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 April 2nd, 2018:
4 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.
Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it[a] may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. …
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.
