God already has planed for all His children and their families to prosper and be in health even as their souls prosper.

As you read the following Scriptures, please allow them to speak to your heart, soul, mind and body so that the plans God established for you before the foundation of the world (Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28-32) may become a reality in the lives of you and your families starting today…

• Joshua 14:9
  • And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
• Proverbs 13:22
  • A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
• Isaiah 55:9
  • For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• Jeremiah 29:11
  • For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
• Romans 8:29
  • For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
• 1 Peter 1:2
  • Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
• 3 John 1:2
  • Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

• Mark 12:30-31
  • ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
  • ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

• James 3:16-18
  • 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
  • 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
  • 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

• …and Christians friends we cannot imagine all the wonderful things God has planned for us and all disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  (If there is anyone who wishes to become a disciple of Jesus Christ today I encourage you to pray the Disciples’ Prayer below and contact the Church via our website today…. I encourage you to pray this prayer today at this very moment…Jesus Christ wants to begin the process of pouring blessings upon you and your family today…)
  • Salvation Prayer
    • Lord Jesus, I come to You today with an humble heart and I open the door of my heart to You and I ask that you forgive me for any errors or wrong that I have done in the pass and I ask You to come into my heart at this very moment and as You do I receive You as my Saviour and Lord from this day forward and for the rest of my life.  Thank You for saving me and blessing me to now be a child of God the Father, a disciple of You, my Lord and Saviour, and a student of the Holy Spirit.  In Your name I thank You and praise You for blessing me to become a Christian. Amen.
  • May God’s grace and blessings be upon each of you who accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour by praying the prayer above.  Welcome into the family of God the Father, the blessings and favor of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, and the wonderful teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit as He leads you from one degree of faith and blessings to another, and as you live this wonderful new life you have just received.  Again, may God continue to bless you and we look forward to hearing from you…

Senior Pastor, Rev., Dr. John Lane, Sr.

pastorjohnlane@gmail.com

Please read, study, and meditate on the Scriptures below, then write a brief summary of what they say to the Universal Church in general and to you individually. Submit your summary to Senior Pastor John Lane at jLane45000@gmail.com or SeniorpastorjLane@gmail.com on or before August 16, 2026. If you don’t have email access, you may submit a hard copy to Senior Pastor John Lane at Seven Oaks Recreation Center by the same date. Prizes, certificates, and other awards will be distributed at our Family and Friends Day on August 30, 2026.

As you read and pray over these Scriptures, receive God’s grace, mercy, protection, and blessing through our collective study on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and through your personal study via the Internet and individual reflection.

Thank you for your commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the study of His Word. May God bless you as we continue to grow together as yielded students of His Word, and may His grace, mercy, and love be upon you and your household, that you may prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. Know that our Lord Jesus withholds no good thing from those who remain yielded to Him and His Word, and who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbor as themselves.

Yours because He lives,

Senior Pastor John Lane

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 28:16-20 (KJV)

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 21:14-16 (KJV)

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

¹⁵ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Exodus 20:12  (KJV)

¹² Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Matthew 22:35-40 (King James Version)

³⁵ Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

³⁶ Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

³⁷ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

³⁹ And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Proverbs 13:22 (KJV)

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

John 15:7 (KJV)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

James 3:7 – 18 (KJV)

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

¹² Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

¹³ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

2 Timothy 4:18

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

John 15:7 (King James Version)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Introduction

The long days of Summer are the perfect invitation to slow down, breathe, and let the Word of God take deeper root. This 70-day journey through the Ten Commandments asks you to do exactly that: to meditate on the words God spoke from the fire at Sinai and to discover what they are still saying.

The Ten Commandments are not a checklist of ancient rules or a moral ceiling to clear. They are what the Hebrew Bible actually calls them, aseret haddevarim, the Ten Words. They are words from God who not only rescued His people from slavery, but gave His Commandments to cultivate a community rooted in freedom, justice, and love. Meditating on them is less like memorizing a law code and more like learning the character of the One who gave them.

