The Gay Conversation

In society today, the orthodox Christian belief that the practice of homosexuality is a sin is out of step with the times. This tension is unavoidable.

In a moment where the cultural consensus has completely flipped, many who hold to the historic belief avoid the depth of this conversation at all costs. The risk of saying the wrong thing, offending a new friend, being extreme or worse yet—unloving, quiets the dialogue. Yet privately, Christians are desperate to address this important topic with love, clarity and biblical conviction. Is there really a way forward that demonstrates both truth and grace? We believe there is.

Here's a great resource (podcasts) to help you wrestle through the gay issue...

EPISODE 001 
CONTEXT: OWNING OUR HISTORY

As our culture’s affirmation of gay sexuality grows, what does this mean for Christians and the Church? In this episode, we address why we created this series and the tensions that exist around the Church’s posture towards this conversation. David Kinnaman, President of the Barna Group and co-author of the forthcoming book, Good Faith, is one of several contributors giving insight on the latest research on Christians and extremism. 
Key Contributors: Debra Hirsch, David Kinnaman, Caleb Kaltenbach, Tim Keller, Julie Rodgers

EPISODE 002 
THEOLOGY: NOT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, BUT WHAT IT MEANS
One’s theology will determine everything about how they engage the gay conversation. In this episode, the Christian view of identity, sexual ethics and historic belief about human flourishing comes under the microscope. We define terms and consider how historic Christian arguments interact with the newer, gay-affirming points of view. From Leviticus to Paul, we address Jesus’ words around this topic and explore the Christian perspective on sexual design, gender difference and marriage.
Key Contributors to this podcast: David Gushee, Wesley Hill, Tim Keller, Scot McKnight, Preston Sprinkle

About Q:
Q was birthed out of Gabe Lyons’ vision to see Christians, especially leaders, recover a vision for their historic responsibility to renew and restore cultures. Inspired by Chuck Colson’s statement, “Christians are called to redeem entire cultures, not just individuals,” Gabe set out to reintroduce Christians to what had seemed missing in recent decades from an American expression of Christian faithfulness; valuing both personal and cultural renewal, not one over the other. Re-educating Christians to this orthodox and unifying concept has become central to the vision of Q.

Find out more about Q here.

Is Homosexuality a Sin? Resources to Help You Better Understand the Issue(s)...

At Grace Church, all are welcome to come and discover Jesus with us, to worship with us, to find community with us, and to explore what God’s Word has to say. So, as a church set and centered on unifying on the historic Christian faith and welcoming all to come, including those with different perspectives on homosexual relationships and gender issues, it's imperative that we grow in our understanding of this ongoing discussions and debates.

The topics of human sexuality and gender aren't as simple as some people think or claim. And though the Bible lists many sexual activities as clearly wrong, there are many genuine Christians who are making a case that monogamous and committed ("marital') homosexual relationships are not forbidden in the Scriptures. Their claim is that the Bible passages referring to homosexuality are referring to other sexual pervasions (e.g., multiple partners, practicing bi-sexiality, rape, prostitution, the ancient practice of pederasty, etc.) or they claim the passages referring to homosexuality in the Old Testament's holiness code (Leviticus chapters 17-27) do not apply to New Testament Christianity (see Acts 21:25). 

Here are the Bible passages concerning homosexuality: 

• two references to homosexual rape -- Genesis 19:5, Judges 19:22
• three references to intercourse between men -- Leviticus 18:21-22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:27
• one reference to intercourse between women -- Romans 1:26
• one seems to be a reference of male prostitution and/or pederasty -- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (this could be argued to refer to homosexuality in a general sense)
• and one seems to be general -- 1 Timothy 1:8-10.

At our church, we have brothers and sisters on both sides of this interpretive dispute. And though we may not all agree, we are, nonetheless, committed to the process of discovering and exploring God’s Word together, even if it means, from time to time, that we will respectively agree to disagree. If we center ourselves on what has always unified the church, Christ and him crucified, there will always be a sense of mutual edification and community with one another.

To better help inform you about how Grace Church is pursuing this debated topic, be sure to listen to What is Grace Church's Stance Toward LGBT Christians? and a recent sermon entitled, Jesus + The Centurion. 

Additionally, here are helpful resources from some Christian leaders and teachers on the whole subject of homosexuality, LGBT, and the church...

