DL Moody said it best years ago, “The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives!” The Bible is THE love letter from God, and knowing his letter is akin to knowing His heart. The Bible through the Holy Spirit transforms lives, which is why Bible In One Year fits so beautifully with our vision of Transforming hearts through Jesus Christ.
But remember, the Bible In One Year isn’t just your daily reading at home. It involves taking one of those readings for deeper study into your life group, and that very same reading into the pulpit. This is your opportunity to go head to head with the preacher.
My prayer is that if you haven’t already signed up for Bible In One Year, that today will be your day! You can purchase your Bible In One Year today in the Narthex after each service. The Bible comes with a bookmark that explains how to receive the daily commentary.
In addition to the commentary I provide a text message that goes out each day with a brief thought from me. I’m excited to report that while Elizabeth and I are on mission in the Ukraine, our senior warden Bill Lyles will be writing and sending the text!
The diagram to the right shows how the plan rolls out.
What People are Saying about Bible In One Year
We launched Bible In One Year at the Festival of Faith last spring, and since then over 200 of you have committed to it! Hear some testimonies of your friends in Christ:
“I so appreciate the Bible In One Year and your daily “blurbs”. In fact, the one about playing Christian music in the home for “healing of the heart” really struck a chord. Not directly as a consequence, but perhaps partly, I have decided to rent a piano from Fox Music and resume piano lessons where I left off!!
Sincerely in Christ,
Rebecca McArtor
Al: You know how my heart is into the Bible readings project! I bought 3 Bibles and gave one to Boo and one to Caroline. We have all been regularly reading the daily readings. Caroline and I talk each morning on our way to work and talk about the readings as well.
Blessings,
Hugh Wilson
The digital version of the Bible In One Year is breakfast for the soul – something that carries me a whole lot further than bacon and eggs or my mandatory two cups
of coffee..
In our news business, the words we choose are everything; likewise I see the power of pouring God’s words into us – first and daily – wherever He finds us; in today’s world, that often means on our smart phones – getting ready for a sporting adventure, breakfast with the family, the commute to the office or the morning run.
I look out at all the friendly faces in this church and especially like the idea that together we are in the word – reading and influenced by the same daily trinity of a psalm or proverb; then the New Testament and finally the Old Testament. With each new day, Nicky Gumbel offers an introduction with a theme or message for the readings; after each passage, he offers insightful commentary and prayer about what we have read; in short, he brings worship into your sunrise.
Just yesterday following John 16:5 – 17:5, Nicky commented directly on point preparing us for Pentecost: “Jesus could only be one place at a time. Now, by his Spirit, he can be with each of us as our friend all the time, everywhere we go.” Indeed, as the Spirit is with us, so is this opportunity to embrace the digital Bible In One Year, which helps us start our days off right, in communion with our fellow believers at St. Michael’s and around the world. Thanks be to God.
Blessings,
Charles Waring
The HOW TO of Living in the Bible Daily:
Daily (Beginning today)
Pray the Holy Spirit would open your heart to God’s World.
Read the Daily Assigned Scriptures from the Bible In One Year Book:
The book is divided by the days of the year, with each day having its assigned reading. Please begin by the date and not Genesis. Begin reading on the current date so you can immediately be in sync with the commentary.
The Bible In One Year book can be purchased from Saints Alive (725-5483) at 73 Broad Street
Read the daily Commentary on those readings by Nicky Gumble: 2 step process: For email, register with HTB: www.htb.org.uk/user/register. Then, to receive daily email commentary sign up at: www.htb.org.uk/bioy
Receive a brief text of daily encouragement from Al Zadig that comes from that days text (except Sundays)
To Subscribe, go to www.stmichaelschurch.net/bioy
Weekly
Your Life Group can study the teaching put together by Peter Moore based on one of the scriptures you read during the week.
The Sunday sermon will cover that Scripture being studied in your life group.
Now, some important reminders: don’t give up!
The purpose of Bible in year beta Bible is intimacy with Jesus. Your salvation does not ride on this; we just want you to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ. Which means, if you miss a day it’s okay, just keep going! My prayer is that what we establish today will last your entire life. Also, keep in mind we aren’t changing this from year to year. This is our discipleship plan going forward.
Keep in mind some disclaimers:
If you are already in a daily Bible reading lifestyle great! Yet you might consider Beta Bible in One year to connect your life group to your daily reading.
If you don’t have time to read the commentary, that’s okay. If you have limited time, just read the scripture.
Also, remember as previously stated, the Bible In One Year book is divided according to date. Each date has the assigned readings. Simply write down in the front of the Bible your beginning day, that’s your official start. I.E…if you begin September 10, flip through the Bible In One Year to September 10 and begin.
Remember the purpose is intimacy with Jesus through a lifestyle of Bible reading. It’s not to have you read the Bible In One Year then go on to the next thing, but to stay reading the Bible In One Year for the rest of your life. There’s no graduation.
Don’t give up.
I love what Rick Warren says about the Bible:
The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to:
- Generate life
- Produce change
- To heals hurts
- To build character
- To impart joy
- To overcome adversity
- To defeat temptation
- To infuse hope
- To release power
- To cleanse the mind!
Hebrews 4:12 serves as wonderful encouragement: The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.