TXT: How to Read the Bible

Well, in case you are just joining in with us here on the Cultivate blog, we’ve been talking the past few weeks about a few ways that you can practically engage with the Bible. I am of the personal belief that having regular time interacting with Scripture is the single greatest thing we can do to grow our faith and build a stronger relationship with Christ.

Two weeks ago, we talked about a plan to help you get into reading the Bible and last week, we talked about an app for your phone, tablet, or mobile device that can help you read the Bible when you’ve got some free time during the day. Today’s tool is actually one produced by Suncrest to help you understand how to study the Bible.

The tool is actually a message series that Suncrest did a few years ago called “TXT: How to Read the Bible.” As the title suggests, this message series was all about how to read your Bible. Greg and a few other of our teachers here at Suncrest walked us through some of the key questions that we should be asking as we study the Scriptures. We need to think through principles like the context in which the Scripture was originally written. We need to think about the language that’s being used in the text we’re reading. We even need to be aware of who the author is writing to as we unpack the Scriptures. And those are just a couple of examples of some of the things you want to keep in mind as you study the Bible for yourself!

In the TXT series, we walked through the book of Philippians as an example of how to read the Bible. Whether you’ve heard the messages already from a few years ago or weren’t even aware of them at all, I’d highly recommend you taking some time to download these messages and listen to them. I really believe they will help inform you as you make the decision to read and study the Bible on your own! And best of all, they are free! And who doesn’t like free?

You can get the messages in a number of ways. The easiest is simply by clicking on this link, clicking the “series” header, and then scrolling through the options until you find “TXT.” Also, you can receive hard copies of the messages if you attend Suncrest by filling out one of the message request cards at your campus.

It’s my hope that you’ll take the time to listen to these messages and apply them in the way you read the Bible. But again, over and above it all, it my prayer that you would just start reading. The Bible is a truly living and active force in our lives if we will simply expose ourselves to its truth.

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YouVersion: A Bible Reader App!

Well, we are currently doing a series of postings on the Cultivate blog over the next few weeks talking about ways you can read the Bible. You can certainly open up and just start reading for yourself (in fact, I would highly recommend it!), but I know that studying the Bible can also be pretty intimidating. I sat in three years of college courses from really smart people on reading and studying the Bible, and it still intimidates me sometimes.

Last week, we gave you a great reading plan you could check out for yourself called the e100 Challenge. This week, I want to offer you a great way to read your Bible, even when you’re on the go. It’s an awesome tool called YouVersion, made available from the awesome folks at LifeChurch out in Oklahoma.

YouVersion is a simple-to-use Bible reading app that you can view either on your computer, on your smart phone, or even on a tablet like an iPad. It’s available for just about any mobile device imaginable from iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod touch) to Blackberry, to Android, Windows Phone, and even Palm webOS (along with a few others!) Downloading the YouVersion app is free, and you simply download it as you would any other app for your phone or mobile device. For more detailed instructions, you can go to the YouVersion website (www.youversion.com) and click on the “Mobile” tab on the top and select your device. If you’re wanting to read on your computer, you can also access the YouVersion website to browse your options on there.

There are several great things about YouVersion. In addition to being a great way to read the Bible no matter where you are, YouVersion also has tons of different translations of the Bible, even in different languages! You are definitely not limited to a version of the Bible you find tough to read. And if you’re wanting to do a more in-depth study of a particular verse or passage, you can flip between several different translations of the same verse pretty effortlessly. Many translations of the Bible are even downloadable, so you can download a translation and not even need an internet connection to read from it.

My most favorite feature of YouVersion, though, is the many Bible reading plans you can look through and choose from. I always struggled to do a Bible reading plan because I’d always lose the sheet that told me what I was supposed to read, or I’d leave it in my Bible at home but I would have a different Bible or something like that. But with YouVersion, you can make your own (free!) account, choose a plan, and then access that plan anywhere you have an internet connection. The plans come in all different types: you can do a chronological plan, a plan to go through just the New or Old Testament, or the entire Bible. They’ve even got varying lengths. Some plans are as long as a year, while some are just a week long. There’s something for everybody. You can even set YouVersion to send you a reminder to do your daily reading! So, there is no excuse for why you don’t follow up on your Bible reading plan!

