The Challenge

So we’ve finished up the first part of our #LEVELUPCCW series, “The Word of God.”

Hopefully you have come away with a few things:

1. Why we can know that the bible we have today is indeed the inerrant, intact and complete word of God, handed down by the apostles and the prophets.
2. How to read, understand, and interpret the word of God:  Read, Understand, Live.
3. Our Relationship to the word of God

Now comes the fun part: The Challenge!  “The challenge,” you say?  Yes, THE CHALLENGE! 

Sometimes we need a challenge to help us form new disciplines in our lives.  Sales teams set a challenge to make a certain number of calls.  Personal trainers set a challenge to work out a certain number of times a week.  A few months ago my wife and I challenged each other to lose twenty pounds.  Having a challenge, a goal, gives us something to shoot for.  Otherwise, how do we know if we have made any progress?  It is also known that in order to establish a new habit, you have to do it for at least thirty days.

So I am going to lay a challenge out in front of you:  Read your bible, every day, for thirty days. 

I’m not going to tell you how much to read, that can be up to you.  The book you choose can be up to you.  But pick a book, and read at least a half-chapter each day.  If you are not sure of which book to read, pick the gospel of John, or the book of Romans.  Here is a pattern to follow:

• Budget your time – Set aside at least thirty minutes.  You have to budget the time, otherwise you’ll skip it. Yes you may have to get up earlier. You would do it to surf, so go ahead!
• Pray – Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you
• Read – Read through the section 2-3 times
• Understand – Remember the questions we suggested:

Who are the people mentioned in the passage?

Who is the author speaking to?

What event is taking place?

Is there a theme of the paragraph?

Is there a situation being addressed?  

Was there a specific right/wrong being addressed?

Is there an expected result or resolution being sought?

Is there a comparison or a contrast being given? 

• Apply – Write down at least one thing you can apply in your life

Is there a habit I need to change?

Is there a sin I need to confess?

Is there a truth I need to embrace?

Is there a lie I need to reject?

Is there someone I should apologize to?

Caution:  Our enemy, Satan, does not want you reading your bible.  It has waaayyyy too much truth in it for his purposes!  So recognize that you will experience some resistance. Push through it.

Here is the good exciting part:  If you will commit to read with word of God every day for thirty days, you WILL see a difference in your life.  Your peace will increase.  You’ll have more joy.  You’ll find wisdom that will be directly applicable to situations in your life.  Here's why:  The word is LIFE!

So, take the challenge, you won’t regret it.

Pastor Clay