As we begin a new year together, I want to extend a sincere and urgent invitation to you: join me in reading through the Bible this year. Not as a resolution to impress God or a religious box to check, but as a shared commitment to place ourselves daily before the living Word of God. If we desire to follow Jesus with clarity, courage, and faithfulness, we must be a people shaped by His voice.

Scripture is not an accessory to the Christian life—it is where Christ meets us, speaks to us, confronts us, and comforts us. Martin Luther once said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”That is my prayer for this year: that God’s Word would not remain distant or familiar, but living and active among us—forming our hearts, renewing our minds, and anchoring our lives in truth.

I know life is full, and schedules are crowded. Some days will be easier than others. But I want to encourage you not to let another year pass without intentionally dwelling in the Word of God. You do not need to be an expert. You do not need to read perfectly. You simply need to come—day by day—and let the Lord speak. Even a few faithful minutes offered in humility will bear fruit.

To help you do this, we are making two resources available to you. First, a How to Read the Bible Guide, designed to help you approach Scripture with confidence—learning how to read prayerfully, faithfully, and in light of the gospel. Second, a Read the Bible in a Year Plan that will guide us through the whole of Scripture together over the course of the year. These resources are not meant to overwhelm you, but to support you as we walk this path together as a church.

This is an invitation to shared formation—to hear the same Scriptures, pray the same Word, and be shaped by the same story of God’s redeeming work in Christ. If we commit to this together, I am confident we will not finish the year the same way we began it.

So I invite you—join me. Open the Scriptures. Listen for the voice of your Shepherd. And let this year be marked by deeper trust, stronger faith, and a renewed love for Jesus, who still speaks through His Word.