Advent 2022

This Advent season, please utilize the reading plan below to keep you in God’s Word daily.

Advent Bible Reading Plan 2022

As we say goodbye to 2020, it’s a good time to consider beginning or refreshing your Bible reading plan. If you prefer a Bible reading plan covering a broader scope, Ligonier Ministries has some great plans to consider. If you prefer a deeper dive into a smaller portion of Scripture, then I recommend picking up any of Reading the Bible with John Stott guides. A good place to start is Stott’s Sermon on the Mount study to coincide with our sermon series this winter.

Advent 2020

This Advent season as we prepare for Christmas, please utilize the reading plan below to keep you in God’s Word daily.

Advent Bible Reading Plan 2020

 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

As we strive to flourish as followers of Jesus Christ at ELMO, I want to encourage each one of us to stay planted in God’s Word daily. Here are some daily reading plans I’ve found helpful along with three questions I use when reading Scripture. I pray these resources encourage you in your daily time with God in His Word.

In Him,

Tom

Five Day Plan

Own it 365 Plans

Three Questions to ask when reading a Biblical text from Tim Keller:

1. Adore—What did you learn about God for which you could praise or thank him?

2. Admit—What did you learn about yourself for which you could repent?

3. Aspire—What did you learn about life that you could aspire to, ask for, and act on?

 

 

Lent & Easter 2020

All over the world, Christians practice some form of fasting for Lent. Some choose to fast from a specific vice or from a luxury. In both cases, the purpose of fasting is to encourage the believer to use either the time or money from that sacrifice to draw closer to God or contribute to God’s work. However, Lent is not only about giving something up. Lent can also be about adding in a regular spiritual discipline that helps us flourish as disciples of Jesus; for example, reading scripture and spending time in prayer daily.

As Nicole Martin says in, Leaning In, Letting Go: A Lenten Devotional, “As we enter this season of Lent, Jesus reminds us that he is more concerned about why we lean in than he is about what we let go. We are invited to fast, serve, and pray not because we’ll be recognized by people, but because of our love for God. When God is our audience, no one else has to know.”

Over the past few years Tom Haugen has appreciated participating in the Biola University Lent Project. This is a beautiful online daily devotional throughout the Lenten season. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, each day’s devotional includes Scripture, art, poetry, music, and a written reflection. You can sign up to receive a daily email or visit the site on your own by clicking on the link above.

If you would prefer a hard copy of a Lenten devotional, we have a one copy for each person/family at ELMO of Nicole Martin’s Leaning In, Letting Go: A Lenten Devotional. You can pick up your copy on Sunday morning at the new ELMO Welcome Table or you can order for your kindle online here.

Recommended Devotional Resources 

The Bible

Through the Bible Through the Year – John Stott

My Utmost for His Highest – Oswald Chambers 

The Songs of Jesus, Psalms – Tim Keller

God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, Proverbs – Tim Keller  

For the Love of God Vol. 1 – D. A. Carson

For the Love of God Vol. 2 – D. A. Carson

Hearing God Through the Year – Dallas Willard

Knowing God Through the Year – J. I. Packer

Reflecting the Glory – N.T. Wright

How to Read the Bible Book by Book– Gordon Fee

Morning and Evening – Charles Spurgeon

A Diary of Private Prayer – John Baillie

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us – Adele Calhoun

Faith That Matters: 365 Devotions from Classic Christian Leaders – Various Authors

Recommended Devotional Resources for Youth & Parents

The Bible

The Bible Project

Rooted Ministry

Impact 360 Institute

AXIS

Adored: 365 Devotions for Young Women – Zondervan 

Heads Up: Sports Devotions for All-star Kids – Dave Brandon 

Whatever is Lovely: 90-day Devotional Journal – Alli’s Zobel Nolan 

Teen to Teen: 365 Daily Devotions by Teen Girls for Teen Girls – Patti M Hummel

Teen to Teen: 365 Daily Devotions by Teen Guys for Teen Guys – Patti M Hummel 

Case for Christ and for Faith (Student Addition) – Lee Strobel 

Can I ask That? 8 Hard Questions about God & Faith – Jim Candy

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller

The Awesome Book of Bible Answers for Kids! – Josh McDowell and Kevin Johnson

Christian Heroes: Then and Now – Janet and Geoff Benge

The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place – Andy Crouch

Recommended Devotional Resources for Kids & Parents

The Bible

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing – Sally Lloyd-Jones

The Olgy: Ancient Truths, Ever New – Marty Machowski

Wise Up: Ten-Minute Family Devotions in Proverbs – Marty Machowski

Our Daily Bread for Kids: 365 Meaningful Moments with God – Crystal Bowman and Teri McKinley

Heaven for Kids– Randy Alcorn and Linda Washington

Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science – Louis Giglio

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name – Sally Lloyd-Jones

Love Does for Kids – Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich

The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden – Kevin De Young

The New Catechism: 52 Questions and Answers for Our Hearts and Minds –  Kathy Keller

The Family Bible Devotional – Sarah M Wells 

Five Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God’s World as a Family – Pamela Kennedy