Give Attention to Reading

      Paul told Timothy, “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (I Timothy 4:13, NKJV). Some translations add “public reading,” but in either case, we recognize the great importance of reading the Bible.

      In Acts 20:32, Paul told the Ephesian elders, “I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (ESV). Again, we see the absolute importance of being centered in the Word of God.

      Finally, we remember the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 119:11 and 105: “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (ESV) and everything else that psalm says about the word of God.

      These verses are merely the tip of the iceberg explaining the importance of God’s word for our lives. With all this in mind, today, we are starting a new emphasis on reading the scripture together for the first six months of 2008. Throughout this time, we will be reading through the New Testament.

      As a guide, we will be using the workbook, Give Attention to Reading. We are offering a free copy of this workbook to each one of our members. If you haven’t already picked up your copy, please do so today.

      Tomorrow’s reading will start with the Gospel Account of Luke. Each weekday, we will read two chapters. Every day’s reading is outlined in the workbook. Each day has a space for personal notes, a few simple questions to help make sure we are giving attention to the reading and then four thought questions based on II Timothy 3:16-17 to help us take our study as deep as each reader wants to take it.

      Corresponding with our reading, the sermons presented on Sunday will be taken from the readings we have all gone through during the week. Hopefully, this will help us all better remember what we have read and learned.

      At the end of each week’s reading, there is a group discussion page. The church is not establishing small groups for this program. However, we encourage you to work through these questions with someone else, perhaps someone who is helping to hold you accountable, perhaps with your family or perhaps with a small group you develop on your own. The Thursday morning men’s study group will be using these discussions as the guide for their study for the next six months. If any of the men want to be involved in that group study, they are welcome to join us.

      I believe this is going to be a very beneficial and edifying six months as we very specifically focus on working our way through the New Testament together. Don’t miss out on a single day.

Edwin L. Crozier