I love this app. I’ve got it on both my iPad and iPhone and it’s personally been so helpful for me when I have a few free moments to spend some time reading God’s Word and experiencing the life change and increased relationship with God that comes from that. I’m reading the Bible more now than I have in years, and I think that the YouVersion app has been a big reason for that! Download it and check it out for yourself! You will be so glad that you did.

Beyond Sunday-Christian Atheist: Get vs Give

…by Kevin McHugh

In this world we have two groups of people; those who are takers and those who are givers.  As I ponder this and question which one I am, the answer is “it depends when you ask”, because sometimes I am a giver while other times I am a taker.  I suppose I am not alone in this position.

When I am a taker, at the core it is because I am selfish – more concerned about my desires, my time, my money; and less concerned about the needs of others.  I heard a great sermon once that connected selfishness to the root cause of most sin.  When we covet, when we steal, when we lie, when we cheat, it boils down to pure selfishness and disregard for others.  I recognize my selfishness more often than I used to, but it still makes me feel bad.  On the other hand, when I am giving of my time, talents, or money, I feel great – I feel free, I feel I am making a difference in some small way.  Giving is like preventive medicine against sin.

When it comes to giving our time, Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When it comes to our money, Jesus taught us directly on this topic as well – knowing our selfish tendencies.  In Matthew 6:21, He told us “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  That is such a short verse, but isn’t it powerfully true?  Greg also reminded us that when we give, we receive blessings in return.  The Bible is very clear about this: God blesses us, we pass it on by giving, we are blessed some more!

So our response is pretty obvious and it is completely our choice.  Move away from our selfish nature and give more; or not.  The apostle Paul is cited in the book of Acts:

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”   – Acts 20:33-35.

Eat This Book.

Okay, so kind of a corny illustration, but hopefully you found that funny.

What I’m going to talk about on here today is probably one of the most base-level things about cultivating your personal relationship with Jesus. But even in spite of the fact that it’s so easy, it’s so often overlooked and I know that I often forget its importance.

People who are cultivating their personal relationship with Jesus will read their Bible.

Yeah, like I said, pretty base-level. But so important.

I think there are a lot of reasons why reading the Bible is so important, but I think that for me, the biggest one is that it renews and refreshes our minds, hearts, and souls. In Romans 12:2, the Bible tells us that as Christ followers, we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. In other words, we need to stop listening to all the messages and taking all of our cues from the world, and start replacing those messages with the words of God, which I believe we can receive through prayer, but even more so through reading the Bible. I’ve noticed in my own life that when I go through a period where I’m not having some sort of continuous contact with God’s words in Scripture, that I tend to see my relationship with Jesus get pushed onto the back burner and instead see it replaced with some pretty useless, meaningless stuff.

I had a really cool meeting with my small group where everyone expressed that they wanted to take some time to both read their Bible, but also learn how to study and read it for themselves, which I think is so awesome. It looks like we’re getting ready to walk through a Bible reading plan together that’s called the e100 (Essential 100) Bible reading plan. It takes the key 100 passages of the Bible (50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New) and puts them all in one plan for you to read over 100 days. It’s pretty cool. If you’re interested in finding out more about the e100 and maybe starting it for yourself, you can follow the plan on YouVersion (which is pretty much the greatest Bible reading app ever if you have an Android powered phone or an iPhone), or you can click on this link to take a look at it for yourself.

Guys, you will never regret the time you invest in your relationship with Jesus. And I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I regretted taking some time to read my Bible. I think you’ll find the same to be the case for yourself. Over the next few weeks on here, we’re going to post about a few different resources to help you read and study the Bible. I hope you’ll take the time to investigate some of them, but most of all, I hope you will read your Bible! I think you’ll find it to be one of the most useful practices you will ever develop in your life.

Financial Peace.

Well, it’s that time again.

Every year, our church leads through some sort of series devoted to helping us think about how we use and manage money. This year, we are calling it “Christian Atheist” and we are challenging ourselves to think through the provocative question: Do I say I believe in God but spend and manage my money like I don’t even believe He exists? I am certainly not immune to mismanaging money. One look at my financial profile will show you that. I’ve got some student loans, a huge car payment, and some credit card debt (that I am horribly ashamed of because it’s mostly on spur of the moment, impulse purchases).