"Traditional Interpretation" - Resources making a biblical case for all homosexual behavior being sinful and, therefore, not God's best for humanity:

• Podcast - The Gay Discussion by Q
• Book - What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality by Kevin DeYoung
• Article - 40 Questions for Christians Now Raising Rainbow Flags by Gospel Coalition
• Article - The Bible and Same Sex Relationships (a review article) by Timothy Keller
• Article - Four Appeals to Christians Embracing Homosexuals by Gavin Ortlund
• Video (segments) - N.T. Wright on Gay Marriage (and Homosexuality) and  N.T. Wright on the Homosexuality Debate

"Non-Traditional Interpretation" - Resources making a biblical case for monogamous and committed homosexual unions:

• Book - God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines
• Book - A Letter to My Congregation by Ken Wilson
• Video - A series of short videos from The Gay Christian Network
• Video - The Gay Debate: Homosexuality and the Bible by Matthew Vines

Also, here's an example of Christians disagreeing on what the Bible says concerning this issue yet, nonetheless, remaining committed to pursuing Christ-centered unity together as they continue to dialog and seek truth: 

• The Great Debate by The Gay Christian Network

One other book, which is worth your attention, doesn't really fall under either of the categories listed above and is probably the closest to my own personal approach to the issue(s). It's called People to be Loved by Preston Sprinkle. Definitely worth checking out.

Additionally, Preston did a two part review of Ken Wilson's book, A Letter to my Congregation, and, in my opinion, handles some of Wilson's errors and highlights moms of his strengths quite well. You can read them here:

• A Review of Ken Wilson’s “Third Way” Approach to Homosexuality: Part 1
• A Review of Ken Wilson’s “Third Way” Approach to Homosexuality: Part 2

Lastly, Preston also wrote a two part review on Kevin DeYoung's, What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? You can read them here:

• Kevin DeYoung’s New Book on Homosexuality: A Critical Review (Part 1)
• Kevin DeYoung’s New Book on Homosexuality: A Critical Review (Part 2)

Personal note from Pastor Heath: 

If you are wondering where I (Heath) land on the issue, after much reading, after many conversations with gay, straight, bi-sexual and transgender individuals, after much consideration and prayer, I still think, despite the sexual propensities of some, all forms of homosexual relations are not God's best for humanity. And though I'm quick to agree with those who recognize the interpretive possibilities of passage such as Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:8-10 (and others), the overarching paradigm for sexuality set forth in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 of the complementary male and female marital unions and sexual relations, and then seeing this paradigm running throughout both Old and New Testaments, seems, for me, to be a hard argument to beat. I say this knowing that it is contentious to some and possibly hurtful to others; but that is not my intention. I am not a homophobic bigot. I will never shun or shame a brother or sister who has differing view on this issue. I'm open to change my views if convinced by Scripture. And, furthermore, I will never shun or shame a friend who comes out as gay or bisexual or becomes transgender. These are complicated and sensitive matters. We need to meet each other with love and forbearance. Assumptions and traditions need to be challenged by the Word of God. And we need to maintain a sincere desire to learn and grow together. Let's keep going!

Great eBook Resource Sale!

Awesome sale on Zondervan eBooks. Get them 

while they're available!

Zondervan's Counterpoints Series eBook  ($2.99 each)

With dozens of contributing authors from varying theological backgrounds, the Zondervan Counterpoints Collection is an invaluable set of resources for Christians today, focusing on wide array of theological, biblical, and ethical hot topic issues. Many of the volumes in this unique collection lay out four or five separate views on a theological matter, giving the reader the chance to weigh the many sides that can arise on a particular issue.

The advantage of this collection is huge: the thought-provoking and varying points of view presented offer great soil with which one can cultivate a sound biblical foundation. Whether you are a student, pastor, teacher, or layperson, these volumes are a fantastic tool for understanding contemporary Christian issues you may face today in the light of solid scriptural truth. 

These are great! Pick one up today!

The Canaanite Genocide, Baptism, Inerrancy, The Historical Adam, Creation and Evolution, Miraculous Gifts, Remarriage After Divorce, Sanctification, The Church Growth Movement, Salvation in a Pluralistic World, Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism, Church Government, Women in Ministry, Lord’s Supper, Apologetics, Christian Spirituality, Divine Providence, The Worship Spectrum, The New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Hell, The Millennium, Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology, Law and Gospel, The Book of Revelation, The Apostle Paul

 

Zondervan's NIV Application Commentaries eBook  ($4.99 or less each)

How can you apply what you learned about Jerusalem, Ephesus, or Corinth to our present day needs in Dunedin, Clearwater, or Tampa? How can you take a message originally spoken in Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic and communicate it clearly in our own language? How can you take the eternal truths originally spoken in a different time and culture and apply them to the similar-yet-different needs of our culture? The NIV Application Commentary shows readers how to bring an ancient message into our postmodern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant, but also how it speaks powerfully today.

