HERE'S HOW:
Grab a Bible. If it fits your style, also grab a journal to write in.
Which Bible version is best? The one you read! If you don’t have one, let us know! Print, Online, and Apps are available.
Invite family or friends to join you.
Pray! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you as you read. HE WILL.
Check to see if there is a video to watch today
Look up and read the assigned reading for the day.
Look up the assigned Psalm that day: pray it out loud.
Pray! Ask the Father to apply those readings to your life and to help you join Jesus where He is already working. HE WILL.
Participate in Worship on Sunday!
October 21
Read Acts 27-28, then Pray Psalm 127. Why does Acts end the way it does? Scholars remain uncertain. Regardless the reason, you and I as readers are left wondering what happened next. Perhaps this is because Acts is still happening…as the message continues to spread from one country to another, from one city to another, from one family to another. Praise be to Jesus!
October 22
Read Romans 1-2, then Pray Psalm 128. Romans 1:16 is the baseline for all theology at our church. “Gospel” = The Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom! This is the power for salvation for all! Then as you read 1:18 to the end of chapter 1, note the shift from “they” to “you” in chapter 2. We are not to be “judgers” (2:1) but rather “Gospelers”…see 2:4!
October 23
Read Romans 3-4, then Pray Psalm 129. Romans 3:21-26 are among the most important words ever shared in this universe. Highlight them! Remember “righteousness” = the way things ought to have always been, “sin” = missing the mark or brokenness, “justified” = declared right or declared perfect, “atonement” = taking the place we deserved, “justice” = the way things ought to be.
October 24
Read Romans 5-6, then Pray Psalm 130. Chapter 5 shows us how sin (and thus death) was transmitted to us through Adam. But it also shows how righteousness (and thus life) was transmitted to us through Jesus. Then in chapter 6, we see that we are actually (not symbolically) united to Jesus through baptism! Baptism is the moment when our identities are forever changed from “sinner” to “saint” as we are buried with Jesus and raised again with Him!
October 25
Read Romans 7-8, then Pray Psalm 131. Allow extra time for Romans 7 and 8. Note how behavior is separated from the equation in chapter 7 (see verse 20!) and how the Spirit works in us in chapter 8! In 8:1 we are declared righteous and set free in 8:2. Note that the “if” in the beginning of chapter 8 is not accusatory but rather rhetorical. He is harkening back to what happened in chapter 6, and the reality of the broken world in chapter 7, then celebrating our freedom and hope in chapter 8 because of the Spirit!
October 26
Read Romans 9-10, then Pray Psalm 132. When studying predestination, it can short circuit our minds! But trust Scripture, not only our ability to reason: God elects people to salvation (see Ephesians 1:4-14), but it is humans who choose damnation (see 1 Timothy 4:1-4). The way humans make this choice is found in the story of Pharaoh: Pharaoh hardened his own heart multiple times and then toward the end, God hardened his heart. But never forget Matthew 20:1-16! These truths live in tension, similar to how the strings on a musical instrument are in tension and this reality creates beautiful music. It is a mystery, but we trust in God! See also: Job 38:4-41:34.
October 27
Read Romans 11-12, then Pray Psalm 133. Zoom in on Romans 11:33-36! Then take time to write 12:1-5 on your heart.