January 31

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Genesis 33 - 35

New Testament:  Matthew 20 :17 -34

Some encouragement for those who have not been successful in keeping up with the Read through the Bible.  

1. Don't stop reading the Bible because you haven't been able to keep up with the plan.  Make it a priority to spend time in the word.
2. If you haven't been able to stay on track, the first day of each month, TOMORROW, will have a brief summary of the Old Testament reading for the previous month's reading.  So check back tomorrow for a summary of January's Old Testament reading.  With the New Testament reading take some time to read or listen to the passages you missed.
3. Always remember, it is a great idea to read through the Bible BUT the goal is to draw closer to God as you are doing it.  It is not merely reading for the sake of finishing a task. 

Pray for Emmanuel Baptist Church's Soul Care leaders...
Ask God to give them a caring heart, a teaching ability and a prayerful spirit.
Pray will willingly reproduce themselves and multiply their groups.

January 30

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Genesis 31 - 32

New Testament:  Matthew 20:1 - 16

January 29: The Ultimate Prize

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Genesis 29 -30

New Testament:  Matthew 19

APPLY (after examining the Word)

After examining the Word, apply it to your life.  

Ask the following questions based upon the text(s) and write down your thoughts in response.  

Again, you don’t have to answer every question.

• What sin(s) do I need to repent of and/or avoid?
• What truth(s) do I need to believe?
• What command(s) do I need to obey (What do I need to give up, stop doing, start doing or continue doing)?
• What relationship(s) do I need to establish, strengthen or change?
• By the power of God’s spirit, what can I do today to apply God’s Word to my life?

Taken from www.radical.net/media/series/series_list/?id=335

Gospel Primer:  THE ULTIMATE PRIZE

"The essence of eternal life is not found in having my sins forgiven, in possessing a mansion in heaven, or in having streets of gold on which to walk forever.  Rather, the essence of eternal life is INTIMATELY KNOW GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WHO HE HAS SENT."

See John 17:3  "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ who You have sent."

The best thing about heaven is that God is going to be there!  We are going to see Jesus Christ!
This is one of the biggest problems with songs and books and people's ideas about heaven.
You may have heard or you may have said something like this, "The first thing I am going to do when I get to heaven is ask God...."
or 
You may be thinking I cannot wait to get to heaven to see this person or that person.
When you get to heaven your curiosity questions or desire to see a loved one are going to be overwhelmed by the glory of God, the creator and sustainer of the universe.

January 28: What to do after you read the Bible

HERE ARE TODAY'S BIBLE READINGS
Old Testament:  Genesis 27 - 28

New Testament:  Matthew 18:21 -35

EXAMINE

After you read the Bible, spend time reflecting on what it says and means.

Ask the following questions and write down some of your thoughts in response.

You don’t necessarily have to answer every question.

Just use them as a  guide to help you examine what you have read.

What is happening in this passage?

What words, phrases, or ideas seem particularly important?

What does this text teach you about the gospel?

• (Character of God) What does this text teach you about God?
• (Sinfulness of Man) What does this text teach you about man?
• (Sufficiency of Christ)  What does this text teach you about who Christ is and why we need Him?
• (Necessity of Faith)  What does this text teach you about trusting and following Christ?
• (Urgency of Eternity) What does this text teach you about the hope of heaven or the horror of hell?

Check back here tomorrow for some application questions.

Taken from www.radical.net/media/series/series_list/?id=335

January 27: God's word is important and God knows our hearts and motives.

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Genesis 25 -26

New Testament:  Matthew 18:1 - 20

Memory Verses:

Foundation:  

Psalm 119:105 

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and an light to my path."

Proverbs 30:5

"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him"

BIG IDEA IN THESE VERSES:  God's Word is important.

It show you what you need to do but EVEN MORE THAN THAT it shows you who God is!!

EKIDZ:

2 years old - Kindergarten:  

1 Samuel 15:22b

"To obey is better than sacrifice"

1st through 5th grade:  

1 Samuel 16:7b

"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

BIG IDEA IN THESE VERSES:  God knows our hearts and our motives.

January 26

Monthly Prayer:  Shepherd's Ministry & Evangelism/Missions among our neighbors and nations

Weekly Prayer:  The Mayos in Australia

Gospel Primer:  Hope of Heaven

Additional resources:  Plan to check out the church blog (www.emmanuelbaptist.com) throughout this week for different sermon related resources.

Pray for Pastor Dave

Bible Reading Plan:

26  Genesis 23-24; Matthew 17

27  Genesis 25-26; Matthew 18: 1-20

28  Genesis 27-28; Matthew 18:2 1-35

29  Genesis 29-30; Matthew 19

30  Genesis 3 1-32; Matthew 20:1-16

31  Genesis 33-35; Matthew 20:17-34

February

1  Genesis 36-38; Matthew 21: 1-22

Memory Verses:
Foundation:  Psalm 119:105 
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and an light to my path."
Proverbs 30:5
"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him"

EKIDZ:
2 years old - Kindergarten:  1 Samuel 15:22b
"To obey is better than sacrifice"
1st through 5th grade:  1 Samuel 16:7b
"For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

January 25

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Job 41 - 42

New Testament:  Matthew 16

January 24

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Job 38 - 40
New Testament:  Matthew 15:21 - 39

Prayer for the church staff and leaders:
Pray that all will be holy, passionate and evangelistic.

