10 Genesis 30-32
❏11 Genesis 33-36
❏12 Genesis 37-39
❏13 Genesis 40-42
❏14 Genesis 43-46
❏15 Genesis 47-50
❏16 Job 1-4
❏17 Job 5-7
❏18 Job 8-10
❏19 Job 11-13
❏20 Job 14-17
❏21 Job 18-20
❏22 Job 21-24
❏23 Job 25-27
❏24 Job 2-31
❏25 Job 32-34
❏26 Job 35-37
❏27 Job 38-42
❏28 Exodus 1-4
❏29 Exodus 5-7
❏30 Exodus 8-10
❏31 Exodus 11-13

This is another option for younger children who would like to participate in this Challenge.  We'll call it Junior Bible Challenge.  This list is ONE chapter a day (the major chapters or stories) through the Bible.  I have a 1st and 3rd grader who will be doing this challenge.

       July
❏1   Genesis 1
❏2   Genesis 2
❏3   Genesis 3
❏4   Genesis 4
❏5   Genesis 5
❏6   Genesis 6
❏7   Genesis 7
❏8   Genesis 8
❏9   Genesis 9
❏10 Genesis 10
❏11 Genesis 11
❏12 Genesis 12
❏13 Genesis 13
❏14 Genesis 14
❏15 Genesis 15
❏16 Genesis 16
❏17 Genesis 17
❏18 Genesis 18
❏19 Genesis 19
❏20 Genesis 20
❏21 Genesis 21
❏22 Genesis 22
❏23 Genesis 23
❏24 Genesis 24
❏25 Genesis 25
❏26 Genesis 26
❏27 Genesis 27
❏28 Genesis 28
❏29 Genesis 32
❏30 Genesis 33
❏31 Genesis 35

Print your bookmark and prepare to read the best book ever written!

Week 52 - Matthew 28:19 & 20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

Jesus' words affirm the reality of the Trinity.  Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the Trinity and reading it into Scripture.  As we see here, the concept comes directly from Jesus himself.  He did not say baptize them into the names, but into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The disciples were to baptize people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life.  Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God's way, and identification with God's covenant people.

How is Jesus with us?  Jesus was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit would be Jesus' presence that would never leave them.  Jesus continues to be with  us today through his Spirit.

What have we learned from the commands of Jesus?

Repent.........................................Let your Light Shine....................Be reconciled
Keep Your Word................Go the Second Mile.........Love Your enemies......Be Perfect
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven..............Seek God's Kingdom...........Judge Not............
Do Unto Others...............Choose the Narrow Way..................Beware of False Prophets
Pray for Laborers.............Fear God, Not Man.........Take My Yoke.......Honor Your Parents
Beware of Leaven......Deny Yourself............Despise Not Little Ones.....Beware of Covetousness
Forgive Offenders..............Ask in Faith...................Bring in the Poor.........Love the Lord
Love Your Neighbor............Await My Return...........Take, Eat, and Drink.........Be Born Again
Keep My Commandments.........Feed My Sheep..............Baptize My Disciples! 

This is our final verse in this Bible Challenge!  Hope you have enjoyed studying, memorizing and meditating on God's Word.

Consider taking the next challenge!  It starts next Monday, July 1st!

COMING SOON......

The 3rd BIBLE CHALLENGE!

This challenge is almost over!  52 weeks of memorizing and meditating on God's Word.  We started off the challenge utilizing "The Wheel" illustration which uses scriptures to help Christians learn what they are called to do as disciples of Christ.  Then we moved on to looking at scriptures that were all "commands" of Christ.  If you stuck with the challenge in any capacity, I know that you have been blessed by studying the Bible.

For the third challenge, we are going to go back to our roots!  This challenge began as a challenge to read through the Bible in one year and we're going to do it again!  God's Word is living -- he can speak to you in new and different ways all over again.  It will be exciting to get back to reading the history -- OUR history!

Prayerfully consider taking this challenge.  It will be worth any amount of sacrifice you think you might be making and you will most likely begin to see that it's not a sacrifice at all but rather a privilege to have God's Word, to be able to read God's Word, and to even have the freedom to possess God's Word.

If you live in America, you live in a world that really doesn't even know what it means to suffer for Christ.  People in other parts of the world are persecuted and even die for the opportunity to have a Bible.  Don't take God's Word for granted.

Watch this video -- it will take 6 minutes of your life.  If you receive this post via email and you can't get the video, go to the blog at biblechallengeblog.blogspot.com.  It's worth it!

CONSIDER TAKING THE CHALLENGE!

The next Bible Challenge starts in 1 1/2 weeks!

Week 51 - John 21:15-17

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" 

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?"  He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnote:

In this beach scene, Jesus led Peter through an experience that would remove the cloud of his denial.  Peter had disowned Jesus three times.  Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him.  When Peter answered yes, Jesus told him to feed his sheep.  It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him.  Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life.  Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was.  His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to "rock;" and his relationship to Jesus changed -- he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus' words about his death and resurrection.

Commit your life to Jesus and serve Him!

Week 50 - John 14:15

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  

It doesn't get any more simple than that!  This verse always reminds me of my own children.  I want them to obey me -- ultimately, not because of the fear of consequences but because they LOVE me.

John 14:21 says, "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."

John 14:23 says, "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'"

Obey the Lord out of your great LOVE for Him!

Week 49 - John 3:7

You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again."

This entire passage reads:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Life Application Study Bible, NIV, footnotes:

The kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and its entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth, Jesus later taught that God's kingdom has already begun in the hearts of believers.  It will be fully realized when Jesus returns again to judge the world and abolish evil forever.  

Jesus was explaining the importance of a spiritual rebirth, saying that people don't enter the kingdom by living a better life, but by being spiritually reborn.  

Verse 16:  Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable.  But eternal life is not an extension of a person's miserable, mortal life; eternal life is God's life embodied in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever.  In eternal life there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin.  When we don't know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have.  In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity.  Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happen from an eternal perspective.

I had to post one of my favorite videos with this verse!