Hello everyone!
As a help and encouragement for daily reading of the Bible, we're going to start a group that is reading together through the scripture. In the past we've used different formats at different times but generally having multiple people reading together in the same passage helps to keep us on track.
In addition to reading together, we've had accountability in the groups in different ways. Generally we've had people discussing with each other the things that they have read that day, especially focusing on the things that really stood out to them or spoke to them. This helps in several ways: 1) It causes us to read a bit deeper so that we can answer the question "What spoke to me?" 2) The sharing back and forth of things that spoke to us encourages us all and usually helps us to see new things 3) It helps us to keep being faithful in our reading.
This is a completely optional group, but I would encourage you to be reading the Bible each day and better yet to be talking with someone about what you read.
We are going to start by reading through the book of Acts, one chapter at a time, reading each day starting tomorrow. After reading, we'll then discuss with each other via email and blog (http://discipleshipinternational.blogspot.com/). You can publish to the blog by either going to the above url or emailing to nathanaellhe....@blogger.com (This address is copied on this email). I haven't tried the posting by multiple people via email so we'll have to find out the best way to do this, but we'll try it and make changes as necessary. Probably it will be best to keep all of the posts on one day for one chapter under a single post with comments, but we'll see how it goes.
If you desire to read more than one chapter in a given day, I'd recommend that you read those other chapters in a different book and this reading and group will be a supplement to your other reading (though I've found that it is better to read less in one day and get more out of it than read more as some sort of duty).
I also encourage you to start various smaller reading groups where you can communicate either in person or on the phone. This group is not the be-all-end-all of groups, but more of a pattern and an encouragement to be reading and discussing together.
You may participate in this group at any level you want - passively reading or actively contributing. If you aren't reading in a group and discussing with others, I'd encourage you to be actively involved. Jump in, make a commitment to read every day and to let us know what things spoke to you. It will help you and encourage us.
If you don't want to be on this email thread, just let me know and I'll remove you. If you go to the blogspot address you can also sign up to get notifications of comments etc.
Happy reading, discussing and growing in Christ!!!
In Christ,
Pastor Nathanael
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