January 23: Audience of Spectators OR Fellowship of Disciples

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Job 36 - 37
New Testament:  Matthew 15:1 - 20

4:20 minute video about serving together as a church. 
Audience of spectators OR fellowship of disciples.  (David Platt and Francis Chan)

January 22: Gospel Primer

Gospel Primer:  Saved for Good Works

"Preaching the gospel to myself each day not only reminds me of the love of God for me, but it also reminds me of the love of God for the works that He has saved me to perform.  When I see the Cross, I see the premium that God places on the works that He has prepared for me."

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 34-35; Matthew 14:22-36

Bible Memory: 
Foundation:  
Isaiah 30:15b
In quietness and in trust shall be your strength
Isaiah 43:5a
Fear not, for I am with you.

EKIDZ:
2 years old through K:  
1 Samuel 15:22b
To obey is better than sacrifice

1st through 5th grade:  
1 Samuel 15:22
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

January 21

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Job 32-33
New Testament:  Matthew 14: 1-21

This Week's Missionaries are the Luces in Australia.

January 20

Here are today's Bible Readings

Old Testament:  Job 30 - 31
New Testament:  Matthew 13:31 - 58

Pray for Pastor Kerry this week.  

Pray for wisdom as he works with church and school finances.
Pray that he would be a husband and father who points his family to Godliness.

"In a sermon early in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. quoted Jesus' words from Mark 10 about servanthood.  Then he said "Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.  You don't have to have a college degree to serve.  You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.  You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve... You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."  
From today's Daily Bread devotional.  

January 19

Monthly Prayer:  Shepherd’s Ministry

Weekly Prayer:  The Luces in Australia

Gospel Primer:  Exposed by the Cross 1

Pray for Pastor Kerry

Bible Reading Plan:

19  Job 28-29; Matthew 13:1-30

20  Job 30-31; Matthew 13:31-58

21  Job 32-33; Matthew 14: 1-21

22  Job 34-35; Matthew 14:22-36

23  Job 36-37; Matthew 15: 1-20

24  Job 38-40; Matthew 15:2 1-39

25  Job 41 -42; Matthew 16

Bible Memory: 
Foundation:  Isaiah 30:15 & Isaiah 43:5

EKIDZ:
2 years old through K:  1 Samuel 15:22b
1st through 5th:  1 Samuel 15:22

January 18

Today's Read Through the Bible passages are
in the Old Testament Job 25-27; 
in the New Testament Matthew 12:24-50

Devotional: 
From Today's Solid Joys devotional
“A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

Memory Verses (click HERE to read about these two memory programs):
This week's Fighter Verse:  Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

This week's EKIDZ verses:  Psalm 24:10
"Who is this King of glory?  The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!"

January 17

Today's Read Through the Bible passages are
in the Old Testament Job 22-24; 
in the New Testament Matthew 12: 1-23

Prayer Request: High School Youth Retreat begins today and finishes on Monday.  Pray for Pastor Dan as last minute details are taken care of and he finishes his teaching time.  Pray for the other leaders on the trip.  Pray for the teens going!

Gospel Primer:  Liberation from Self-Love
The gospel assures me that the love of God is infinitely superior to any love that I could ever give to myself. “Greater love has no one than this,” says Jesus while speaking of His love. John 15:13

The gospel reveals to me the breathtaking glory and loveliness of God, and in so doing, it lures my heart away from love of self and leaves me enthralled by Him instead.  Corinthians 4:4 & 1 Timothy 1:11.

Check on the right side of this blog for more information about how to order the Gospel Primer and how to use it for your spiritual growth.

January 16

Be praying for this month's ministry:

Shepherd's ministry.
There are two different parts of this ministry:
First, The Shepherd's Class meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am.  In this class adults with intellectual disabilities learn amazing, Biblical truth, singing  and fellowship together with great, loving teachers.
Second, Shepherds Ministries is a "nationally recognized organization in Wisconsin that provides compassionate Christian care, vocational education and job opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities."   You can read more about this ministry at www.shepherdsministries.org

Today's Reading through Bible passages are 
from the Old Testament Job 20-21 
from the New Testament Matthew 1 1

Now you may be wondering "If this a read through the Bible plan, why did we jump from early in Genesis to Job.  That is not the order of the Bible?"
This plan uses a chronological order.  So the narrative of Job is read where it would fall in the storyline of the Bible.

Devotional:

January 15

Here is a quote from Today's Gospel Primer entitled "Cultivating Humility":
"Preaching the gospel to myself each day mounts a powerful assault against my pride and serves to establish humility in its place. Nothing suffocates my pride more than daily reminders regarding the glory of my God, the gravity of my sins, and the crucifixion of God’s own Son in my place."
This book can be purchased at 
http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Primer-Christians-Milton-Vincent-ebook/dp/B00AY73O8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389782699&sr=8-1&keywords=gospel+primer  
or at the church.  There are limited supplies at the church.

