Sermons
Inside Sojourn
How’s Your Bible Reading Going?, by Daniel Montgomery
Sojourn’s trek through the Old Testament has been going for nearly 4 months now and we’ve read 6 of 39 Old Testament books. We’ll start Judges tomorrow! I hope you’ve been encouraged, I know I have. The Old Testament is just fascinating. I’m really finding my imagination captured.
One thing is clear – the word of God is very important. It is important to be read publicly (see Deuteronomy 31:11–13;Joshua 8:33–35), it is important to respond to it [can I get an A-men?] (Nehemiah 8:5, 6; Exodus 24:7; Deuteronomy 27:12–26), to be displayed (Deuteronomy 6:9; 11:20), and not to be messed with (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Revelation 22:18, 19).
So, how’s your Bible reading going? Have you been able to keep up with the pace in the reading guide? What parts have been confusing? What parts have been surprising?
If you’re having trouble, I would love to recommend our daily devotional to you. Michael Morgan, a deacon at Sojourn and my armor bearer, sits across from me every Saturday morning and works on it. It’s basically a tool to help you find good nuggets in each day’s reading. He picks just a couple of key verses each day and offers some reflections and encouragements. If you could use a boost in your reading, especially where you’re having trouble keeping your heart engaged, check it out. It’s available online here where you can sign up to have it emailed to you every day. You can even follow it on Twitter if that’s your thing.
There’s also a great wealth of artwork, an original piece each week, almost always produced by artists within Sojourn. Be sure to read the artist’s descriptions – I’ve found them very encouraging and engaging.
What do you think of Sojourn’s weekly devotional? Has it been helpful? I’ve asked a lot of questions in this post and I’d love to read your answers below.
About Bobby Gilles
Devotional guide = $.
Michael is doing such a great job with those things. After I do my reading, I turn to the devotional guide to help me with meditating on scripture. I usually use the verses that he picks out to think more intently upon.
I really just like the idea of a corporate reading plan in general. American Christianity can be so individualized, but I love being able to share my devotional life with my community.
I have been blown away by who God is. To see Him as an intimate friend of Humanity in the garden, a God of promise and redemptive hope to the patriarchs, a Redeemer to the Isrealites in Egypt, a provider in the Desert, a Rule-giver, a Judge, a Warrior, Jealous for the love of his people, Terrifying in his wrath. To see God at work methodically, in his own time, to bring about real and permanent Redemption for his people has changed the way I look at everything. Even when events don’t seem right, all things progress for God’s glory.
Thanks to the pastors and elders for the OT challenge this year. My wife and I discuss weekly how blessed we are to have such Godly men in leadership over us. May God continue to bless our elders and this church for the sake of His name.
btw, the pace is good. we got about a month behind, but have caught up to the end of Joshua now.
I love, love, love this study… but I missed all of Joshua. And I’m super sad about it! I know you have said from the stage not to try to play catch up, but I hate that I missed it. The pace wouldn’t be bad if I wouldn’t let moving (or whatever other lame excuse I have for not doing all the reading) get in the way.
I have approximately a bazillion questions. Mostly about context and occasionally a, “What the crap… I’ve never noticed this in scripture before- someone please explain this!” I always think its weird that the Lord doesn’t call things out with the leaders he raises up. I mean, it surprises me that he doesn’t say more to them if they are the only ones He’s really communicating with specifically. why doesn’t he tell Abraham that having multiple wives is NOT ok? I would not be surprised to see God use Abraham amidst such realities, but it surprises me that there are things that God doesn’t even seem to address (issues I thought were pretty important). Hmmm…
The sermons have been so helpful, and I would dig deeper on my own if I had time. When we’re finished reading through the OT I’d like to do more in-depth studies on individual books. I know I’m missing tons. Nonetheless, I think this is great. I have been SO encouraged to see the Gospel in all parts of Scripture.. the devotional helps with that. I’ve specifically struggled with this in the past when reading from the OT.
Oh yeah! Your sermon discussing genocide was particularly encouraging. The Lord is most definitely blessing your communication of the Scriptures. Still, I can’t help but wonder how many of my questions are just un-answerable (I don’t think thats a word). I love being a part of a body that talks about the tough stuff.
Whoa, long response. Yowsers.