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Bible Study Notes

Bible Reading Plans 2021

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I was planning to compile a list of plans, with lots of links, but the following link on the Ligonier site is so robust that I don’t need to include so many links after all. Most of the major Bible reading plans are here, including a tool to generate your own reading plan.

https://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/

For something a little different, Religious Affections ministry offers a Bible Narratives Plan.

https://religiousaffections.org/update/start-2021-with-my-tune-my-heart-bible-narratives-reading-plan-and-resources/

An assortment of Bibles are available at a friend’s shop, including One Year Bible’s that are already set up for a daily reading schedule. Browse the selection or call to request a specific Bible at Truth N Treasures.

https://www.truthntreasures.com/bibles.html

Finally, if you are able to do a Bible binge reading challenge, why not try a swift reading through the whole Bible in a month or less? I did this last year and recommend everyone do it at least once! Here’s a link to some condensed reading plans that I shared in the past.

Bible Binge Reading

Hymns

Songs of the Faith – December 2020

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Hymn title: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

9th Century Latin hymn, translated by John Mason Neale, 1851

Please read the article at Religious Affections Ministries for more insight on this Advent hymn https://religiousaffections.org/articles/hymnody/hoping-through-the-darkness-before-dawn-o-come-o-come-emmanuel/

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell Thy people save,
and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by Thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav’nly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to Thee, O Israel.

Hymns

Songs of the Faith – November 2020

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Hymn Title: And Can It Be, That I Should Gain?

Author: Charles Wesley

Text below copied from Hymnary.org The hymn is in the public domain.

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

‘Tis mystery all! Th’Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
‘Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more. [Refrain]

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me. [Refrain]

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Refrain]

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Refrain]

Sing with joy in the knowledge of salvation purchased by Jesus Christ our LORD!