These are also great! It's one of my (P. Heath's) favorite commentary series. Pick up one of these award winning resources today!

Genesis; Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers; Deuteronomy; Joshua; Judges and Ruth; 1 & 2 Kings;1 and 2 Samuel , 1 & 2 Chronicles; Esther; Job; Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs; Isaiah; Jeremiah, Lamentations; Ezekiel; Daniel; Joel, Obadiah, Malachi; Hosea, Amos, Micah; Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah; Haggai, Zechariah; Matthew; Mark; Luke; John; Acts; Romans; 1 Corinthians; 2 Corinthians, Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians & Philemon; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter; 2 Peter & Jude; 1, 2, & 3 John; Revelation

A Plea for Hospitality + A New Study Bible

Welcoming Strangers in Our Midst

“The foreigner [or stranger, Hebrew ger] residing among you must be treated as your native–born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
—Lev. 19:34

In the ancient world, hospitality was a high moral ideal, a kind of “law of the desert.” All nomads or seminomadic people needed hospitality from time to time. Welcoming a foreigner/stranger into your own tent ensured the same treatment when the tables were turned. Expectations developed in the ancient world that hosts would provide food, shelter and protection for the foreigner. This is well attested to in extra–Biblical sources as well as in the Bible itself (see Dt 16:13–15;Jdg 19). Abraham and Lot were seen as righteous, in part because they extended hospitality to travelers. Their behavior toward strangers is juxtaposed against the lack of hospitality shown to the same men by the people of Sodom.

The Bible has its own internal commentary on Sodom and Gomorrah:

• “This was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy" (Eze 16:49).
• “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!…Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isa 1:10, 16–17).
• Jesus said that on the day of judgment, it will be worse for cities that refused hospitality to his disciples than for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (see Mt 10:1–15).
• Jesus said that on the day of judgment, when the Son of Man separates the sheep from goats, it will be a person's treatment of the less fortunate – the stranger, the sick, those in prison, those who needed food, water and clothing—that will be taken into account (see Mt 25:31–46).

The Bible seems to expect all people to treat the stranger and the vulnerable members of society with respect. Apparently, God does not tolerate abuse of people by even those outside the covenant and the law. The Bible reveals a moral map that needs no list of commandments. To state this universal law in poetic terms: “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 7:12). Who then are the most vulnerable members of our society? Who are the strangers? How should they be treated?

** Excerpted from an Article in the NIV First–Century Study Bible.

Place the Scriptures into the context of it's original authorships and recipients is vital to understanding the text. There's a new resource available to you to do just that and we highly recommend checking out the NIV First-Centuray Study Bible. Experience the Bible through Eastern eyes by exploring the cultural, religious, and historical background of the Bible. This hardcover study Bible allows you to understand God’s Word in its original cultural context, bringing Scripture to life by providing fresh understanding to familiar passages, beloved stories and all the Scripture in between.

Digging Deeper into Romans

Romans is known to some as the Apostle Paul's "masterpiece" and it is dense with deep theological truths; but that doesn't mean that it cannot be understood. As we make our way through Romans this summer we really hope you will spend some time reading and studying the book on your own.  So, we want to provide you with some resources to help you in your studies.

Study Guides:
ROMANS - New Revised Standard Version with Outline, Notes + Reflection Questions  (Free PDF; some are printed and available at our Sunday morning Gathering)
ROMANS - (NT Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides)

Commentaries:
Paul for Everyone: Romans, Chapters 1-8 by Tom Wright
Paul for Everyone: Romans, Chapters 9-16 by Tom Wright

Study Bible:
ESV Study Bible

Enjoy digging deeper into the text of Romans!

Raised? Four-Part Documentary

Is it possible to cross the chasm between unbelief and faith in Christ? Watch this four-part documentary and find out.

• Doubt (Part 1) — Watch Now
• Cycle (Part 2) — Watch Now
• Faith (Part 3) — Watch Now
• Life (Part 4) — NEW — Watch Now

The Raised? film takes an unflinching look at doubting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Definitely worth watching. 

