Bible Reading Plan

Often times I’m asked to recommend specific plans for reading through the Bible.

Generally it’s easier to read through when you have goals to measure yourself by. A Bible reading plan is just that – daily or weekly goals that are easily accomplished. You’re told ‘read this today’ and then you can do it and check it off!

But there is a slight problems there. Often times we read the Bible like it’s a textbook. It’s as if we’re doing homework or studying for a test. I sometimes find myself doing this and I have to remind myself that I’m reading the very words of God.

If you’re looking for a place to start, I’ve got a couple if ideas for you!

First, try reading the Bible like a novel. Cover to cover. Try this also: when you come to a list of names, skip them. Just read through. Don’t stress about it. Just read as you have time and as far as you want to. Try and read a little ever single day, even if it’s one or two chapters. Did you know that most books of the Bible are short enough that they could be read in about 30-45min?

Another great resource for a structured plan is YouVersion. This online Bible resource is pretty awesome, and has multiple plans to choose from. There are mobile apps of this as well, so you can keep up-to-date even on your phones. Another cool feature of YouVersion is that you can share verses or post via Facebook or Twitter. There’s also a community of people giving commentary, discussing passages, and other things. You may find it to be one of your favorite sites to visit each day.

The bottom line is this: our faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17). To grow in faith, we have to be engaging God’s Word, and we should be doing this daily. Check out these resources, or jump right in. Each Wednesday I’ll be posting, inviting you to share what you’re reading or have read in the past week. Get going now so you’ll have something to talk about!

Books! Books! Books!

Want a chance to add to (or start) a home library? Now is your chance!

We’re doing some spring cleaning here at the church, and there are hundreds of books that we want to make available to you. These use to make up the church library, but lets be honest – they’re just not being used. It’s time to release these books into the wild.

We’re not just talking about books, either. We’re talking about DVD’s, VHS, and CD’s as well. There are a great number of children’s resources, so if you have kids you may want to check them out.

We have everything out and on display in the lobby. It should be pretty easy to look through everything and grab what you want. Here’s the reality. We’re going to leave them out through Sunday. That means today through Sunday afternoon. Whatever is left over will be boxed up and donated to the thrift store.

Feel free to stop by the office this week to get a first pass at them. If you have any questions, give us a call!

Starting Points

Sometimes attending a church can be frustrating and confusing, especially when you’re not sure why they do what they do, or what their history is.

If I had to pick the one question I’m most often asked, it would be this: What is the Church of Christ?

In a culture full of flavors of faith, this is an expected question. Just in our part of the country there are multiple flavors of Lutheran churches, and even churches that combine Lutheranism with other denominations to make new ones. I’ve even been asked ‘So what kind of Lutheran church are you?’ It’s almost comical because our brains have been trained to look for a sect of Christianity to identify with and pledge allegiance to. The reality is that Jesus (and the apostles) preached against division and denominations.

So where does the Church of Christ come in? Good question. You can read all about the Restoration Movement on wikipedia, or you can come to a really fun and interactive class on May 1st immediately following our church service.

In fact, we will be offering this class every first Sunday of the month, coinciding with our monthly church lunch. To learn more about the Starting Points class, click here. Then make plans to join us May 1st!

Any questions, or if you’re just too impatient to wait for the class and must know this information now, contact the church office. Oh, and one more thing: this class is primarily for people who have been visiting, or been here a while unsure about what we believe or where we come from. You long-term people probably are in the know!….but if you’re not, attend!

Saying ‘Goodbye’ to Pastor Billy

This Sunday will be Billy’s final with us. It’s a bitter-sweet situation, as we’re sad to see him go but glad he’s going to serve God. The local paper did an excellent article/interview about Billy’s time here. I’d encourage you to check it out by clicking here.

In honor of the time his family spent here, there will be a Fellowship Lunch this Sunday immediately after the service this Sunday. The Wallaces will be heading down to Louisiana immediately following the Fellowship Lunch. As you can probably imagine, moving is pretty crazy and very hard. If you’d like to help load their moving truck, they are planning on starting Saturday morning. For more info, call Billy or the church.

If you have any questions about what’s happening next with Dassel Church of Christ, give Dave or the elders a call. We’re more than happy to discuss things with you. We are a family, and working together for the Lord here in Dassel. Hope to see each of you this Sunday.

Know Hope

Throughout the month of March, we will be going through a series on hope.

Dave is kicking it off this coming Sunday with a message about the source of hope. In the following three weeks, Billy will share some pretty neat perspectives on the hope we have. Perhaps you know some people who are needing to hear these messages. It is a great topic for people to really sink their teeth into.

We’re also in for a special treat this month, as the worship team from Crossroads College will be visiting with us and leading worship on March 13th.

As you know, Billy will be leaving at the end of March to continue his ministry in Louisiana. Following the service on the last Sunday of the month, we will be having a special pot-luck dinner to say goodbye. Please plan on attending if you can!