Our church has been doing something pretty cool since the beginning of the year. The 9 challenge is challenge to read the New Testament in 63 days, or 9 weeks. There are three different levels of involvements, as detailed on the 9 challenge website... Of course, I am shooting for the Gold Medal:
- Read through the New Testament
- Join a Nine Week Small Group
- Do the daily devotionals
Joining a small group, was a leap of faith for myself, and a few people in my 20's something small group. I knew I was supposed to be in a small group, I just didn't know how it was going to happen. Well, God apparently knew... Why am I not surprised?
I am especially exited about this challenge for several reasons:
- God is showing me some pretty amazing things through the readings. I am picking up on new concepts, and getting different perspectives on concepts I thought I understood.
- I really enjoy being a part of a small group. Great small group leaders, great people, great connections... and great Tim Hortons concoctions!
- I might actually read the entire Bible this year. I have read the New Testament before, but I have never finished reading the Old Testament. I decided to pause my reading of the Old Testament to start the challenge (except the readings I need for the Pentateuch class of course, Eric!). By the time the 9 challenge is done, I should (hopefully) get back to it and "Voila!"
- I believe God sent me a word through this challenge... It's a word I really needed to hear to keep on keeping on: "fulfill". I have been manually counting the number of times the words "fulfill/fulfillment" appear in my readings. Pretty amazing how the Old and the New are related. The new creation is rising from the old, in fulfillment of God's word.
- I really like the fact that we are doing the challenge as a church family! I don't think that everyone is doing the challenge, but I like knowing that those of us who are, are taking part in something bigger than themselves... That's pretty neat!
EED
- Read through the New Testament
- Join a Nine Week Small Group
- Do the daily devotionals
Joining a small group, was a leap of faith for myself, and a few people in my 20's something small group. I knew I was supposed to be in a small group, I just didn't know how it was going to happen. Well, God apparently knew... Why am I not surprised?
I am especially exited about this challenge for several reasons:
- God is showing me some pretty amazing things through the readings. I am picking up on new concepts, and getting different perspectives on concepts I thought I understood.
- I really enjoy being a part of a small group. Great small group leaders, great people, great connections... and great Tim Hortons concoctions!
- I might actually read the entire Bible this year. I have read the New Testament before, but I have never finished reading the Old Testament. I decided to pause my reading of the Old Testament to start the challenge (except the readings I need for the Pentateuch class of course, Eric!). By the time the 9 challenge is done, I should (hopefully) get back to it and "Voila!"
- I believe God sent me a word through this challenge... It's a word I really needed to hear to keep on keeping on: "fulfill". I have been manually counting the number of times the words "fulfill/fulfillment" appear in my readings. Pretty amazing how the Old and the New are related. The new creation is rising from the old, in fulfillment of God's word.
- I really like the fact that we are doing the challenge as a church family! I don't think that everyone is doing the challenge, but I like knowing that those of us who are, are taking part in something bigger than themselves... That's pretty neat!
EED
1 comment:
I think you will get a lot more from all the readings by reading the NT and the Pentateuch at the same time...there are a lot of overlapping themes.
It would be a shame to take a Bible class and never read the books being studied. :)
Have a great day.
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