No doubt you will be hearing a ton about this in the days and weeks ahead, but our church offers a class called “Financial Peace University,” and it’s great. Through the incredible generosity of a couple at our church (who had went through the program themselves a few years before), I was able to take FPU a couple years ago, and it was probably the most helpful thing I’ve ever done financially in my entire life. While there, I learned some really helpful skills that have helped me be so much more responsible with my money. And while I’m not totally there yet, with each passing month and payment, I’m getting one step closer to financial freedom and that is an incredibly exciting feeling.

If you are on the fence, I want to push you over. DO IT! You will not be sorry you did.

For more info on Financial Peace, you can contact Robin McHugh (robin.mchugh@suncrest.org) about signing up for one of the classes happening at Suncrest this winter/spring.

Debt: A Biblical Exploration

…by Bobby Jackson

One of the things I love about my church is that we are practical in our approach to help people follow Jesus.  Leaving people with lots of guilt or a “you should” mentality isn’t really all that helpful so each week we try to nail down some specific next steps that we can all take.

In the midst of a financial series we can start to feel like we are at a financial seminar.  It’s possible to forget that the Bible is where we draw what we believe about finances and how we use money.

Here is a resource we love from the guys at Lifechurch.com that walk us through some things the Bible says about how our heart and money work together (or against one another.)

Click on the link below to follow this five-day reading plan.  Its quick and painless to sign-up.  (Everyone should have Youversion on their computer or phone anyway, it’s great.  )

5 Day Debt Reading Plan

 

 

Beyond Sunday: Christian Atheist-Trendy vs Wise

…by Dave Wright

 

I woke this past Sunday morning looking forward going to church.  I told my wife the previous night that I was looking forward to posting my first blog of the year.  Then I walk in…and of course I get to write about finances…YEA!

 

I guess I did learn one thing this morning.  I am in the average column.  I have debt like the majority of other people.  I do have a job.  Do I want a better job?  Do I want to get paid more?  Absolutely.  Have I practiced my faith in God and prayed about it?  Yeah…maybe not so much.  Deep down, Sunday was much more than a SERMON ABOUT FINANCES!

 

“They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.”  Titus 1:16

 

(Pause now as reality hits in 5,4,3,2,1…)

 

Why is it so hard to trust God?  It should be simple…but, it is not.  Human nature makes it hard to not try and do everything ourselves.  But that is the beauty of God’s love and grace.  He is waiting to take us in just as we are.  I am paraphrasing…if you just obey his word; God’s love will be made complete in you.

 

Pray everyday for God’s help!  Listen to what he says…he is waiting.

The Power of Looking In the Mirror.

On this site, we’re all about providing some useful tools for all of us to grow in cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus.

I had a revelation recently, and that is that the greatest tool for cultivating is oftentimes staring me right in the face.

It’s just looking in the mirror.

Okay, I’m obviously not talking about a literal mirror (though looking in one of those can lead to you needing to take some action too!), but a metaphorical one. Take a look at a few words from Scripture, found in James 1:22-25:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 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.

We’ve got the perfect mirror staring us right in the face, and it’s the Word of God.

Here at Suncrest, we’ve just completed this series called “Listen” where we talked about the power of sitting back and simply taking some time to listen to the words that God wants to speak into our lives. We practiced silence for 10 minutes a day, simply placing ourselves before God and asking the question, “God, what do you want to say to me today?” and then just listening. It’s been cool at a staff level to hear a few of the stories that people have shared about listening and what they feel that God is saying to them.

But even if that’s not so much your thing, you’ve got a document straight from God: the Bible. Page after page is filled with God’s message to us, His followers. As I engage with the Bible, I often discover a message from God straight to me about something.

But so often, I find myself cruising through life just like the people James talks about in this passage. I hear God’s word, but I don’t do anything about it. I don’t let my faith and my listening inform my actions. Nothing changes in my life. And that’s wrong. If the God of the Universe says something to me, the least that I can do is respond.

What’s worse, though, is that sometimes I take a message that God wants to speak to me, and instead of applying it to myself, I think of how it applies to all the other people in my life. I’m the perfect example of the person with the plank in my eye who is trying to help someone with the speck in theirs (see Jesus’ words on this in Matthew 7:3-5). And I know I’m not the only one who does this. In fact, I’ve seen it practiced in a lot of various situations recently. I’ve had conversations with people who are throwing their spouse under the bus for underperforming at this or that, I’ve seen “friends” complain to me about something their friend is doing that is harmful or hurtful, and all kinds of stuff like that. I’ve often been a leading and willing participant in those conversations myself.

