New Genesis Series Begins TONIGHT!
Our new preaching/teaching series through the Book of Genesis launches TONIGHT with a kickoff Bible study.
Here’s all that you need to know, including how to participate, the schedule, how to get a book, how to receive daily emails, how to access the livestream, etc.
Fall Genesis Schedule
I’ve divided Genesis up into three parts to help you make sense of the book.
Genesis Part 1: Creation to Babel (chapters 1-11), is the Prologue, not just to the rest of Genesis, but to the entire Bible that follows. It tells how God began with a good Creation, and how human and spiritual rebellion brought about destruction. The central question: What will fix humanity? Five weeks: readings begin Monday, 8/22 and conclude Friday, 9/23.
Genesis Part 2: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (chapters 12-36) is the account of how God’s plan to save Creation begins with one man and his family. The central question: What will it take to form a family that can pass down the covenant? Five weeks: readings begin Monday, September 26 and conclude October 21.
Genesis Part 3: Joseph and His Brothers (chapters 37-50) is the account of How Israel Ended Up in Egypt. The central question: Which brother will lead the family? Five weeks: readings begin Monday, October 24 and conclude the week of Thanksgiving.
I’ve divided up the readings in this way to help you understand Genesis, and also to make it easy for someone new to join in. Each part will have its own brand-new Daily Reading Guide booklet to go with it.
Preaching Schedule
[Fun pic from last Sunday as I was preaching about Psalm 1.]
I’m kicking off Genesis this Sunday, August 21, and will preach all the way through it, concluding at Thanksgiving. (Of course, I’m preaching each preceding Thursday as well.) I will NOT be preaching on 10/16 or 11/27.
Bible Study Schedule
I’m teaching four churchwide Bible studies on Genesis. Wednesdays, 6:30 PM.
August 17
August 31
October 12
October 26
Daily Reading Schedule (and How to Sign up for Daily Emails)
Readings are Monday-Friday only. Why? So if you get behind you can catch up on the weekends.
Remember, consistency is more important than intensity.
Each day I’ve written brief commentary to help you get the most out of what you’re reading. The goal is to get folks reading scripture—the commentary is just a reading aid.
I’ll post each day’s reading and commentary on my blog at 3:30 AM CDT; if you are on my “Daily Bible” reading list, that same post will be emailed to you at 4:00 AM CDT.
Wanna subscribe? Sign up here. Feel free to unsubscribe at any time. I have main sections on my website, the Blog section and the Bible section. If you want to receive posts from both sections, check both options on the sign-up page. Otherwise, just pick the “Daily Bible” newsletter option. [NOTE: if you’re subscribed but not receiving emails from me, check your junk folder.]
Want the whole pdf copy of Genesis Part 1? Download it here.
How to Livestream Sermons and Studies
There are three different options for the Asbury livestream.
www.asburytulsa.org. Click on “Watch Live” on the main page.
Facebook: the “Asbury Tulsa” page.
YouTube: the “Asbury Tulsa” channel.
Are Videos Posted Later?
Yes.
Sermons are posted here.
Studies will be posted on a new Bible page we’re building out. Stay tuned! In the meantime, you’ll be able to access old videos through the Asbury YouTube page.
My Own Private Plan - One Psalm a Day, Forever
Because I’m writing and working on future reading plans (Revelation begins January 2!), I don’t always read the current reading on its specified day. Instead, I always keep pushing on with my reading plan through the Psalms, one psalm a day, rinse and repeat when I get to Psalm 150. (I talk about my practice here, for example.)
You are certainly welcome to join me in that. It’s every day, 7 days a week. I find a lot of comfort in beginning each day with a psalm, and I love using the ESV Scripture Journal of the Psalms, and seeing what I wrote from previous read-throughs.
Today’s Psalm - Psalm 108
Today’s psalm in my schedule contains a beautiful line that I use as a theme verse for one of my keystone habits, namely getting up early to pray:
“I will awaken the dawn.”
Psalm 108
A Song. A Psalm of David.
1 My heart is steadfast, O God!
I will sing and make melody with all my being!
2 Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer me!7 God has promised in his holiness:
“With exultation I will divide up Shechem
and portion out the Valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin;
upon Edom I cast my shoe;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.
I love how the psalmist describes himself rising early in the morning to praise the Lord, thankful and desperate. He’s thankful for God’s goodness, but desperate for God’s deliverance. He reminds himself that God has claimed the nations—Israel’s enemies—for himself, and asks the Lord to therefore defeat his enemies and rescue Israel—”Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine….”
And that final line is so great:
“With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.”
Amen! A good reminder today.