2023 Bible Reading Plan

– GROW Deeper in the WORD –

In 2023 and beyond, we are called to be a people of God, led by the Spirit of God, in the Word of God. Whether this is your first Bible Reading Plan or you read through the Bible each year, may we be intentional of digging deeper in the Word of God and growing closer to The Lord in our daily reading. This particular Bible Reading Plan is tied closely with Pastor Stephen’s sermons for 2023 and additional resources are available for for you and your family to download below. We pray these resources are a help to you and your family in 2023.

As we hear the messages from The Lord and read His Word daily,
may His Word lead to transformation in our lives.

P.O.U.R. BIBLE STUDY METHOD

Dig deeper in the Word, following the 4-step P.O.U.R. Method. Gather your Bible, Bible Reading Plan, journal, pen, highlighter, and other bible study materials and set aside time away from distractions. The goal is to have quality quiet time with The Lord. You may get through your entire Bible reading or the Holy Spirit may lead you to a few key passages. That’s ok! There is not a right or wrong way to read, journal, and/or highlight your Bible or notes. What is most important is that you are intentional about being in the Word and hearing from The Lord. May His blessings pour out on you as you diligently seek Him.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13

PRAY

As we dig deeper in the Word of God, praying is essential. One of the best promises to cling to in Scripture is that God is with us. Apart from His Spirit, reading the Bible can be hard and that is why we should always begin with prayer. Be open and willing to hear what The Lord wants to show you through His Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to maintain your focus. If you need a prayer prompt, here are a couple:

Lord, I pray that you will quiet the distractions within my heart. Help me to be focused on your Word. Show me yourself in the text. Enable me to live out this text. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Lord, I pray that you would help me be focused on you as I read today. Help me to understand your Word and live it out. In Jesus Name, Amen.

OBSERVE

As you read, choose any scripture or passages and write down in your journal. Highlight/ mark in your Bible any meaningful words or phrases that stand out to you. Take some time to go more in-depth. Remember background and contextual clues are important. Sometimes your Bible will have additional information on the author of the text and when it was written or consult a Bible commentary or Study Bible for this information.

Some questions that are helpful to ask:
Who is the intended audience? What themes are seen through words that are being repeated? Where did this take place? What stood out about a verse? Were there any commands, instructions, warnings in the text?

UNDERSTAND

Taking what you have observed in your reading, progress further and summarize in a few sentences what you can learn through the scripture or passages.

Write any other thoughts you have about the verse(s):
What is The Lord showing you through His Word? What truths can I learn? Did you learn anything new? Is there a word of encouragement, conviction, challenge?

RESPOND

Our final step is to take the truths of the Word that you have observed and understood, and apply them to your life. Allow the Holy Spirit to continually transform your daily life.

Write down your prayer of response to the Lord and ask for His help to apply His Word:
How can what you learned become more than knowledge? How will your life be different as a result of what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you today? Is there something you need to: Pray about? Talk about? Think about? Start doing? Stop doing?

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it
– not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do. – James 1:25