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Bible Reading Plan
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Going deeper...to go further

The more rooted we are in God and in His Word, the more fruitful we become in His purposes

This month we’re focusing our daily readings on scriptures about Peace alongside reading a Psalm each day and a chapter from the New Testament.

Let’s spend some time everyday reading, applying and praying these scriptures over our lives so that we can go deeper and further in His purposes for us. Below you’ll see what we’re reading today.

What is S.O.A.P.?

In order to go further in the mission God has given us, He said we need to go deeper in our relationship with Him. As with any tree or plant, the fruit is determined by the health and depth of the root. One way we have been going deeper is by reading and journaling through the Word every day. We’ve called it S.O.A.P.

[S]cripture - Read the Word
[O]bservation - Write down what God is saying/showing you
[A]pplication - How do we apply this in our lives?
[P]rayer - Pray through and over your life

As we read the Word (Scripture), listen to the Holy Spirit (Observation), discover how to apply that to our lives (Application) and pray these things over our lives and those in the Church (Prayer) we’re going deeper in our relationship with God so that we can go further in the mission He’s given us.

Throughout the rest of the year we’ll be continuing our Bible Reading Plan to press deeper into God so that we can go further in His purposes. Get yourself a Bible, a journal and a pen and SOAP your way through the scriptures!

Today we are reading: Ephesians 2:15-17

15-16Through what He accomplished when He became man, He abolished the whole idea of serving God through a legalistic approach of obeying a series of religious rules and regulations. His intention was to create a new people out of the two opposing groups that existed before. The only way was to make it possible for anyone, no matter what his race, to be at peace with God, and to draw them together into one body, to reconcile them to one another. He accomplished all this through the cross which dealt a death blow to their former hostility.17Jesus came and preached peace with God to those outside His covenant with Israel, as well as those who were part of that relationship.

Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)

Today we are reading: John 21

Miraculous catch of fish1Jesus later appeared again to His disciples, this time by the Sea of Tiberius. This is what happened.2-3Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael who was from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee, together agreed to go fishing when Peter took the lead by saying: "I am going fishing." So they boarded the boat together, fished all night, but caught nothing.4Early in the morning they saw Jesus standing on the shore, but did not recognise that it was Him.5He called to them: "Friends, haven't you caught anything?" "Nothing," they answered.6"Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find fish there," He said. They did so and were unable to haul the net on board because of the large number of fish that had been caught.7Then John, the beloved disciple, said to Peter: "It's the Lord!" When Peter heard this, he took his outer garment, put it on and jumped into the water.8The rest of the disciples followed in the boat dragging the net laden with fish, for they were only about a hundred metres from the shore.9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals with fish being grilled over it, together with a supply of bread.10Jesus said to them: "Bring some of those fish you have just caught."11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net to dry land. It was full of 153 large fish and yet, despite their weight, the net was not torn.12"Come and have some breakfast," Jesus invited them. None of them dared to ask, "Who are You?" for they knew it was the Lord.13Jesus gave each of them some bread together with the freshly-cooked fish.14This was the third occasion on which Jesus appeared to His disciples in His risen body after His resurrection from the dead.Jesus commissions Peter15When they had all eaten, Jesus addressed Simon Peter: "Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me with God's love? Do you love Me more than all these fish you have just caught?" "Lord, You know that I love You with my human love," he answered." Then feed My lambs," Jesus told him.16Then Jesus asked him again: "Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me with God's love?" Peter answered: "Lord, You know that I love You with my human love." "Look after My sheep," Jesus said to him.17Then Jesus asked a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love Me with your human love?" It hurt Peter that Jesus would question his love three times; so he replied: "Lord, You know everything; You must know that I do really love You with my human love." Jesus said to him: "Then feed My sheep.18When you were younger you dressed yourself and went wherever you chose to go; but I tell you truly, when you are old you will stretch out your hands, someone else will dress you and then take you where you would never choose to go."19By saying this, Jesus was indicating the kind of death Peter would have to endure for God's glory. Then Jesus said to Peter: "Follow Me!"Validity of John's testimony20As Peter followed he noticed John also following. (John, the disciple who Jesus loved in a special way, was the one who leaned his head on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper to ask Him who was about to betray Him).21So Peter said to Jesus: "What about John? He is coming too."22Jesus answered: "If I want him to remain alive with Me until I come again, of what concern is that to you? You obey Me by following Me yourself."23Because of what Jesus said about John, a rumour spread among the believers that he would not die. But Jesus never said that he would not die. He said: "If I want him to remain alive with Me until I return, of what concern is that to you?"24I am that disciple, John, and I testify to the truth of all I have written here, as someone who was an eyewitness and who therefore can account for the accuracy of this testimony.25Jesus did so many other wonderful things that are not recorded here. If they were all to be written down, would the world be able to contain so many books?

Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)

Today we are reading: Psalm 141

A psalm of David.1I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.2May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. 3Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.4Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deedsalong with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies. 5Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. 6Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.7They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.” 8But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.9Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online)