Then, around the new year, I began praying through what the Lord would have me focus on in Scripture this year. He answered, "Ephesians." And so I came up with a plan during January, and started it on February 1st. I'm a little more than halfway through my year of digging deep into the book of Ephesians, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Alot it beginning to come out of such a deep study, and so I hope to be writing more about that in the weeks/months to come.
Here's what my plan looks like, for any who are curious.
1. Read through the entire book of Ephesians every single day for the entire month of February.
2. Read a chapter a day from the book of Ephesians six days a week, every week, for the rest of the year.
3. Always read it from the same translation that I will memorize it from (ESV), so as to have the readings help prepare my mind for the memorization.
4. After five months of reading the book over and over, I began the memorization process in July. I memorize one verse a day, with review days at various natural breaking points in the passages, and at the end of each chapter.
5. Starting in July, as I was beginning to memorize, I also began the in-depth study of the book. On Sundays, I would listen to the sermon podcasts from Apostles that correlated with the passages I would memorize that coming week. I have a commentary on the book of Ephesians, and I read the chapter in it that correlates to the passage I am memorizing as I approach that passage. I also read Piper's sermons that correlate to the passage I am memorizing. Lastly, I have three Bible studies that I work on throughout the month that help me apply what I am learning from the Word to my daily life.
6. Originally, I came up with a schedule that had me focusing on one chapter from Ephesians per month from July through the end of the year. But my travels of the last month threw me off of my schedule a little bit, and I realized I needed to schedule in some review and catch up time. So, at this point, I should be finished with the memorization and in-depth study by the end of January, and will probably take February to look back in reflection of the year in the study.
Someone asked me recently how much time all of this takes. Well, my daily Scripture reading (I follow a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan, plus one chapter from Proverbs a day, and one chapter from Ephesians a day) takes me about 15 minutes. The memorization, even with review, takes about 10 minutes. The reading of a commentary, sermon, or Bible study (which isn't every day, but maybe 3 days a week), takes anywhere from 10-30 minutes. Lastly, listening to the sermon podcast once a week takes 45 minutes.
An hour a day in the Word--which is double what I used to spend--plus an extra 45 minute sermon on Sunday, has started proving to be one of the most rewarding exercises I've ever done. I want to encourage any of you reading this that if you aren't reading God's Word at all right now, to try spending a few minutes every day looking at what God has to say to you. And if you are in the habit already of reading God's Word daily, to consider upping, or even doubling the amount of time you spend in it.
So, obviously, Ephesians has been shaping many of my thoughts over the last few months. I've been thinking through, praying through, having some conversations about, and researching about how to make some changes in my life so that I'm living out more of what Ephesians, and the rest of Scripture, talks about. As I figure some of this out, I'll be posting about here on the blog. I figured, after six months of being knee-deep in my study, it was time to write on the blog about it. :)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 comment:
What a great plan! I love how specific and practical it is. I just may have to copy you. : ) Thanks for sharing it with us.
Post a Comment