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It’s January 3 – you may already be behind in a new systematic approach to reading the Bible. No worries. Really – don’t fret over it. But do begin. If you need some direction, here is an updated post of a number of helpful Bible reading plans you can begin with.

I love reading through Scripture each year.  If you are considering an annual trek through the Scriptures, you may find some of the other approaches linked here to be of use.

Here are a number of Bible reading plans:

Begin in Genesis and read about 4 chapters a day, 5 on Sunday.  I forget where I first heard about this one, but it was the first plan I used years ago, and it proved very helpful.

Discipleship Journal Annual Plan.  I’ve used this plan for about the past four years. It keeps you in the Gospels all year, the Old Testament writings all year, and also takes you through the rest of the Old Testament and New Testament within the year.  I like staying in the Gospels throughout the year, meditating on the life of Christ in small portions, while moving more steadily and quickly through the rest of Scripture.  The drawback is being in 4 different locations within the Bible each day.  Some find it difficult to maintain the context of each section.

M’Cheyne  Plan. This one has been around awhile and was made available by Robert Murray M’Cheyne.  It takes you through the entire Bible in one year, with reading in the morning and in the evening.

Family Plan.  This annual plan gives you a portion of the Scripture to read through for family devotions while also providing a section for your personal time of meditation in the Scriptures.

Shorter Plans. Shorter also implies greater intensity.  I found these plan years ago through Jim Ellif (I think).  I compiled them to use in a course on spiritual disciplines. The first takes you through the New Testament in 90 days.  The second will get your through the NT in 60 days.  The third will get you through the Old Testament in 180 days.  Ellif’s article on “An Intimate Hour with God” is a great one for organizing an hour of daily devotional time.

Here is one I found (can’t remember where – I think I found it through Rick Warren) that takes you through the New Testament in 30 days (I really love this one).

Click HERE for a plan through the English Standard Version.

There are plenty more out there.  Here are some links to recent articles regarding Bible reading plans:

Bible Reading Plans for 2012 – Justin Taylor – loads of good links and options here.

My Plan For Reading the Bible This Year – Denny Burk

Grant Horner’s Plan – innovative and for the highly motivated. I’m very much interested in this one and may take it up.

Bible Reading for 2012, and Why – Dan Phillips

My Bible Reading Plan for 2012 - Rick Holland

Read the Greek New Testament in One Year – Denny Burk

Regardless of what you choose, I encourage you to journey through the Scriptures annually and systematically.

Helpful Internet, Radio Ministries:

Grace to You, John MacArthur

Desiring God, John Piper

Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Mark Dever

Brook Hills Church, David Platt

Albert Mohler – various podcasts on issues and Scripture’s application to them

Don’t Waste Your Summer

Carefully Think

• Read Romans 12:14-21. From this passage what ways are given to display the gospel when you are personally wronged or hurt.
• Can you think of any recent event, interaction, or issue in your life that one of these ways you listed above would apply?
• What constitutes persecution (v 14)?
• Who are the lowly (v 16)?
• Who would biblically be considered your enemy (v 20)?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Which of the ways to respond, among those you listed above, seems to speak most pointedly to you? Why?
• Pray and ask God to give you wisdom in how you should apply the exhortation you see in the passage.  Write out a few ways you could apply one or two of these exhortations.

Intentionally Act

• Who do you need to speak to this week in light of how you responded above? Could you send a note of encouragement to someone?
• What are practical ways you could take the initiative to make sure you are living at peace with someone you find yourself at odds (v 18)?
• Pray for our church as a whole that we would evidence the characteristics mentioned in this passage.
• Pray for those who will be leading and assisting us in worship today. Pray that we honor the Lord and encourage each other in our gathering this week.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will be singing (see below).  To listen to or download the songs, click on the links below.

Songs we will sing:

Morning Service – June 5, 2011

Taking a few mid-week minutes to think about how to enhance our fellowship with each other.

Books linked here:

One-to-One Bible Reading, David Helm

Reverberation, Jonathan Leeman

Sermon Manuscript from Sunday, May 1, 2011 on Church Discipline

The aim of Men of the Word is to paint a biblical portrait of manhood. Rather than appealing to a culturally driven, testosterone imbibed view of what makes a man”™s man, Men of the Word (MOTW) defines qualities of masculinity from biblical biographies.  Nathan Busenitz, a former personal assistant to John MacArthur, and current faculty member of The Master”™s Seminary, edits the book.  A staff member of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California writes each chapter.

