1. PRAY LIKE YOU BREATHE “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Develop a daily prayer habit such as this A.C.T.S. model:

Adoration for Who God is, His character and attributes Confession of what you have done that is contrary to God’s will Thanksgiving for what God has done already in your life Supplication (Request) for what God wants, His prayer commands, including requests for yourself and others.

2. DEVOUR SCRIPTURE “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

Develop the habit of reading the Bible every day, taking it in steadily so that the attitudes of your heart and the choices you make are shaped by God’s desires and His clear instructions.

There are many Bible reading plans available to give you direction each day. Click on the links below (or copy and paste them into your browser) for different options. Track your progress, then watch this deliberate activity

become a daily habit in your life!

OT/Poetry/NT Plan: http://www.faith.edu/images/Resources/BRS/2017_BRS.pdf

Chronological Plan:

https://www.clarkssummitu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2017_Bible_Reading-CSU.pdf

Other Plans: http://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/?

3. ENCOURAGE SOMEONE MEANINGFULLY

“Encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Monday: Encourage someone in your home Tuesday: Encourage someone in your neighborhood Wednesday: Encourage someone in your church Thursday: Encourage someone you work with Friday: Encourage a family member not in your home Saturday: Encourage a friend

The Discipleship Challenge: Coming Closer To Christ

4. STOP SIN IN YOURSELF—BEGIN HABITS OF HOLINESS “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Monday: READ through Ephesians 4:22-32 Tuesday: PRAY through Ephesians 4:22-32 Wednesday: WRITE down a specific plan of action in response to Ephesians 4:22-32 Thursday-Saturday: PURGE your life of sins you have identified after spending some time in self- examination, confession & repentance.

5. GIVE TO GOD WITH GENEROSITY

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21)

What do you treasure? Where can you spend less in order to give to God more?

Read these passages to see what God’s Word says about your resources and giving:

Matthew 6:19-21; Mark 10:45; 12:41-44; 14:3-9; II Corinthians 8 –9

6. SET THE STAGE FOR WITNESSING BY LIVING WITH HOPE

“Always be ready to give … a reason for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15)

The God of Hope

Our hope is in GOD (Psalm 42: 5, 11) Our hope is in God’s WORD (Psalm 119:43, 74, 81)

Our hope is in God’s LOVE (Psalm 33:22; 130:7; 147:11) Our hope is NOT in riches (Psalm 62:10; 1 Timothy 6:17)

7. LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE

“Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

Follow God’s love as your model

“We love him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:18-21)

Let love be your motivation.

9. MEMORIZE GOD’S WORD “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin again you.” (Psalm 119:11)

Try memorizing one of these excellent Bible passages for starters:

Psalm 119:9-16; John 1:1-14; John 14:1-6; 1 Peter 4:12-19. Write them out by hand on index cards , then place these cards in a very visible place in your home or workplace. Read the passage out loud every day. Make a video or audio recording of yourself reading them. Use hand motions or simple drawings to illustrate key words. Write out each verse using only the first letter of each word. Can you remember the words

with only those minimal cues? Make a word search puzzle out of the key words using this helpful website: http://

www.discoveryeducation.com//free-puzzlemaker/index.cfm?campaign=flyout_parents_puzzle

10. SEEK THE SALVATION OF SOULS

“…our Savior…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:4)

Seek! Look to the Lord in prayer for their salvation. Serve! Look for a way to personally serve those you want to see saved. Share! Look for a way to verbally share the gospel.

11. COMMIT TO COMING TO CHURCH

“Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

God commands it. We benefit from it.

Write out this verse in your own words.

Can you list at least 10 ways you benefit from worshiping together with other believers in Christ?

8. BE A GOOD STEWARD OF YOUR BODY

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? …You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Read the key warnings of I Corinthians 3:16-17 & 6:18. What bad habits can you cut? What good habits can you put in their place?

14. LEARN THE 66 BOOKS OF THE BIBLE - IN ORDER

“Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 110:97)

This discipline will help you find your way quickly through your Bible each time you study the word or want to share it with someone.

See the final pages for some helpful memorization tips.

15. MAKE THE GOLDEN RULE YOUR STANDARD FOR LIFE “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

“Just as you want men to do to you, do to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31)

Memorize and apply these twin verses to your every day life. Then look for ways to “come in first” by putting others before yourself, just as Jesus did.

13. HAVE A HEART FOR HEAVEN “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)

12. CULTIVATE AN APPETITE FOR WHAT IS RIGHT “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (I Peter 2:2 -3) “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Summarize these verses in your own words. Why is there such an emphasis on reading the Bible regularly? What could be the consequences of neglecting to do so? Be hungry for God’s Word and God’s ways in every stage of your life. Desire it – then Do it!

In your own words, write out Matthew 6:33 and Colossians 3:1-2. Then answer these questions for yourself: What earthly things can I let go? What heavenly things can I grab tighter?

Memorizing the 66 Books of the Bible in order

The Bible is organized into categories of literary styles and theme. It can be helpful to memorize each

category separately before reciting them all in order.

The OLD TESTAMENT (39):

5 Books of the Law of Moses

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

12 Books of History: Joshua, Judges, Ruth

1st and 2nd Samuel

1st and 2nd Kings

1st and 2nd Chronicles

Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

5 Books of Poetry: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

5 Books of the Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel

12 Books of the Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah

Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk,

Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

THE NEW TESTAMENT (27): 4 Gospel Records: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

1 Book of the History of the Early Church:

Acts (of the Apostles)

9 Pauline Epistles to Churches:

Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians

4 Pauline Epistles to Individuals:

1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus Philemon

8 Non-Pauline Epistles:

Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd Peter, 1,2,3 John, Jude

1 Book of Prophecy:

Revelation

A free printable courtesy of http://ministry-to-children.com/books-of-the-bible-poster/