IN THE WORD AND GROWING TOGETHER
WELCOME TO THE WORD
God speaks to us through His Word – we just have to listen! The words on the pages of your BIble or on the screen of your Bible app are the very voice of God and in those words, we hear the amazing story of God’s love for us.
At St Matthew, we want to be in the Word and growing as followers of Jesus and we’re starting a brand new, all-church focus on getting into and growing in the Bible. For 40 weeks in 2020 and 2021, we’re going to walk through the Old Testament. No, we won’t cover every chapter and verse of the Old Testament but we’ll hit some important highlights of the story of God’s love and faithfulness in its pages.
The schedule included here spans the first 10 weeks. Towards the end of each quarter, we’ll publish the list of the next readings.
Triple Play
Spending time in the Word doesn’t have to be a chore and we don’t have to feel lost trying to figure out where to start. Use the Triple Play as you read with your family, your small group, or even in your personal devotion times!
Highs and Lows: Start by sharing at least one high and one low from the day. Don’t skip this step!
Daily Dig: As you read the text of the week, customize your experience with resources found here to help you grow!
Pray: Take time to pray about the highs and lows and what you’ve read. Give thanks for the highs, ask for help in the lows, and pray for God’s Word to be alive in you each week!
Make the Daily Dig Your Own
People learn in a variety of ways so we’re making it easy to customize and enhance your time with God’s Word in the Daily Dig. Use these options as you do the Triple Play:
Read the Bible
The heart of St Matthew In The Word is actually being in the word! If you only have limited time each week, do this one! You’ll spend time in God’s Word and God will bless that. For families with younger kids, we have copies of The Story Bible available that can make reading the Bible come alive with lots of pictures. (The headings for each week on the reading plan correspond to the chapter titles in The Story Bible.)
Dig Deeper with Digital Resources
We’ll share a video or other resources on our website and social media that will help you go deeper and understand the passage for the week. Audio versions are also available to subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
Do Something
We’ll share some ideas for things you can do as you put God’s Word into practice each week: family activities, service ideas, journaling patterns, and more!
Devotions From People Around St Matthew
Each week, we’ll publish a devotion on the passage of the week written by someone from St Matthew.
2020-2021
The Old Testament
Old Testament – Quarter 4 Weekly Scripture
If using The Story Bible with kids as you read, the weekly headings match the chapter titles.
- April 25 Jonah – Jonah 1-4
- May 2 Isaiah Sees the Lord – Isaiah 6, 52-53
- May 9 King Josiah’s New Book – 2 Kings 22
- May 16 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal & Elijah is Taken to Heaven – 1 Kings 18, 2 Kings 2
- May 23 Naaman and Elisha – 2 Kings 5
- May 30 The Three Men in the Fiery Furnace – Daniel 3
- June 6 Daniel in the Lion’s Den & Daniel Sees Heaven – Daniel 6-7
- June 13 A New Wall – Nehemiah 1-2, 4
- June 20 Esther and the King & The Lord Saves Esther – Esther 2-9
- June 27 Waiting for God’s Messenger – Malachi 2-4
HOPE LIVES ON
In this final quarter of St Matthew in the Word, we wrap up the Old Testament. Last quarter ended with the wise King Solomon, but things would fall apart quickly for Israel. Toward the end of his life, Solomon would fall victim to sin and worshiping other gods and the nation would split after his reign. In the stories that follow, we turn to the prophets: men who God used to call His people back to repentance and faith.
The prophets are an assortment of characters – some upright and faithful, others more reluctant. Sometimes we see ourselves in the prophets, like Jonah, as we recognize our own reluctance at times to follow God’s will or to love our enemies. Other times, we see ourselves in the people who initially received their messages – people who had, in one way or another, turned their backs on God or let themselves wander away after other gods. Their stories remind us of God’s call to us to daily repent and turn to God in faith, trusting in His promises and His goodness for us.
Israel would end up being carried off into exile under foreign rule, but God was still with them. His promises to them, stretching all the way through His Word back to Genesis 3, remained. Even though they had turned from Him, He remained faithful to His promises for them and His plan for salvation never wavered.
The Old Testament ends much as it began: with the hope of a coming Savior. Genesis 3 introduced the promise that God would send the seed of a woman to crush the serpent’s head. Malachi 4 ends the Old Testament anticipating the Day of the Lord, when the “sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” (Malachi 4:2) Jesus, the Promised Savior and Messiah is that Sun of Righteousness and He alone brings the healing that creation has been longing for! God will renew Israel and then draw all nations to Himself as He promised Abraham. In that process, the whole of creation will be renewed. God’s kingdom will be established over the whole earth.
With this hope the Old Testament ends.
Daily Dig Resources
Each week, new resources will be posted right here for you to customize your time in the Word. Use the resources or suggestions that work for you and your family.
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