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The Journey: Traveling through the
Bible in a Year. We have
begun a church wide journey of reading through the Bible in a year.
There will be weekly vistas as we focus on one of the stories in
that week's readings for the message. Small Groups will launch in
January, for those interested in discussing the week's readings. and
sharing in the fellowship that is small groups.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE JOURNEY:
1) Your Bible - I recommend both a Bible in print
and an audio Bible for your CD player, computer, MP3
player, or smartphone. The print Bible will give
you a place to take notes and do your reading in a
quiet place every day. We use the New Revised
Standard Version for Sunday morning worship, but
feel free to read the Bible that most ministers to
you. For the most accurate word for word
translation, I think the New American Standard Bible
is still at the tops. For a very good paraphrase,
you might like Eugene Peterson's "The Message". The
audio Bible will help with those passages filled
with difficult names and allow you to hear the Bible
on the road. I downloaded an app for the iPhone
entitled
"SpokenWord Audio Bible"
(Old Testament and New Testament. It is free and
easy to use (requires no streaming). Tammy uses the
Holy Bible app from LifeChurch.tv.
It is good, but does require streaming. Feel free to
share what print Bible and what app/audio Bible you
prefer. Be careful not to overpack for this journey
by using Bibles with more notes than you have time
to read the scripture. If you have the time and the
desire, by all means study as much as you want.
However, I have seen too many people abort the
journey because it got to require more time than
they had. Our goal is to read through the Bible in
a year and let it speak to us.
2) The second item you need for your journey is a
copy of "The Grand Sweep: A Bible Study for
Individuals and Groups" by Ellsworth Kalas. This
contains just a few paragraphs of
commentary/devotion and a sentence prayer related to
each day's journey. This book is available in
the church office and after services on Sunday. A
$10 donation is appreciated for the book, however
not required. We want everyone to have a book.
3) The third item you will need for your journey is
the Weekly Devotional Guide that is included in
every Sunday's Worship Guide. The WDG contains
questions for reflection related to each day's
reading as well as some suggestions to be included
in your prayers for that day. These are also
available on the church website, under the sermons
tab, or simply follow this link -
http://am-umc.org/devos_weekly.htm
4) Prayer. This is the fourth item for your
journey. Ask God each day to open your eyes to what
it is that God wants you to see on this day's
stretch of the journey. Do not try to take this
journey without prayer. You would miss out on so
much.
TWO OTHER RESOURCES PROVIDED FOR THIS JOURNEY:
1) Weekly Sermons. Every Sunday in 2012 will serve
as a campsite for our yearlong journey. There will
pause and look at around at one of the scriptures
that we read the previous week. Yesterday we look
at the story of Cain and Abel, a story that
Steinbeck wrote, "Haunts us throughout our lives"
because there is always the brother, always the
sister. Our podcasts are available of each week's
sermon and CD's of the entire service can be
obtained by calling the church office (979-846-8731)
or by emailing Cindy Allen (office@am-umc.org).
2) Wednesday Pastor's Bible Study. Beginning
Wednesday, January 18, Kathleene and/or I will lead
a Brown Bag studies from 12 - 1 pm and an evening
study from 6:15 - 7:00 pm. These studies are
designed to answer any questions that may have
arisen in the previous week and lift up notable
themes in the readings. The Wednesday study will
focus on the readings for the week that concluded on
the previous Saturday. NOTE: If you have questions
that you would like addressed, please email
Kathleene at
kathleene@am-umc.org or me,
kipgilts@am-umc.org before the study so that we will
have time to research the answer.
If you have yet to begin the Journey through the
Bible for 2012, it is not too late. If you are
already in the midst of it - keep up the good work.
I am praying for God to use this in a mighty way for
your life and for the life of this church.
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