But in those situations, I think I really like to direct attention away from myself because I know that God’s word to me will require me to change. And that makes me uncomfortable. Yet, I want to grow in my faith. And therein lies a huge contradiction.

Guys, it’s possible that the most powerful thing we can do to cultivate a greater personal relationship with Jesus is quite simply to start looking in the mirror. Instead of directing my time and attention toward thinking of what God wants other people to do and only deceiving myself, I need to start directing my spiritual attention toward me. Instead of praying, “God, so-and-so is the problem; please help them and help me deal with them,” maybe I need to start praying “God, I am the problem. Thank you for Your grace toward me and please give me the wisdom and discipline to grow as a follower of You in this area.”

I don’t think there’s a single person reading this who would say they are perfect. And I don’t think there’s a single person reading this who can’t think of an area of their life where God is asking them to grow. Instead of looking at others, let’s start looking in the mirror and dealing with ourselves.

Making that a regular habit of our lives could be the greatest cultivating tool of all.

Beyond Sunday: Listen-Responding

…by Michael Switzer

It’s difficult to listen to God when life is thrown into numerous directions.  We all want a solid sense of direction and in an attempt to create one ourselves, we, or at least I, do everything in my power to gain control over all aspects of life.  A prevalent theme I’ve been struggling with this week is not so much how to respond but how to listen.  I’m behind the curve on this whole series because, sadly and ironically, time has not been carved out of the day to listen.  Does that mean I don’t believe in the validity?  Does viewing listening to God as a ‘Well I’ll know it when I see it” aspect of life challenge my faith?  I’ve done a horrible job posturing myself to be open to God and while I think I want to hear His plan for me, I’m not being open to it.  I love the idea that listening to God and actively responding will be freeing but how then do I prepare my life, in terms of personal and professional work?

 

It’s also been too easy for me to synonymize serving with the Church and doing actions which indirectly glorify Him to doing His will.  It’s almost as if I’d rather work 3 hours on some mission related task than take 10 minutes to listen.  I’m embarrassed to confront that reality but it speaks to my personality.  If I can just keep myself busy all the time I can say “well hey, I’ve been focusing my efforts on productivity at work and some serving at church and if God wants to intersect my life at those points, I’m totally open to it.”  That mindset is nowhere near intentionally seeking God and opening myself to Him; I’ve fooled myself into thinking it is.  This whole concept was deep in my sub-conscience and I appreciate having the opportunity and taking the time to explore.  10 minutes a day to listen is probably much more valuable and much less painless than I’m making it out to be.

Beyond Sunday-Listen:Clarifying

…by Bobby Jackson

At the example of a friend, I decided to take one child per week and have breakfast with them on Wednesdays.  Our school starts a few minutes later on Wednesdays so it makes a perfect opportunity to add something cool to the usual routines.  We joke, make the waitress smile, and play games in the booth together.  Extreme anticipation has made Tuesday nights a hard night to fall asleep for one of my children each week.

I was really looking forward to this time each week yet was a little nervous in the back of my mind that we might run out of things to talk about (I don’t know much about how 8 year-old girls think).  But that was the point: I wanted to get to know how my kids think, what interests them and who their friends are, what they’re learning and what makes them sad and what they want me to hear that I’m sometimes too busy to listen to.

Forward to Sunday when I’m reminded that God is looking for the same thing in my relationship with Him.  Though He has always invited me to spend time with Him, I am now personally inviting Him to spend time with me and making time to listen to Him.  I want to listen to what interests Him and what makes Him sad and what He wants to say to me that I’m sometimes too busy to hear.

Already I’ve learned a few things:

-I need this.  I’ve been talking and not listening long enough that this past week was a different experience between God and I than usual.  Taking time to be still and listen was harder than I thought which means I haven’t been doing it much or well.

-I’m not a good listener.  My good friends probably already know this, but it was obvious to me this past week when every time I began to listen I would have an excuse or something I wanted to say that was more about me and less about empathetic listening.  Greg encouraged us Sunday that we find growth in our relationships when we have curiosity.  I’m approaching God this week with a renewed sense of this ability.

-I need this.  I really do want to hear from God specifically.  Some of the questions like, “God, what you think about me?” have been powerful.

Looking forward to a good week and a better relationship moving forward.