#disciplinesofgrace

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How To Approach the New Year: A Death Rehearsal & Sustaining Grace

“You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. . . . So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:5–6, 12)

1. Death Rehearsal 

The end of a year is like the end of my life. And 11:59 pm on December 31 is like the moment of my death.

These final hours are like the last days in the hospital after the doctor has told me that the end is very near. And in these last hours, the lifetime of this year passes before my eyes, and I face the inevitable question: Did I live it well? Will Jesus Christ, the righteous judge, say “Well done, good and faithful servant”?

2. Grace for the New Year

In the next five minutes, you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes’ worth of grace in the reservoir of the past. The proper response to the grace you experienced in the past is thankfulness, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith.

John Piper provides these two meditations in an app called Solid Joys. You can download the free app to your mobile device: Apple App Store or Google Play. 

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Plans for the New Year? Read the Bible. Hear the Bible.

Got 10 Minutes?

Go Mobile. 

Go Old Fashioned & Authentic.

Start Small.

Got 10 Minutes?

Justin Taylor of Crossway Publishers notes that one can read through the Bible in fewer than 10 minutes a day, and one can listen through the Bible in 12 minutes a day.

He provides a wealth of resources for adults and children for Bible reading, from

reading plans (even one called a “Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers & Slackers”), 

short video clips on books and sections of the Bible

reading guides to help us understand how to read better, and

audio versions and podcasts.

Take a few minutes to make friends with his post. These are from 2016 but they still apply to every year. 

Tim Challies shares about his favorite plan - 5 Day Bible Reading Plan

It is a familiarity plan that covers the entire text of the Bible over the course of the year.

It is a pseudo-chronological plan that covers the text of the Bible in the order the events happened.

It is a 5-day plan. At 5 days per week it is far more doable than at 7 days—there is always a chance to catch up. Also, it allows a day or two of reading something different.

It is a free plan.

He also lists a few other plans to consider, too. 

Go Mobile

1. YouVersion Bible App

A free Bible on your phone, tablet, and computer.

The Bible App enables one to engage the Bible in a variety of formats, languages, and translations.

It includes several free audio versions of the Bible. 

It’s loaded with free Bible reading plans and devotionals, from John Piper and Charles Spurgeon, to Rick Warren and Focus on the Family. 

The length of the plans and devotionals ranges from a few days to few years. 

All of the plans can send reminders and track progress, whether on a mobile device or desktop.

2. 10 Different Reading Plans Deliverable in a Variety of Formats

Read through the ESV with the help of the

web,

RSS,

podcast,

iCal,

mobile device,

and a printable PDF download.

Go Old Fashioned (or More “Authentic”)

Bible Reading Plans from Ligonier Ministries

Nathan W. Bingham lists a number of reading plans categorized by how long it will take one to read through a part or all of the Bible.

Each plan links to a downloadable PDF.

The duration of the plans ranges from

flexible, 

one year, 

two-three years, 

and ongoing.

Start Small.

Consider the 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan.

Read through the New Testament in just 5 days a week and 5 minutes a day. 

The plan leaves two days open (e.g., the weekend) for reflection, catch-up, or better still, memorization.

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Planning to Pursue God in 2016

As the New Year begins, plan to pursue God through his word and meditation.

Two Timely Meditations for the New Year

John Piper provides two mediations from a free app called Solid Joys. You can download the app to your mobile device.

Click one of the following links. Note the sidebar on the right to download the app.

Death Rehearsal

Grace for the New Year

Planning to Read, Listen, or Watch the Bible

Got 10 Minutes? 

Justin Taylor of Crossway Publishers notes that one can read through the Bible in fewer than 10 minutes a day, and one can listen through the Bible in 12 minutes a day. 

He provides a wealth of resources for adults and children for Bible reading, from

reading plans (even one called a “Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers & Slackers”), 

short video clips on books and sections of the Bible

reading guides to help us understand how to read better, and 

audio versions and podcasts. 

Take a few minutes to make friends with his post. 

Go Mobile

Make these resources on your tablet or mobile device the first thing you touch in morning and the last thing you touch at night. 

1. YouVersion Bible App 

A free Bible on your phone, tablet, and computer. YouVersion is a simple, ad-free Bible that brings God's Word into your daily life.

The Bible App enables one to engage the Bible in a variety of formats, languages, and translations. 

It includes several free audio versions of the Bible. 

It’s loaded with free Bible reading plans and devotionals, from John Piper and Charles Spurgeon, to Rick Warren and Focus on the Family. 

The length of the plans and devotionals ranges from a few days to few years. 