Definitely worth sharing.

Digging Deeper into the Sermon on the Mount...

[The Beatitudes and The Sermon on the Mount] are a summons to live in the present in the way that will make sense in God’s promised future; because that future has arrived in the present of Jesus of Nazareth. It may seem upside down, but we are called to believe, with great daring, that it is in fact the right way up. ~ Tom Wright

Here are some resources to better help you understand the message of The Sermon of Mount. Consider going through one of the books with a friend or a few people within your Community Group.

Books:

• Matthew For Everyone Pt. 1 by Tom Wright
• Matthew (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Studies) 
• Sermon on the Mount (The Story of God Bible Commentary) 
• The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Audio Messages (FREE):

• Redeemer Bible Church Sermon Series on The Sermon on the Mount
• Redeemer Presbyterian Church in (NYC) - Free Sermons on The Sermon on the Mount
• Coral Ridge Presbyterian - The Glorious Impossibility (Sermon on the Mount Series)

And, of course, read our blog postings on The Sermon on the Mount.

  

Discipleship Simplified From Down Under

The wonderful publishers from Down Under, Matthias Media, has provided an excellent resource that aims at equipping believers in having one-to-one bible reading times with their friends who are non-believers, young believers, or, like them, growing believers. 

The name of the short book is One to One Bible Reading and it's by David Helm, the pastor at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago. Part of Helm’s premise is inspired by a paragraph from The Trellis and the Vine, another resource from Matthias Media:

Imagine if all Christians, as a normal part of their discipleship, were caught up in a web of regular Bible reading—not only digging into the Word privately, but reading it with their children before bed, with their spouse over breakfast, with a non-Christian colleague at work once a week over lunch, with a new Christian for follow-up once a fortnight for mutual encouragement, and with a mature Christian friend once a month for mutual encouragement. 

Prior to referring back to this quote from Marshall and Payne, Helm says in One-to-One, “What is this way? What is this activity that is so simple and so universal that it meets the discipleship needs of these three very different people? We call it reading the Bible one-to-one.”

By design the one-to-one concept is meant to remove all the programmatic pressure that today’s American church-goer is inclined to burden himself or herself to in the discipleship process. Rather than approaching discipleship with the expectation of having a directed program, professional curriculum, and polished facilitation, Helm frees Christ-followers from feeling like they have to be a bible study specialist and gives us confidence that meeting to read scripture together and discuss will be a catalyst for gospel, spiritual, and community growth.

Helm writes:

Any committed Christian is capable of initiating a good conversation on a biblical text. In reality, your fears in this area of personal work betray two Screwtape-like lies that every Christian must resist. First, that gospel growth depends on us and on our abilities. This is simply not the case. Our proficiency in the Bible is not the final arbiter in seeing spiritual growth occur. The Holy Spirit can and does use timid people just like us. The second lie we fight against is disbelief—disbelief in the potency of God’s word. We need to be reminded that God does his work in his way, and it is his word that accomplishes whatever he desires in the world.

I love this approach!  And, if you've been around Grace Church for a while, you know this approach  resonates what we've been pushing since our beginning. The concept of One-to-One centers Christian fellowship around scripture. By design this fellowship leans heavily on the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of two people developing a mutual friendship around the Word of God.

Go figure…a discipleship method that depends on the Spirit and Scripture! And here's the best part, any and every Christian can do it!

This concept is not novel. This concept is not trendy. This concept is not vintage. It is simply rooted in historic biblical Christianity. Order it today or pick up a copy this Sunday at Grace Church!

Some Resources to Study Galatians

As we journey through the wonderful letter to the Galatians this summer, I would like to encourage you to read through and study Galatians yourself (or, even better, with someone else!).  Here are some helpful resources:

Paul for Everyone by NT Wright

Wright's eye-opening comments on these letters are combined, passage by passage, with his fresh and inviting new translation of the Bible text. Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the tension and excitement of the time as the letters seek to assert Paul's authority and his teaching against other influences. 

The For Everyone Series was created to provide guides to all the books of the New Testament. Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion, with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

We have a few copies available at church for $10.

Galatians Study Guide

Here's a helpful study guide for Galatians by Tim Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. This study of Galatians is organized into 13 units. Each unit consists of two sections: 1) a Bible study and 2) a Reflection or Exercise section. The first section studies a portion of the Galatians text, while the second section takes some concept from the Scripture and helps you get a better understanding of it (“Reflection”) and/or to apply it practically to your life (“Exercise”). 

