Great question!  The following are three reasons we are choosing to read through the Bible in 9 months as a community of faith: 
 

1. We want to put God first, particularly following the past 17 months that have included a global pandemic amid our daily lives. We believe as a church that resetting to God's word is foundational and invaluable. 
2. We want to find our place in God's story. Often the Bible feels detached from 2021 and our lives, yet scripture is God's story thus is our story. 
3. We want to claim the truth about who we are, God's people. So many demands our attention, we want to claim the truth first about being God's people. 

Growing in faith together has great power as we move forward in the same direction.  Classes and small groups who choose to read through the Bible along with the rest of the church provide spaces for others to join along and create a consistent message throughout the church.

The translation chosen for reading through the Bible is individual. The translations used in weekly worship services are the following:  NIV (New International Version) and NRSV (New Revised Standard Version). If you have been using the same translation for a long time, consider choosing a different translation.  

Sure!  You can join the journey whenever you would like to do so.  What we know is that developing a practice of reading the Bible is not an event but rather a process.   

Engaging in this opportunity as a family is a powerful way to read God’s word.  Find space within your family calendar daily or weekly to spend time reading together and discussing what is read.   

Yes, there are multiple ways throughout the week to ask questions, spend time with others on the journey, and gain new insights about the readings.  The following are offered weekly beginning August 15th: 

1. Sunday mornings, 10:00-10:50am, led by Laura Young, room 226. 
2. Sunday evenings, 6:00-7:00pm, Zoom discussion led by Pastor Mike Stallings. 
3. Wednesday evenings, 6:30-7:30, led by Jim Bailes, room E-109.
4. Thursday mornings, 8:30-9:30am, in person at Einstein Brothers Bagels at 11693 Parkside Dr., led by Pastor Brooke Hartman. 

You can also find someone or a small group of people to read the Bible with and hold each other accountable.

This is a great opportunity to invite others to join you and us on this intentional journey through God’s word.  Prayerfully consider inviting someone to join you on this journey.  Ask a family member or friend or neighbor or person you share a hobby with or a co-worker.  

Please send any questions to Pastor Brooke at bhartman@concordunited.org.  We look forward to walking through this journey together.  One day at a time.