The United Methodist Men (UMM) invite you to join other men in reading the Bible through in a year. Here is A Year’s Bible Reading Program from the UMM.
Please know this is not designed as a Bible study but that rather a reading program for discipleship. You are asked to spend approximately 15 minutes per day reading the Bible. This plan reads straight through the bible cover to cover.
From PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES by the Upper Room:
“One of the most central and ancient practices of Christian prayer is Praying the Scriptures. When we Pray the Scriptures, we begin by reading a few verses of the Bible. We read unhurriedly so that we can listen for the message God has for us there. We stay alert to connections the Spirit may reveal between the passage and what is going on in our lives…. ”
The Reading for March 16th, 2018:
Joshua 9-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” …
The Audio of the above Scripture passage.
Why is men’s ministry important?
Men lead others best by modeling Jesus Christ in thoughts, words and deeds.
Spiritual maturity is signified in spiritual reproduction, as the faith of mature disciples passes on in others.
Men growing in Christ become effective spiritual leaders in their homes and congregations, working as partners with their spouses and congregational leaders-both lay and clergy.
Spiritually growing men help congregations to become vital and alive.
Everything desired from and through men comes as a result of men growing spiritually and maturing as disciples: family blessings, stewardship, service, outreach, prayer, spiritual leadership, lifestyle evangelism, and faithful obedience. Men are foundational to the life and health of the church.
When a man lives daily in surrendered faith, God is honored and many lives are blessed. Transformed hearts are forged only within Christ-centered lives-nothing less is our acceptable offering; nothing less truly reveals Christ.
