Shift Your Focus

Memorize: Hebrews 4:12-13

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.

Discipleship is a relational journey—a daily walk with Jesus empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit—taking us more deeply into a love relationship with our Heavenly Father, an increasing likeness, in sum and substance, to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and a more compassionate and practical concern for our fellow man,

It is also an intentional and strategic activity on our part.  There are certain things that disciples actively do to grow—it doesn’t just happen passively. And nothing is more vital to a growing discipleship than reading and reflecting on the Word of God in a deliberate and consistent way.

I hope you have a plan for your own personal journey for 2013 as a disciple of Jesus.  I do…as does the fellowship where I serve as lead pastor.  I want to invite you to adopt the plan that I will use this year—it’s called the 5 × 5 × 5 Bible Reading Plan, a systematic way to read through the New Testament—and join me in this exciting journey of growth. There is nothing more powerful than reading, absorbing and living out the Word of God. It’s what disciples do!

Below is the link that explains this simple but creative plan: http://www.pcctoday.com/bible/

Or you can go directly to the pdf. version and look at the daily schedule for reading: http://www.pcctoday.com/mediafiles/2013-bible-reading-plan.pdf

Or if you prefer to have the plan show up in your inbox or on your mobile device each day, sign up here: https://www.youversion.com/sign-up?id=232&redirect=%2Freading-plans%2F232-discipleship-journals-5x5x5-reading-plan%2Fstart&source=plan

Lastly, I plan to blog on each of the readings in this New Testament plan this year.  It would be my privilege to have you hear what the Spirit is prompting in me as I interact as a disciple of Jesus with his Word each day. And I would love to hear back from you on how you are being challenged and helped as you read these same passages.  Please feel free to comment on the blog page from time to time.  Your input will be a blessing!

I am stoked about my walk with Jesus in 2013. I know you are, too!  With the ever-present help of the Holy Spirit and a few intentional practices on our part, like daily Bible reading, we can expect to look a little (hopefully a lot) more like Jesus by the end of next year.

Happy New Year!  May God perfect everything that concerns you in 2013.

“No man is uneducated who knows the Bible, and no one is wise who is ignorant of its teachings. Bible reading is that critical to your very life!” ~Samuel Chadwick