(If you are just beginning your journey, please read the introduction…)

 

 

I invite you to participate in the First Baptist Church’s 90-Day New Testament Reading Challenge

Purpose: To train in godliness according to 1 Timothy 4:7b-8, every day for 90 days by reading God’s Word and meditating upon it day and night. To take the next step in your journey of following Jesus and becoming like Him. A 90-day New Testament reading plan is available to you at the church and will be emailed out to you.

Method: I invite you to read three (3) chapters of the New Testament every day over 90 days, starting on Monday, January 8. That’s 21 chapters a week. Before every chapter, I invite you to pray – to reflect upon what you have just read and to invite the Holy Spirit to give you insights and wisdom into what you are about to read. The Bible is God’s Word, and it must be discerned with spiritual eyes; therefore, you must pray and read, read and pray, praying at all times as you read. An example prayer is this: Sovereign God, I ask that You open the eyes of my heart to accurately read and spiritually discern Your inspired Word. Holy Spirit, please lead me in greater understanding and right application of all that I read and meditate. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. I will also be inviting you how to write a S.O.A.P. journal entry on your daily readings so it will also benefit you to grab a pen and some paper and keep it with your Bible through this 90-day New Testament Reading Challenge.

 

Accountability: While we will meet every Sunday morning for a discipleship training during our weekly worship service, and I will ask you if you are keeping up with the reaching challenge, it will be easy to hide in the pews. Therefore, I invite you to have a spiritual friend that you can meet with each week to sit down together, or talk with on the phone. You will pray together, review the week’s discipleship training from Sunday morning, discuss your readings from the week, share your journal entries with one another as you feel led, and talk about how you are experiencing growth in your Christian life through this experience. This is a time of encouragement and sharing the journey of following Jesus, to become like Him as you learn to walk in His easy yoke. This is best done in a rhythm of personal time with Jesus and community with friends and family. You are invited!

 

 

 

 

A disciple is a person who intentionally follows the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ. Last week, you were asked to memorize Mark 1:17. Did you memorize God’s Word?

+ The Call = “Follow Me”
+ The Promise = “I will make you become…”

 

Discipleship is the life-long journey of learning and manifesting who you are as a disciple of Jesus through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is done by learning how to daily take on yourself the “easy” (custom made) yoke of Jesus and become like Him.

+ Read Matthew 11:28-30.
+ Read 1 John 5:3-4.

 

Are you in the easy yoke of Jesus? YES or NO
Are you experiencing His commands as burdensome?
Do you have a Bible you can understand? YES or NO
Are you willing to listen and obey? YES or NO
IF SO, what do you do with your Bible? GET A GRIP ON GOD’S WORD!

 

Five Finger Method of Getting a Grip on the Bible
1. Hear (pinky finger)– Romans 10:17 & Galatians 1:3-5
2. Read (ring finger) – Revelation 1:3 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17

3. Study (middle finger) – Acts 17:11 & 2 Timothy 2:15
4. Memorize (pointer finger) – Psalm 119:9-11, 105-106
5. Meditate (thumb) – Psalm 1:2-3 & Joshua 1:8

 

Scripture – Write down a verse that you want to highlight. It is meaningful to slow down and write out God’s Word. Observation – Record your reflections. What connections and insights are you finding? Questions for future study? Application – What’s your next step to apply it to your life, today and in the future? Confession? Repentance?

Prayer – Write down a personal prayer. Be honest, authentic, and vulnerable with God.

 

This is an intentional mindset to strengthen your spiritual vitality and live on mission. Living in this mindset involves viewing every circumstance as a providential opportunity to grow closer to Jesus, as His yokefellow, and being aware of the Holy Spirit’s promptings for faithful living.

+ Read Luke 11:27-28.

+ Meditate on James 1:18-26 & Matthew 7:24-27. Memorize Galatians 5:22-23.

 

This is what Christlikeness looks like. Are you seeing good fruit in your circumstances?

 

 

1) Readings for this week: Matthew 22-28 & Mark 1-12.

2) Write a SOAP journal entry for either each chapter or each day. Bring your notebook each week.
3) Pray through this handout as you prepare to read your Bible every day. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you “become” conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.