Bible Reading Plan: March 29 - April 4

We invite you to join us in reading through the Bible together.  We're not trying to complete it in a limited time frame like a month or a year; but rather, we want to create a habit (or discipline) of getting to know God's heart through what He's told us about Himself.

We are studying the Letter to the church in Corinth.  It’s Paul’s corrective letter to a divided and morally compromised church. He confronts disunity, immorality, misuse of spiritual gifts, and confusion about worship and the resurrection. His purpose is to re-center the church on Christ crucified and risen, calling them to holiness, unity, and love.

When reading, ask yourself the following questions:

• What does it say about God?
• What does it say to/about me?
• What can I learn from this reading?

• March 29, Sun Birthdays: Stacey Slaughter, Audrey Sawyer

Psalm 149:4 “…the LORD takes pleasure in his people”

• March 30, Mon Pray for Churches in America

Isaiah 53:3-7 Prophecy about Jesus – notice he’s not a macho strongman wielding his strength; the descriptions – despised, rejected, man of sorrows, smitten, afflicted, etc.

• March 31, Tues Pray for Churches in persecuted countries

Philipp. 2:5-11 We are to have the same mindset as Jesus – “made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant”. The way of the cross (vs 8) is to humble, die … to be raised and exalted by God

• April 1, Wed Birthday: Alex Granda

Isaiah 53:8-12 Jesus bore all of these because it was the “will of the LORD …”; secondly, it was for us (vs 8b, 11c, 12c)

• April 2, Thur Pray for Pastors – they raise the Cross of Jesus

Psalm 22:14-21 A Psalm that Jesus was familiar with – he quoted it on the Cross (22:1). This is a psalm of Lament where David anguishes of all that is going on, how God feels far off (vs 19). Suffering, the Cross, etc. are not pleasant places to be or journey through – that’s a reality for David, Jesus and godly people. How do you survive that period? See vs 3-5: that foundational confidence is a rock to be grounded on (cf. Matt 7:24-27)

• April 3, Fri Meditate on Jesus’ suffering. Birthday: Joseph Thomas

John 19:16-24 ‘One of the officers struck Jesus’ – he didn’t hit back or get verbally aggressive. Instead, Jesus asks a pointed question that they couldn’t answer (vs 23). Cf. Matt 5:38-40 – Jesus taught that and then practiced it. Why do we Christians find it difficult
to practice Jesus’ teaching and example?

• April 4, Sat Birthday: Chris Ann Mammel

Mark 15:33-39 In the climax of Jesus’ death, the onlookers had mixed understandings of what was happening. What was not confusing was – the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and the centurion standing guard in front of Jesus had a massive heart attack and dropped dead!