The apostle Peter is usually known for two things:
(1) putting his foot in his mouth quite often and
(2) delivering the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Those two events in Peter’s life are his most well-known, but also a testimony to his personal growth.
Peter followed Christ after his brother Andrew brought him to see Jesus (John 1.41-42). Who knew that fisherman from a small town in Galilee would follow the Messiah for three years, open his mouth too soon, yet stand before other followers of Jesus and deliver a message which would, through the power of God, convert over 3,000 people from the beginning. (Acts 2.41)
Who knew?
I believe God knew. God knew that one person had the power to share a message and convert others. Jesus knew. From their first meeting, Jesus called Peter “Cephas” which means rock. Whether it is a look into Peter’s character or his firmness in his beliefs, we know that the word “rock” would mean greater things as the years went on. (Note Matthew 16.16-18)
What caused such growth in Peter? What caused Peter to go from being a fisherman to a gospel preacher? What allowed Peter to go from an open mouth to preaching from an open heart?
Peter was not a PH.D. candidate, nor was he a theological scholar, yet the Jewish leaders noticed something about his life. They noticed that this “uneducated, common” man had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13)
Because Peter spent time with Jesus, people saw his boldness and his life. Spending time with Jesus not only changed Peter’s life, but it will change your life.
How can you spend time with Jesus? Open his words and spend time with His followers being encouraged together.
Below are some worksheets we are offering to help you in your Bible reading progression. We will release these worksheets every Thursday for the week ahead. This will give you ample opportunity to dive into God’s word with some study questions to challenge you to read deep and examine the Word closer.
We are offering two different Daily Bible Reading Worksheets below. See which one fits your Daily Bible Reading Schedule and your growth plan the best and download, print them and work through them as you read each day.
If you missed Week #1 you can download those worksheets here.
The New Testament Daily Bible Reading Series – This series is a 26 weeks series on Reading the New Testament. It is great for the beginner to Daily Bible reading because it starts with the New Testament, which is very familiar to most readers. Also, it is a few chapters a day, which allows the reader to not be overwhelmed with many chapters.
The Full Bible Reading Series– This series contains reading from various sections of the Bible each day. Instead of reading the Bible straight through, it allows the reader to read from a different section of the Bible each day. Using this worksheet will help you stay on track through the various sections of the Bible, making quick progress, but not getting stuck on the usual passage.
I can’t believe 2024 is here. I mentioned a few days ago that I recently wrote 2021 on a check. Surely, the years have not gone by that fast.
God has seen fit to allow us to begin another year and use it for His glory. As you think of your plans for 2024, let God have the priority in all that you do (Proverbs 3.5-6). Allow the Lord to direct your paths by committing to Him in 2024.
Here are a few helps to assist you in staying committed in 2024:
Your Daily Four – Commit to reading four chapters of the Bible every day. Reading four chapters of the Bible a day allows you over two extra months at the end of the year to go back and read your favorite chapters or begin reading through the Bible again. (If you want a Bible Reading plan to help, you can find some here.)
Your Weekly Four – Commit to attending four hours of service a week. Each week, we are given 168 hours to invest in opportunities, work, sleep, food and any other area of life we choose. Choose to commit four hours to worship and service times together. Commit to four hours and watch how your spiritual life can grow.
Your Monthly Four – Commit to specifically encouraging four people a month. Choose four people at the beginning of each month and begin praying for them. While attending services, find them and make it a priority to encourage them. Consider sending those four people a card during the month to encourage them.
Your Yearly Four – Commit to specifically inviting four families to join our spiritual family during the year. Consider four families you are close to and invite them. During the year, there will be plenty of opportunities to invite them to services and other gatherings outside our normal services.
Opening your computer every day and seeing your desktop wallpaper can bring you motivation to keep pressing forward. The same can be said by seeing your phone wallpaper. So, in 2024 we will bring you a wallpaper for your desktop (also works on your tablet) and for your phone. Below are the ones for January 2024.
You can click on the images or on the link above to open and download the images.
Let us know if you enjoy them.
Just some thoughts,
Click to open up the full image to download the Desktop Background