Using the lives of men such as Abraham, Solomon, Josiah, Elijah, Timothy, David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Peter, Elisha, and Paul, MOTW biblically chronicles God”™s expectations for men. While the focus of and a few of the applications within the book are primarily for men, these character studies are actually well-written expositions that would benefit anyone.

The qualities highlighted in MOTW include what it means to live by faith, find satisfaction in God, treasure God”™s word, pray, worship, fight temptation, repent of sin, stand firm against compromise, lead with courage, love your spouse, shepherd your family, work hard, love your enemies, share the gospel, love the church, and pursue purity.  The book also contains some brief questions related to each chapter that would make the book well suited for a small group or men”™s Bible study discussion.  If readers desire quick references to biblical passages addressing any of the main subjects of the book, a “Biblical Reference Guide” is included at the end.

Highlights for me include John Martin”™s chapter on worship. With John being an accomplished musician, it was refreshing to see worship defined beyond music. His chapter describes lessons from Israel”™s hymn writers and is an excellent description of biblically driven worship. This chapter would benefit anyone and is a helpful addition to the contemporary buzz about music and worship.

Austin Duncan”™s chapter on lesson from the Proverbs about hard work was engaging, convicting, challenging, and stimulating in thinking through a biblical approach to diligence.  I also appreciated Jim Pile”™s excellent discussion of the principles involved in how men should shepherd their families. It is well written from a man who has given many years of his own life to letting Scripture drive how he has led his family.  Bill Shannon”™s chapter is an excellent review of how to pursue sexual purity. Why it is listed as an appendix and not an actual chapter is puzzling ““ it is just as substantive and helpful as any in the book.

If you are looking for a solid, Bible soaked study to challenge men to think biblically about their lives, Men of the Word is a title you should readily to include in your plans. It is not overly technical and thoroughly Scriptural. I eagerly recommend it.

An Affirmation About Alcohol from Bret Capranica on Vimeo.

An increasing drumbeat in contemporary American churches is one on the subject of alcohol consumption.  Not alcohol abuse ““ but consumption.  I believe the vast majority of evangelical Christians (if not all) would affirm that the Bible speaks not only derisively, but condemningly of the abuse of alcohol.  The contemporary dividing line is over the use of alcohol.

In this post I want to look at a few issues on this subject, describe my position as I understand the Scriptures, and conclude with an affirmation I join in making with the elders at Summit Woods Baptist Church.

The Use of Alcohol Can Be a Divisive Issue:

It Can Be Generationally Divisive

The use of alcohol seems to have a very dark line of division between generations.  A large portion of the rising, energetic, biblically loyal, evangelistically passionate, and serious minded, younger generation of Christians is far more open to the use (again, not the abuse) of alcohol.  This is in stark contrast to other generations who have traditionally advocated a position of complete abstinence.  In my interaction with both groups, this issue brings out high energy and intense emotions.  I find that a younger generation is more ready to make use of what they see as a biblically gray area and eschew others who are offended by their beer drinking (or whatever beverage they choose).  In turn, in receiving the tongue lashing from the teetotalers, these imbibers return the favor with equally biting comments about the legalistic behavior of their oppressors.

I honestly believe each group has valid concerns and you won”™t find me to be a vitriolic supporter of one group against another.  I am concerned about a younger generation who tends to exalt the use of their Christian freedom, when the Bible tends to emphasize caution in exercising Christian liberties (1 Cor 8-10; Romans 14; Gal 5:13ff).  The Bible certainly does not advocate a mean-spirited belligerence in defending personal freedoms, nor do the Scriptures suggest it is fine to engage in freedoms regardless of the potential effects our legitimate choices may have on others.  I am grieved to think of a number of Christians close to me who have pushed their liberties to the point of self-centered indulgence and have soiled an otherwise solid testimony for Christ.

I am also concerned about other generations who highly “principlalize” the Scriptures to the point of making black and white divisions on honestly biblically gray matters.  Personal convictions (even those made through biblically derived reasoning) are sometimes elevated to universal codes for all spiritually acceptable behavior.  Some in this camp seem to suggest that anyone who has had even a drop of alcohol touch his tongue is somehow sinful, unspiritual, unholy, and a libertine who cares nothing for the clear testimony of Christ.  Their argumentation is full of real, painful, personal experiences and backgrounds that highlight the terrible effects of alcohol abuse.  They tend to tie the use of all alcohol to the Satanically supported system of the “the world.”  They come up with logical syllogisms that support their personal convictions and then condemn the personal, biblically rationalized convictions of others.

