New Year, New Habits!

Begin the new year by deepening your walk with the Lord! To encourage you in your goal to draw nearer to God and “redeem the time” — we’ve compiled a collection of Bible study resources that may be helpful in accomplishing your new year’s resolutions!

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. — Colossians 3:2 

As we start a new year we want to present some practical tools for searching the Scriptures more in 2014. Although there is a downside to our digital world, there is also a huge upside for the edification of believers who want to grow in their knowledge of the Word of God. Here are some resources that may assist you:

• Read through the Bible in a year

There are a variety of plans and schedules on the Internet to encourage you to read through the Bible in a year. The easiest is to just commit to start in Genesis and read for 15 minutes a day. Most readers will finish in less than twelve months.

Another option is to use a chronological Bible.  We don’t sell a chronological Bible, but you can find a free reading schedule online by searching for “chronological Bible schedule.”

You can read through the Scriptures on almost any tablet, phone, or computer using Amazon Kindle. You’ll likely do most of your reading on a tablet or computer, but a useful feature when reading a Kindle book is that you can open it on your phone in spare moments and the book will open to the same place. Go to thebereancall.org/help/kindle for more information.

• Learn how to use podcasts

Subscribing to a podcast allows you to listen to free audio when you want and where you want on your phone, tablet, iPod, or computer.

There is a huge variety of edifying audio programs available by podcast. Most are updated weekly or more often. The podcast is downloaded to your device automatically and you can listen to it any time you want.

Our weekly radio program Search the Scriptures 24/7 is available as a podcast. You can find other valuable (and free) resources online like audio Bibles, sermons, and Bible commentaries. Go to thebereancall.org/help/podcastsfor more information.

• Try a new daily devotional book

One of the hidden gems in our bookstore is Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. This little book presents 31 inspirational meditations that will encourage you to slow down and let the things of God’s Word speak to you. You can find other devotional book options featured on pp. 12-13 of this newsletter or online at: thebereancall.org/store/Devotional

• Try a new app for your phone or tablet

There is an enormous selection of apps that can help us better understand Scripture and memorize verses. We’ve highlighted a few on this page or search online (carefully!) and find one that’s perfect for your needs.

APPS:

Bible

On more than 100 million devices all over the world, people are reading, listening to, and sharing the Bible using the #1 rated Bible App—completely free. Hundreds of Bible versions, hundreds of reading plans, dozens of languages. Add your own highlights, bookmarks, and public or private notes. Customize your experience for easy reading. Access everything when you’re connected, or download specific versions for offline use.

Device: iPhone / iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Kindle Fire, online, and more. • Cost: Free

Download: www.bible.com/app

River Bible

River Bible aims to be a clean and simple-to-use Bible application. It includes: the King James Version • Live search (displays Bible verse results as you type) • Daily Journal (with optional Facebook integration) • Strong’s Concordance available as an In-App purchase for $4.99.

Device: Mac desktop (requires OS X 10.7 or later) • Cost: Free

Download:http://river.jolon.org/

PODCAST:

Search the Scriptures 24/7

Search the Scriptures 24/7 with T. A. McMahon, the co-author of The Seduction of Christianity, engages guests in discussions that biblically evaluate popular trends and teachings that are influencing millions of Christians today. The objective is to encourage listeners to be like the Bereans of Acts:17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
See All.... They listened to the Apostle Paul and were commended for searching the Scriptures daily to see if what he was preaching was true to God’s Word.

Device: iPhone, iPad, desktop (requires iTunes) • Cost: Free

Download:https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/search-scriptures-daily-at/id370144632#