Good afternoon (or morning or evening… or whenever you may be taking some time to read this), Beloved! I hope that this e-newsletter finds you all doing well. This year is rapidly coming to an end and as with so many years gone by, many of you may be looking for ways to develop a more consistent habit of Scripture reading over the course of 2019. While there are many different ways available (e.g. through-the-Bible-in-a-year reading plans, daily devotional guides, etc.), I want to offer a suggestion…
Over the last three years we have been making our way through our Plan and Promise curriculum. If you are unfamiliar with Plan and Promise, it’s a four-year curriculum that is designed to take individuals through the whole of the Bible; at times taking a 20,000-foot fly-over of some of the larger books so that we might have a better appreciation for the forest, and at other times landing the plane so that we can study through some shorter books in a more verse-by-verse fashion so that we might have a better appreciation for the trees. In general, though, we are always seeking to help those working through Plan and Promise develop a greater appreciation for each book studied, both in its general canonical context (i.e. where it fits within the storyline of the Bible) and in its specific textual context (i.e. what the book itself teaches).
As we have worked through the different books of the Bible over the past three years, we have attempted to tie together major themes of Scripture so that a greater appreciation for a whole-Bible narrative could be had. In our first year we looked at God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule experiencing God’s blessing, which could be summarized as God’s people in God’s kingdom. In year two we spent a substantial amount of time walking through the big picture of the book of Psalms and stopping along the way to enjoy individual psalms. We learned how God’s people are to rejoice with thanksgiving and how to glorify him in lament. This last year we spent 16 weeks studying through what is arguably Paul’s greatest letter, the book of Romans, and we saw how sound doctrine informs and grounds our devotion. These descriptions of previous years are really just a blip on the radar, as we have worked through 48 books of the Bible so far, seeing along the way that Scripture is one unified story with one unparalleled Hero saving one undeserving people for one ultimate aim, namely the glory of God.
This fourth and final year of Plan and Promise will continue the story of God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule experiencing God’s blessing. We will begin the year by studying through the book of Hebrews and looking at how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promises, and culminate in a study through the book of Revelation, where we see the promise of Jesus Christ’s return as foundational for our hope in suffering. In between we will hear the echoes of Eden in Israel’s wisdom literature and exilic literature, in the general epistles to the church, and throughout the Johannine literature as well.
So, back to my suggestion. If you are considering how you might work towards developing a more consistent habit of Scripture reading this next year, might I suggest participating with us in Plan and Promise on Sunday mornings? We offer two classes, one during each of our two Sunday morning services, both covering the same material; and we offer a devotional guide that contains questions for each week’s readings that are meant to help keep you on the right track and engaged in the readings. We also offer Plan and Promise on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00 if you are unable to make it on Sunday mornings. If neither Sunday morning nor Wednesday evening works, we also have all of our classes recorded and posted on LifePoint’s website (Plan and Promise Recordings) for you to listen to.
I have heard some people ask whether they can just jump into Plan and Promise despite missing previous years, and I want to offer a resounding, “Yes, you can!” Regardless of when you get plugged in, our desire is to see growth in our understanding of Scripture together as we come to a greater appreciation of how the grand narrative of Scripture fits together for the glory of God and our ever-increasing joy in Christ. This is the purpose of Plan and Promise…come and see.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Nate Meece