  

"Crucial Questions Series" by RC Sproul for Free!

To further help Christians know what they believe, why they believe it, how to live it, and how to share it, the eBook editions of R.C. Sproul’s Crucial Questions series are free...

Great answers from a trusted source:

Can I Be Sure I'm Saved? 

Can I Have Joy in My Life? 

Can I Know God's Will? 

Can I Trust the Bible? 

Does God Control Everything? 

Does Prayer Change Things? 

How Should I Live in this World? 

What Can I Do with My Guilt? 

What Does It Mean to be Born Again? 

What Is Baptism? 

What Is Faith? 

What Is the Trinity? 

Who Is Jesus? 

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

Excellent Resource for Meeting Jesus at the Feast...

We've been in a teaching series on the Old Testament Feasts entitled, Meeting Jesus at the Feasts.  Oddly enough, I found a great book with the exact title!  Pick up a copy of Meeting Jesus at the Feast by John Sittema.  It's a simple read and very helpful!

Holy Week + Resurrection Reading

Christians at the Cross: Finding Hope in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus

NT Wright

Here's a great read for Holy Week and Resurrection reflection.  These 79 pages are equipping, instructional, and coincide perfectly with our current teaching series - Evil and the Goodness of God.  When Wright preached to the members of a mining community in northern England who had suffered grievous losses, he reflected on Jesus' death and resurrection, encouraging the people to unite their pain with the journey of Christ to the cross. The wisdom of his biblical reflections, gathered here, apply to all who suffer and offers a passage to hope through Christ and his victory over death.  

Amen!

Two Devilish Resources

Here are two more resources to go along with our current teaching series on Evil + The Goodness of God.  

OK, so these two recommendations may be a bit different from the norm; but, nonetheless, I think they can help underscore some of the things we are discovering together as we study the reality of evil in the world as described in the Scriptures.

Devil by M. Night Shyamalan:
Devil (also known as The Night Chronicles: Devil), a film based on story written by M. Night Shyamalan.  I'm not going to give the story away, but five strangers get trapped in an elevator of a Philadelphian building and one of them is the devil.  It's just a movie, so, of course, things are a bit over-the-top. You must that in mind.  But I think the movie does a great job revealing the devilish ways of the devil and how evil is defeated - e.g., the movie begins from the devil's perspective entering Philadelphia (everything is upside down) and at the end, after a powerful scene of confession and forgiveness, the devil leaves (and everything from the opening scene is right-side up).

Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis: 
Both shocking, eerie, and amusing, C S Lewis's satire The Screwtape Letters was a bestseller in its day - selling over half a million copies. The book can be a challenge to understand, because everything is morally reversed. So, as you're reading, you have to remind yourself that the 'Enemy' referred to is actually God, and that the way of life advocated by Screwtape is the exact opposite of a good Christian life. 

Screwtape is a senior devil whose job is to increase misery on Earth. He achieves this by carefully targeting humans and then providing them with an array of temptations that can take their minds away from God.  Under Screwtape's charge is his nephew Wormwood, a young devil - still learning the ropes of devilish activities. In the book, their dialogue records their efforts to turn a young man from his newly-adopted Christianity back to 'Our Father Below' (i.e., Satan). Wormwood receives detailed instructions on how to exploit the man's weaknesses and bring him permanently around to sin.

Each chapter deals with a different temptation such as a lack of neighborly love, smugness, lust, etc...

Resources to Help You Experience the Goodness of God in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

As we begin our next teaching series, Evil and the Goodness of God, here are some helpful resources for you to consider reading, listening to, or watching...

Read:
Raging with Compassion by John Swinton
Evil and The Justice of God by N.T. Wright
The God I Don't Understand by Christopher Wright (No relation to N.T.!)
"How Could A Good God Allow Suffering" from The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Spectacular Sins by John Piper

Listen:
How Could a Good God Allow Suffering? by Timothy Keller

Watch:
How Can A Good, Powerful God Allow Evil And Suffering? By Darrin Patrick
Evil by N.T. Wright

Heath's Top Five Bible Study Helps

#1.) The Holy Bible - A Few Different Translations:

First and for most, the best resources for Bible study is the BIBLE!  And the best way to understand the message of the Bible is to ready/study a number of Bible translations at the same time. 