Here are today's Bible Readings
Old Testament:  Job 17-19; 
New Testament: Matthew 10:21-42

Rather than asking "What does this passage mean to me?"
think about these two questions...
"What does this passage say about God?"
"How should I live because of who God is?"

January 14

Weekly Prayer:  Logans in Brazil.  Click HERE for their most recent prayer letter 

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 14-16; Matthew 10: 1-20

January 13 & Bible Memory Plan

Pray for Pastor Dan

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 11-13; Matthew 9: 18-38

Each Sunday there are two different sets of Bible memory verses:

The first set of verses (Foundation verses) are from a website/app called Fighter Verses (http://fighterverses.com/the-verses/foundation-verses/).  These verses "lay a firm scriptural foundation of basic Biblical truth that will be the way for faith repsonse and establish the habit of hiding God's Word in the heart."  While this memory plan is geared towards younger children, it can be helpful in establishing a scripture memory plan for an adult who hasn't memorized scripture before or in quite some time.
The fighter verse website has other, more advanced plans also.  There are great memory helps with the website and app.
This week's Foundation verse is Proverbs 3:5

The second set of verses (EKIDZ verses) are from the Sunday morning children's curriculum.  Each week there is are two verses.  
These verses are designed specifically for families with children 5th grade and under but can be used by anyone.
The 2 years old through kindergarten verses is usually the same verse two weeks in a row.
The 1st through 5th grade verse is different each week and will usually follow the 2 years old through kindergarten verse one of the two weeks.  
These verses are done this way so that families can be working on the memory together.  
This week's EKIDZ verses are
2 years old through K:  Psalm 24:10
1st through 5th:  Psalm 24:10

January 12

Monthly Prayer:  Shepherd’s Ministry

Weekly Prayer:  Logans in Brazil

Gospel Primer:  My Inheritance in the Saints

Devotional:

Pray for Pastor Dan

Bible Reading Plan:

12  Job 8 – 10; Matthew 9: 1-1 7

13  Job 11-13; Matthew 9: 18-38

14  Job 14-16; Matthew 10: 1-20

15  Job 17-19; Matthew 10:21-42

16  Job 20-21; Matthew 1 1

17  Job 22-24; Matthew 12: 1-23

18  Job 25-27; Matthew 12:24-50

Bible Memory:  
Foundation:  Proverbs 3:5
EKIDZ:
2 years old through K:  Psalm 24:10
1st through 5th:  Psalm 24:10

January 11

Pray for tomorrow's worship service.

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 5-7; Matthew 8: 18-34

January 10

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 3-4; Matthew 8: 1-17

January 9

Bible Reading Plan:  Job 1-2; Matthew 7

Devotional:

January 8

Gospel Primer:  Transformed by Glory

Bible Reading:  Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6: 19-34

Devotional: 

January 7

Pray for the Kimmels in Romania

Bible Reading Plan:  Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18

Devotional:

January 6

Pray for Pastor Andy

Bible Reading Plan:  6  Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48

Devotional:

January 5

Monthly Prayer:  Shepherd’s Ministry

Weekly Prayer:  The Kimmels in Romania

Gospel Primer:  Transformed by Glory

Devotional:

Pray for Pastor Andy

Bible Reading Plan:

5  Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5: 1-26

6  Genesis 16-17; Matthew 5:27-48

7  Genesis 18-19; Matthew 6:1-18

8  Genesis 20-22; Matthew 6: 19-34

9  Job 1-2; Matthew 7

10  Job 3-4; Matthew 8: 1-17

11  Job 5-7; Matthew 8: 18-34

Bible Memory:  Genesis 1:1 and Matthew 6:24

January 4

Bible Reading Plan:  Genesis 10- 12; Matthew 4

Monthly Prayer:  Shepherd’s Ministry

Pray for tomorrow's worship service and classes.
Pray that it would be about life transformation and not merely passing on information.

For a great article on teaching the Bible OR teaching people the Bible, click HERE or go to blog.emmanuelbaptist.com article entitled "During Sunday morning, we don't want to teach the Bible, we want to..."

January 3

Gospel Primer:  The New Testament Model
"The New Testament teaches that Christians ought to hear the gospel as much as non-Christians do. "
"Re-preaching the gospel and then showing how it applied to life was Paul's choice method for ministering to believers."

Bible Reading Plan: 
Genesis 7-9
Matthew 3

January 2

Weekly Prayer:  The Tottens with Baseball Chapel

Bible Reading Plan:  

Genesis 4-6

Matthew 2

January 1

Reading

Genesis 1-3; Matthew 1

January 1

A couple of tips for using this resource.
On the right you can sign up to receive these posts daily through email or and RSS feed.
Also, the devotional resources will not be listed everyday but they will always be on the right side of the webpage.

Pray for Pastor Duke

Bible Reading:
1  Genesis 1-3
Matthew 1

Check out the Devotional links on the side of this page.
Daily Bread:  31 Days of Thanks
My Utmost for His Highest:  Let Us Keep to the Point
Solid Joys:  Grace for the New Year.