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Spiritual Development

A Bible Reading Plan for 2018

The Bible is the foundation for life and godliness. Never before has it been so accessible to so many people. Yet there are many who have never devoted themselves to reading the Bible in its entirety. At Oakhill, we believe the  Bible is God-breathed revelation that equips us with everything we need to know in order to make disciples.

In 2018, we want to Know, Love, and Live the Bible. As disciples of Christ, we are  instructed to grow in our knowledge of the Bible, to love the message and the Author of the  Bible, and to live out our faith informed by the Bible. In order to help you participate in knowing, loving, and living the Bible, we are providing you with this Bible reading guide for this next year. Whether you have read the Bible through multiple times or never read the Bible before, this year we encourage you to know, love, and live the Bible in 2018. You can pick up one of these reading plans from the welcome and information center in the church lobby.

One of our deepest desires is for every Christian to grow in their faith by the study and application of God’s Word in their life. This year over the course of five Saturday mornings we will be learning an overview of all 66 books of the Bible. This will be a great opportunity for you to grow in your understanding of the structures, themes, and truths of God’s Word. Our goal in offering this is that you would be further equipped to grow in your knowledge, love, and practical     application of Scripture. Along with committing to the Bible reading plan that we are distributing, this year could be a time of immense spiritual growth as you seek to read the Bible personally and overview it’s contents collectively with your church family.  My prayer is that you would participate in these opportunities as much as you are able to.

Growth Initiative 2018 Dates:
March 24th (Genesis - 2 Samuel)
May 5th (1 Kings - Song of Solomon)
August 4th (Isaiah - Malachi)
September 22nd (Matthew - Ephesians)
November 3rd (Philippians - Revelation)

Recommended Resource— Take Words With You by Tim Kerr
Take Words With You is a compilation of Scripture promises and Scripture-prayers to provide tangible traction to prayer.  With over 2,500+ Scripture promises and prayers that are          organized by a simple method for prayer, this resource promises to be strategic for anyone seeking to grow in their prayer life and see more of their prayers answered.  This resource pairs well with the mobile phone app PrayerMate.

Spiritual Development December 2017

I have a confession to make. I have been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks now.  There, I said it.  Judge me if you want, but I just couldn’t help myself this year.  I’m usually much more resolute about waiting until after Thanksgiving, but this year I caved.  It feels good to get that off my chest.  But seriously, some of my favorite Christmas songs are not the ones that you typically hear on the radio. One in particular that has stood out to me this year is “It came Upon a Midnight Clear.” Here’s a verse from that hymn:

“O ye beneath life's crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow;

Look now, for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing;

Oh rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing.”

It’s no surprise to anyone that the holiday season can enhance stress and busyness in our lives rather than gratitude and peace.  A season which is meant to remind us of the birth of Christ our King can instead leave us feeling out of breath and restless from all the hustle and bustle associated with American Christmas.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love the Christmas season.  But there is a huge temptation, even for Christians, to run right past the “reason for the season” by being distracted with many other good things.

This season stands as a reminder that we can live in “glad and golden hours” because of Christ’s coming. Our faith in Christ provides us the ability to rest alongside the weary road of life and hear the angels sing their song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)  So while you may be feeling the pressures of the holiday season, don’t neglect to rest in the hope of the song of the angels.  Rest in the peace of Christ this Christmas.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Recommended Resource — Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp
Every time the Christmas season comes around, we look forward to putting up a tree, giving and   receiving gifts, and participating in other traditions that make this wonderful time of year so special. But sometimes the most significant aspect of the season — remembering and focusing on the coming of Jesus — grows old and familiar. This 31 day devotional seeks to   recapture our attention and reawaken our awe during Christmastime.