As you know, that the Bible wasn't written in English.  It was originally written in  Hebrew and a little bit of Aramaic in the Old Testament and Greek in the New Testament. A translation tries to render the original language into clear, accurate, and current English. Comparing a couple or a few different translations really helps the reader grasp what's trying to be communicated.

Here are some recommended translations - NIV, NASB, ESV, and The Message (which is a paraphrase, but still a good and trusted resource).

#2.) ESV Study Bible

The ESV Study Bible was created to help people understand the Bible in a deeper way—to understand the timeless truth of God’s Word as a powerful, compelling, life-changing reality. To accomplish this, the ESV Study Bible combines the best and most recent evangelical Christian scholarship with the highly regarded ESV Bible text. The result is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published—with 2,752 pages of extensive, accessible Bible resources. 

#3.) Zondervan’s Handbook to the Bible

This helpful book has so many aids to help guide you through Scripture: a section-by-section outline of the Bible, 119 articles, a "Rapid Fact-Finder" to key people, places, events, and teachings, and more. Plus…it has pictures!  Yea for pictures!

#4.) Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary

A Bible dictionary is very important for looking up not only key Biblical terms to help you understand an unfamiliar term, but this Bible dictionary has a vast amount of archaeological & historical data, color pictures (yea!) and maps, outlines and concise summaries for each book of the Bible and information about its authors. 

#5.) How to Read the Bible Book by Book and How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth

By Gordan Fee and Douglas Stuart

OK, so I snuck in two suggestion as one...but this book series helps people to understand the genres of the Bible, how the Bible was translated, the structure and order of the Bible, how to read the Bible as a whole, and more. These are very helpful book by some very sound authors. 

Read, Read, & Re-Read!
The problem for most Christians isn't that they can’t understand what the Bible says, it’s that they don’t read the Bible as much as they could (or should).  Laziness is your biggest enemy in understanding the message of the Bible!

Devote your mind and heart to this book and it will never let you down (Psalm 19:7-14). Its truth is too powerful and its Author are too glorious to ever let that happen!

New FREE Study Bible App

I believe that one of the best ways to start off the New Year is by resolving to have a renewed commitment to a Constant, Lifelong Christian-Learning.  God has blessed us with many resources to assist us in this exciting endeavor!

One of the latest and most recent additions to these wonderful resources is the Faithlife Study Bible App. The FSB connects readers to their communities with the “Read the Bible in a Year” plan. It comes with the remarkably transparent Lexham English Bible translation, plus 1.4 million words in articles and study notes. The free download also includes the 1.6-million-word, 2,800-article Lexham Bible Dictionary; approximately 400 photos, videos and infographics in rich media; and three layers of study notes. The FSB features shared reading plans, notes and documents, smart searches, highlighting and the option to choose from major Bible translations, such as the NIV 2011, NKJV, KJV, ESV, NRSV and NASB95.

Authors Charles Stanley, Timothy Keller, and N.T. Wright are some of the FSB’s many other contributors. The FSB can be accessed anywhere from iPhones, iPads, Android mobile devices, Kindle Fires, Macs, PCs, Logos Bible Software, Vyrso Christian eBooks, Proclaim church presentation software and Bible.Faithlife.com.   

Check it out!

The Importance of Constant, Lifelong Christian-Learning

"Where no attention is given to teaching, and to constant, lifelong Christian learning, people quickly revert to the worldview or mindset of the surrounding culture, and end up with their minds shaped by whichever social pressures are most persuasive, with Jesus somewhere around as a pale influence or memory." ~ Tom Wright, Acts for Everyone, Pt. 1

There are many ways to keep our Christian learning up.  One of the best ways is regular Bible reading.   And it's a great time of the year to mention it.  Getting into the habit of reading the Word daily is a common New Year's resolution for many Christians. There are plenty of Bible reading plans out there that guide you through reading your Bible. You may not even want to read the Bible all the way through, but rather use the year to focus on a specific portion or biblical topic. Find a reading plan that works for you.  

A great place to start - Bible Gateway Reading Plans.

Also, be sure to check out my Bible reading plan. This unique reading plan is something I continue to come back to.  For me, it has worked out wonderfully and I continue to grow in my biblical comprehension of the whole sweeping storyline of the Bible by sticking to this regular reading plan - Grace Church Bible Reading Plan.

It takes discipline to open up the Bible every day. May God enable us to read his Word faithfully.