Why Should I Read The Bible? Series

Introduction

Background

This week we as a church are beginning The Essential 100 bible reading plan

A new exciting way to read through the Bible.

The bible reading plan is based on 100 carefully selected short Bible passages- 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament-

¦s designed to help us get the big picture of the Bible without getting bogged down.

There are 5 Bible passages listed for each week.

You will notice that the scripture readings for each week are based around a theme.

If you read the 5 Bible passages each week you will finish the Bible reading plan in 20 weeks.

Why should I participate in this bible reading challenge?

¦’m just too busy

I don’t like to read.

The Bible is to hard to understand

20 weeks is a long time

Come to think of it - Why should I study the Bible?

Let me say first

We are not doing this in order to try and make a deal with God.

It¡¦s not like - If I sign up to do this - then God in return promises me a nice easy life

It¡¦s not like - As long as I¡¦m reading my Bible there will be no problems in my life.

Actually reading through the Bible passages will probably have the opposite effect

Reading through the Bible may very well expose problems that are already in my life.

If I have wrongful attitudes, if I have wrongful thinking, wrongful priorities, then reading through the Bible will expose all this.

People who tell you they have no problems- that everything is fine- that things couldn¡¦t be better - are people who don’t read the Bible

Summary: If you want a nice easy life don’t read through the Bible!

But on the positive side- reading through the Bible will also help to fix those problems.

2 Timothy 3:16

"The Bible was given to us so that the man of God could be fully equipped for every good work."

Reading through the Bible will help to give us the answers we need to help fix our problems.

Why should I participate in this Bible reading Challenge?

I want to identify 2 truths that are common to all of us

- and show how participating in this Bible reading challenge can help us in these 2 areas

Text: Joshua 1:1-11

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them, to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates, all the Hittite country, to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: Go through the camp and tell the people, Get your supplies ready. Three days from know you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you as your own.¨

Truth #1 We all want to be successful.

We all want everyday to be a successful day

We all want everything we do to be successful

I don’t think anyone of us woke up this morning and wished for an unsuccessful day.

I don’t think anyone of us drove here today hoping we got lost getting here

We all want our lives to be successful

Here’s the problem. How do you define success?

If someone asked you if you consider yourself a successful person how would you respond?

Announcement: We want all the people who consider themselves a success to stay after church, would you stay?