Of all the plans and goals that you can have for the new year, there is one that will make the biggest difference in your life, and it is often neglected.
Studies of spiritual growth have proven that the biggest single predictor of spiritual growth is daily engagement with the Word of God! In fact, the lives of Christians who do not engage the Bible most days of the week are statistically the same as the lives of non-believers. Yet studies have found that people who engage personally and consistently with Scripture have distinctive character traits.[1]
- They give 10 times more to charity than others.
- They pray to God 2.25 times more in a typical 7-day period.
- They attend church 2.9 times more in the typical month.
- They are 228% more likely to share faith with others.
- They are 407% more likely to memorize Scripture.
- Additionally, they are more likely to volunteer, forgive others, avoid pornography, and have a sense of divine calling than others.
We need Scripture. It is God’s Word for us. It is how God teaches, rebukes, corrects, and trains us in how we are to live.
Here is a recommended resolution for how you can regularly engage Scripture this year: commit to engage the Word of God daily in the new year and pick a plan that will help you to follow through on that commitment.
A Recommended Plan:
The website youversion.com and the Bible App by YouVersion has lots of really helpful plans. Here’s the plan we’re doing in the new year:
1. Reading Plan
Our home churches (Bobby and Tina) are reading chronologically through the Bible in the coming year using The Blue Letter Bible “Chronological” plan (see https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/5-chronological/day/1).
2. Study Guide
Our home churches (Harpeth Christian in TN and Ekklesia in SC), along with several others (Devoted City in NC, Compass Christian in VA, Wentzville Christian in MO, and more), are using the RENEW.org resource Step Into Scripture to help walk our churches through Bible reading plans. This accompaniment guide can be used in personal, small group, and large group Bible studies, as well as in sermon series. The book divides a yearlong chronological reading plan into four seasons of Bible study. Each day’s devotional expounds on the context of passages, the character of God, the centrality of Christ, and the intriguing connections across books and testaments. The book is available here: https://a.co/d/4tH0Hb2
3. Audio Resource
An additional resource to aid in understanding and applying our reading is the Step Into Scripture Podcast, released weekly on the RENEW.org YouTube channel and all podcast listening platforms. This podcast follows the weekly reading in the Blue Letter Bible Chronological plan, adding another layer of insight to what is presented in the Step Into Scripture book, and answering many questions that arise from our reading. The teaching in the podcast is based on real questions asked by people in my (Tina’s) home church during our 2023 chronological Bible read-through.
Making a resolution to seek God in the new year as your top priority is the best plan you can make. It will help you focus on the ultimate direction of your life. We were made to be in relationship with God, and so God invites us to seek that relationship as the top priority while we are living in this world. But this world will come to an end.
At the end of human history, everything will be restored to God. No more seeking and feeling after God. No more hiddenness. God himself will be present, close with us, and he will give us joy unimaginable.
At that time, we will experience the ultimate fulfillment of seeking a relationship with God.
“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away…he who overcomes will inherit all of this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:3-4, 7, NIV)
We cannot think of a more inspiring vision that gives meaning to all the resolutions we will make for this coming year. We invite you to step into Scripture with us in 2024!
[1] American Bible Society, “What Difference Does Bible Engagement Make? 8 Characteristics of Bible-Engaged People.”