In my estimation, neither group has a corner on the truth here, and both are dangerously flirting with a false air of spirituality, ignoring important considerations each group actually contributes.

It Can Be Culturally Divisive

It is interesting that views on the use of alcohol tend to change in various cultures.  Christians in England and portions of Europe do not have the same intense discussion that we do on alcohol use here in the States.  Even within our own country, various regions differ on how they approach the use of alcohol.  I have read varying positions on this subject.  I have tried to honestly study the Scriptures on the matter and have attempted to live my life in accordance with my personal convictions that does not destroy Christian freedom, is not detrimental to the testimony of Christ, or exalt a self-centered pursuit of personal freedom.

My Conviction

It is my conviction that the Bible does not condemn the use of alcohol, per se.  In fact, the Bible almost assumes its use.  I am not convinced that the wine Jesus made at Cana (John 2), or the typical use of the Greek word for wine, oinos, refers only to a non-intoxicating mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part wine.  The majority of the descriptions of wine or strong drink in the Bible refer to something that is fermented and has the very real possibility of causing drunkenness (i.e., Eph 5:18).

And it is drunkenness, and the abuse of alcohol, that is overtly condemned in Scripture (i.e., Prov 20:1; 31:3-7; Eph 5:18); not its mere use.  Jesus turned water into the best wine.  And the text implies that he made it for the consumption of all the wedding guests; nothing negative is implied in the text about people drinking the wine at the wedding ““ it is assumed and not condemned.  The Bible does not dogmatically argue against the use of alcohol.

With that said, the Bible does have something to say about making use of legitimate freedoms in a damaging manner.  Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8-10 are texts that find the Apostle Paul supporting the validity of eating and drinking things that may have associations with sinful effects, but, in and of themselves, are not sinful.  Idolatry is sinful.  Eating meat offered to idols is not by necessity equal to idolatry, and not essentially sinful.  However, if one partakes in a freedom that causes a weak believer to assume the partaker affirms the sin, and so causes the weak believer to abandon his confidence in Christ, the freedom should be avoided.  Thus, if someone eats the meat offered to an idol in the presence of a former idolater, causing him to assume the partaker is affirming idolatry, and he then abandons his commitment to Christ (such is the meaning of “stumble” and “offense” in the Rom 14 and 1 Cor 8 contexts), then the partaker should abstain for the good of his weak brother.

An important issue needs to be brought up here.  Notice in the Romans and Corinthian contexts that the weak one is the one who is advocating abstinence.  Further, being “offended” or being made to “stumble” does not mean that the abstainer is simply angered by the partaker”™s use; a common misconception I often hear.  Partakers are not to abstain simply because others don”™t like his use of alcohol ““ or meat ““ or . . . .  Partakers may need to abstain because it may cause a weak brother or sister, at best, to sin against his or her conscience if they were thus encouraged to partake or, at worst, even abandon their faith in Christ.

Pursuing what is most edifying and unifying among the brothers and sisters of a local church is paramount.  Paul even suggests that personal convictions should remain just that ““ personal ““ kept between yourself and God so that unity and edification can be elevated (Romans 14:22).

My Ministry Affirmation

It is the better part of wisdom for leaders in each respective church to consider what is most healthy for the body of Christ they oversee and what will promote a Christ-centered and biblically driven testimony.  Leaders should carefully consider what would promote the glory of God in their church, amidst their culture, and among the multiple generations they serve.  And whatever conviction is maintained, the attitude within the application must be one of maturity, charity, and humility.

I believe the elders at Summit Woods Baptist Church have acted wisely in this area and we see eye-to-eye on this issue.  You will not find a prohibition of the use of alcohol a pre-requisite to church membership.  The gospel message is the fundamental issue for identification with the body of Christ.  However, in discerning their context and what is best for the body at Summit Woods, the elders have taken a position of abstinence.  I can and do wholeheartedly affirm this position and joyfully embrace it.

Watch as Cindy Winters shares about the centrality of Jesus Christ through the tragic slaying of her husband.  Fred Winters was shot and killed while on the platform during a Sunday service just four weeks ago.

HT:  @Ed Stetzer

Good material here: 18 Tricks to Memorize More Scripture | Fallen and Flawed HT:  Desiring God Blog