10 So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,
for his anger may ignite at any moment.
All who take refuge in him are happy. -- Psalms 2:10-12 (CSB)
Read the Bible: Psalm 1
How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams
that bears its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this;
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin. -- Psalms 1:1-6 (CSB)
Read the Bible: Psalm 115
Not to us, LORD, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God? ”
3 Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
5 They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.
They cannot make a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
9 Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and shield.
10 House of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and shield.
11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and shield.
12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;
13 he will bless those who fear the LORD —
small and great alike. -- Psalms 115:1-13 (CSB)
NEXT WEEK: Quarterly Business Meeting
Members, make plans to join us at 7:30 PM as we prayerfully consider the business of the church. Agenda & meeting materials are available in the secured document library. For assistance, please contact Krista Horne.
Bible Reading Plans
what has your ear?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17, ESV).
Reading well impacts how we perceive and understand the world around us, and nothing merits our time and study more than the inspired Word of God. If you have resolved to grow in faith in this new year, daily Bible reading must surely be part of the plan.
Any serious study of Scripture is profitable and many are put off by highly structured Bible reading plans. Noted pastor Robert Murray M’Cheyne even published a list of dangers when sharing with his own congregation the Bible reading plan he authored for their use. Likewise, there are great benefits to a prescribed plan for the daily study of Scripture.
Here are our recommendations for your consideration as you begin a new year with a commitment grow as a student of the Word of God:
PFWB Resources
The PFWB website contains a variety of resources for individual and corporate growth, including a Bible Reading Program, a daily Bible Reading Plan, and Bible Engagement resources with an updated topic each month.
Blue Letter Bible Blended Plan
Straightforward, printable PDF with daily readings, averaging 3-4 chapters per day.
Bible in One Year
A resource of 1517.org containing links directly to daily readings of the Blended Plan, along with links to short teaching videos by Chad Bird, Old Testament scholar and Scholar in Residence at 1517. Dr. Bird shares insightful links between Old and New Testament passages that will help push through the more complicated texts, encouraging you to stick with daily Bible reading.
Read the Bible Initiative
This partnership between The Gospel Coalition and Crossway provides free access to the M’Cheyne Bible Reading plan, along with options to receive a daily newsletter, daily podcast commentary, and access to online articles to support your understanding of the assigned texts.
audio bibles & apps
The science of learning suggests that reading in print is superior to electronic options for deep reading of complex material (here and here). But for some, reading portable electronic formats on the go is better than not reading at all (for sure!). For others, reading in any format just doesn’t come easy. Fortunately, there are great options for listening to the Word of God that can be used with the Bible reading plan of your choice. If you’re looking for a good audio Bible app, consider the following (listed in no particular order). Most have options that work on any computer or mobile device.
Dwell (audio only)
Christian Standard Bible (Audio and daily reading plans available within the mobile app.)
ESV Bible (Audio and daily reading plans, including the M’Cheyene plan, available within the mobile app.)
Blue Letter Bible (Mobile app is also available.)
Above all, grow as a student of Scripture in 2024. Whether on paper or in print, following a daily reading plan or working through on your own, commit to dig deeply into the revealed Word of God.
God has spoken. Does He have your ear?
Happy New Year
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gently into the night. And He led me toward the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
Excerpt from “God Knows,” as published in The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957)
TONIGHT: Watchnight Service
Please join us for a time of worship, testimony, & fellowship with our friends from Back Swamp Community Church beginning at 9:00 pm. All are warmly welcomed. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.
What is a Watchnight service?
Watchnight services tap into the PFWB denomination’s Wesleyan roots. While older examples may be found, John Wesley instituted Watchnight services in 1740 as an opportunity for Christians to gather to honor the faithfulness of God through worship, testimony, & prayer. Sometimes called Covenant Renewal Services, these corporate celebrations offered a time of reflection on the sovereign goodness of God. Indeed, reflecting on God’s merciful providence during the past year instills holy hope for the year to come.
These services are longer than average weekly worship services and are late at night. To that end, we encourage you to not only come, but dress comfortably.
Have questions? Contact us.
Advent Readings (Mt. 2:9-12)
9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was — the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route. -- Matthew 2:9-12 (CSB)
Advent Readings (Mt. 2:1-8)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet:
6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah:
Because out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.”7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.” -- Matthew 2:1-8 (CSB)
Advent Readings (Lk. 2:39-40)
39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him. -- Luke 2:39-40 (CSB)