All of the plans can send reminders and track progress, whether on a mobile device or desktop.

2. 10 Different Reading Plans Deliverable in a Variety of Formats

Read through the ESV with the help of the

web,

RSS,

podcast,

iCal,

mobile device,

and a printable PDF download.

Go Old Fashioned (or More “Authentic”)

Bible Reading Plans for 2016 from Ligonier Ministries

Nathan W. Bingham lists a number of reading plans categorized by how long it will take one to read through a part or all of the Bible.

Each plan links to a downloadable PDF.

The duration of the plans ranges from 

flexible, 

one year, 

two-three years, 

and ongoing.

Start small. 

Consider the 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan.

Read through the New Testament in just 5 days a week and 5 minutes a day. 

The plan leaves two days open (e.g., the weekend) for reflection, catch-up, or better still, memorization.

Planning to Memorize & Meditate on the Bible

How can we fit in memorization?

1. Consider a reading plan like the 5x5x5 listed above.

 It leaves two days free to incorporate memorization.

2. Consider making friends with a short booklet for $0.99.

An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture.

3. Consider the advice of Andy Naselli on Why and How To Memorize

Andy recited 1 Corinthians1-15 to EBC in May 2015. 

He shares 14 Reasons Why To Memorize & 11 Steps to Memorizing.

What Tools Can We Use to Memorize?

1. Download the Scripture Typer App.

Quickly memorize Bible verses in 3 easy steps! 

This is the fastest way to memorize and organize your favorite Bible memory verses.

2. Download Fighter Verses App 

The Fighter Verses Bible memory system (ESV, NIV, KJV, NASB, LBLA) was created to help believers persevere in the fight of faith by arming them with God’s Word.

Designed for children through adults, this system allows individuals, groups, or entire churches to memorize and review at their own pace.

Download the iOS App

Download the Android App

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We've already mentioned this is a previous post on treasuring God through the word and prayer.

But we wanted to feature ScriptureTyper to be sure you don't miss exploring this tool in treasuring God's word.

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Resources & Reflections for the New Year

As the New Year begins we take time to reflect on important matters like treasuring God through his word and through prayer.

TWO TIMELY MEDITATIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

John Piper has two timely mediations for the New Year.

They come from an app called Solid Joys that you can download to your mobile device.

Just click one of the following links, and note the sidebar on the right to download the app.

Death Rehearsal

Grace for the New Year

TREASURING GOD THROUGH READING

YouVersion

Hard to think of better resource for treasuring the God's Word.

The Bible App enables one to engage the Bible in a variety of formats and languages.

It's loaded with free Bible reading plans and devotionals, many of which are listed below.

It also includes a number of different translations for free, several of which include audio.

The YouVersion Bible App is the first things you touch on your phone every morning and the last thing you touch at night. 

Plans range from topics, partial or whole Bible reading plans.

Devotionals range from John Piper, Focus on the Family, Rick Warren, or Charles Spurgeon   

The length of the plans and devotionals range from a few days to few years. 

All of the plans can send reminders and track progress, whether on a mobile device or desktop.  

Bible Reading Plans for 2015 from Ligonier Ministries 

Nathan W. Bingham of Ligonier Ministries lists a number of reading plans categorized by duration (how long it will take to read through part or all of the Bible). The duration of the plans ranges from flexible, one year, two-three years, and ongoing.

Each plan also links to a downloadable PDF.

Maybe you should start small. Consider the 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan. 

Read through the New Testament in just 5 days a week and 5 minutes a day. The plan leaves two days open (e.g., the weekend) for reflection, catch-up, or better still, memorization.

Reading the Bible from Gospel Coalition

Justin Taylor provides a wealth of resources from reading plans, to resources that will help you understand what you read better, to podcasts for daily reading in audio.

10 Different ESV Reading Plans Deliverable in a Variety of Formats

Read through the ESV with the help of the

web,

RSS,

podcast,

iCal,

mobile device,

and a printable PDF download.

TREASURING GOD THROUGH MEMORIZATION How can we fit in memorization? 

Consider a reading plan like the 5x5x5 listed above, which leaves two days free to incorporate memorization.

Consider making friends with a short booklet for $0.99 - An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture

Consider the Scripture Typer App 

Quickly memorize Bible verses in 3 easy steps! This is the fastest way to memorize and organize your favorite Bible memory verses.

Consider the Fighter Verses App 

The Fighter Verses Bible memory system was created to help believers persevere in the fight of faith by arming them with God's Word. Designed for children through adults, this system allows individuals, groups, or entire churches to memorize and review at their own pace.

iOS App Android App