This overview study of Hebrews is being conducted at the Franklin & Juniper church of Christ each Wednesday at 6:30pm and is scheduled to last until April. (the first Wednesday of each month will be congregational singing). Click here for service times & directions.
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”
(2Timothy 3:2)
In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he warns of imposters in the last and perilous days. He lists a series of qualities that describe these traitors (cf., 2Tim 3:2-8).
Among this descriptive list is the quality of being “UNTHANKFUL.”
We usually know when someone ELSE is being an ingrate, but seldom do we recognize it in ourselves. There are only two ways I know to see it in ourselves. One is through constant self-evaluation (cf. 2Cor 13:5), the other is learning by example (both positive & negative).
Let’s combine these strategies with a self-evaluation test using biblical examples.
Take this GRATITUDE self-test to know if we’re being grateful or ungrateful.
Do I only see…
the FORBIDDEN fruit?
the freedom to eat every other FRUIT in the garden?
(Gen 2:16-17; 3:4-6) Metaphorical for those forbidden “fruits” of the lust of the flesh.
Do I exemplify the SICKNESS with an organ recital?
Do I SHOW my hope in my faithful endurance?
(Jas 5:11; 2Cor 4:16-18)
When trouble comes…
Do I only see the STRUGGLE?
Do I see the STRENGTH and patience that comes from endurance?
(Jas 1:1-3; Heb 12:11)
When I go into the marketplace…
Do I lament the COMMERCIALISM?
Do I see the nearly limitless CHOICES?
(Mat 20:13-15)
Life on earth is seldom easy. The way we respond to the struggles of life will determine how much HOPE we display. A positive response gives the best chance to reach the lost through our godly example (cf. 1Peter 3:1-6).
Spencer is an evangelist for the church of Christ at Franklin & Juniper st. in Borger Texas.
It’s Possible! It’s possible to read through the Bible in one year. The above picture is not for bragging rights, it’s for encouragement. The Pic is my record of when I read each book of the Bible in 2022. As you can see I put an emphasis on reading the New Testament multiple times. I’ll finish up the year reading the Gospel of John and Revelation just one more time.
While I have been given the opportunity to read each day for a longer than average time, it’s still possible for the average person to read the bible in one year. Looking at this time chart below, one could read through the Bible in just 12 minutes per day
Crosswalk.org infographic
If you want to read just 5 days a week (Mon-Friday), which is the schedule I’m on, it would only add about 2-3 minutes per day.
Here is a chart from Crosswalk with the times to read through each book of the Bible.
Here are my 4 Tips to READ through the Bible in one year.
1. Read REGULARLY. Set a time for Bible reading. It only takes 15-17min per day, 5 days a week.
2. Reading is compared to EATING. (Rev 10:9-10; John 6:35-51). We eat every day for physical nourishment. Eat a small portion of the Word for Spiritual nourishment. It doesn’t need to be Eaten in one sitting. How do you ready an elephant? 1 bite at a time.
3. Read prayerfully, ASKING God for wisdom. Jas 1:5-7 The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We get faith, belief, Equipping, & understanding when we read. (Rom 20:17; John 20:30-31; Eph 3:3-4; 2Tim 3:15-17)
4. Read with a Desire to become a DOER of the word. James 1:22 but be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. The New Testament is the final word of Christ and is the doctrine we follow today. (2John 1:9)
Here are some words from God’s word to encourage you to read.
John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
IT’S POSSIBLE! You can do it. If the scriptures made Timothy wise unto salvation, it will do the same for us too!
spencer
PS here is a link to a printable bookmark to help you keep your place and help you with a little context as you read.
1) SALUTATION / SALVATION of believers / SECURITY of believers / SUFFERING of Christ / SANCTIFICATION of believer / SINCERITY to the word
2) SINCERITY to the Word 1-2 / SPIRITUAL House 3-8 / SPECIAL, STRANGERS, SOJOURNERS 8-12 / SUBMIT to Authority 13-17 / SUFFERING Savior Our Example 18-25
3) DWELLING together / DAYS that are good /
DEFENSE for our hope / DIVINE longsuffering
4) Time has PAST to Sin / Time for the END / Time to SUFFER / Time for JUDGMENT
Level One is RESEARCHING the unknown. Our first time Reading to discover what’s there. Pausing to look up word definitions. Reading through the books and letters in a short amount of time, but not hurriedly, to gain familiarity with the contents. This may last through two or three readings.
Level Two is continuing to read & taking a closer EXAMINATION of what we read. Taking note of context, audience, & speaker. This begins to happen after multiple readings after the text becomes familiar.
Level Three is continuing to read and making ASSOCIATIONS between passages you’ve previously read. Looking up cross references of key verses, especially quotations of other scriptures.
Level Four reading is DIGGING DEEPER to DISCOVER buried treasure. ie. Searching Topical associations, People, Places, & Terms.
Reading is the foundation for Study. Reaching the next level only happens with continual reading. Study is just reading at higher and higher levels.
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 