This plan gives one full week to each commandment, tracing every word through the whole arc of Scripture, from Sinai to the prophets to Jesus to the early church, letting the Bible interpret itself and revealing how these ancient words are still alive and still speaking. Each week follows the same rhythm: the commandment itself and its Old Testament context, then how the prophets applied it, how Jesus deepened it, how the New Testament letters carry it forward, a psalm to close the week, and a reflection with a concrete practice to carry into the days ahead.

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Inspired by the Bible Project This plan is shaped by The Bible Project’s guide to the Ten Commandments, which traces each command through its literary and theological context. Explore the full guide and all ten commandment videos at: https://bibleproject.com/guides/the-10-commandments/ https://bibleproject.com/guides/the-10-commandments/#the-10-commandments-later-in-the-bible

“God’s 10 Commandments are a gift to people rescued from slavery in their exodus from Egypt. These commands are not moral boxes to check or ancient rules to appease God. They are divine wisdom designed to form a free society marked by love, justice, and total trust in God.

The New Testament doesn’t discard the 10 Commandments; it reads them in the light of Jesus’ teaching and through the lens of His resurrection. Love fulfills the commands. Worship finds its true center in Jesus. Obedience becomes the joyful way of people who carry the name of Christ.”

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How to Use This Plan

Read slowly. Take your time with each passage. Read it multiple times if needed.

Speak it aloud. The Hebrew concept of meditation involves quietly speaking Scripture. Let the words move from page to voice to heart.

Ponder the puzzles. Notice what seems unclear or surprising. These ambiguities are invitations to deeper discovery.

Journal and discuss. Write down observations and questions. Talk about what you’re reading with friends or family.

Return and reflect. Come back to passages throughout the week. Let connections emerge across the readings.

Share it forward. This plan is meant to travel. Pray about who in your circle of care you might invite to read alongside you — a friend, a family member, a neighbor, or someone in the congregation you’ve been meaning to walk closer with. Ask God to show you who that person is, how to introduce it simply, and how to follow up as the weeks go on. We love others best when we love them with the Word (2 Timothy 1:5; Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Psalm 51:13, 15), and the Holy Spirit has a way of making Scripture mean more to us when we are actively sharing it with someone else.

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📺 Begin Here: The 10 Commandments as Wisdom Watch this introductory video before starting Week 1. It frames the entire journey, showing how the Ten Words function not as restrictions but as divine wisdom designed to form a people marked by freedom, love, and trust in God.

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Week 1: 1st Commandment, No Other Gods

Theme: Singular Allegiance to the God Who Rescues

📺 Watch: 1st Commandment: No Other Gods

Day 1 (Sunday, June 28): Exodus 19:3-8 Focus: God’s covenant invitation at Sinai; the rescue comes before the commands, and he already proved he could be trusted

Day 2 (Monday, June 29): Exodus 20:1-3 Focus: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt,” a call to exclusive devotion rooted in a prior act of love

Day 3 (Tuesday, June 30): Deuteronomy 4:35-40 Focus: The LORD alone is God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other

Day 4 (Wednesday, July 1) (In the Prophets): Isaiah 40:18-31 Focus: To whom can you compare God? He never grows weary and gives strength to those who wait on him

Day 5 (Thursday, July 2) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 10:37-39 Focus: Love God with everything; Jesus himself reframes what “no other gods” ultimately demands

Day 6 (Friday, July 3) (In the NT Letters): 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Philippians 2:10-11 Focus: “There is no God but one,” and every knee will bow to the name of Jesus

Day 7 (Saturday, July 4): Psalm 86:8-13 Focus: Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; you alone are God, and you have delivered my soul from death

Week 1 Reflection: Write down one thing God has already rescued you from or provided for you. Then name the rival allegiance you’re most tempted to trust instead of him this week. Carry both into the days ahead.

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Week 2: 2nd Commandment, No Idols

Theme: The Absurdity and Tragedy of Trusting What Cannot Deliver

📺 Watch: 2nd Commandment: No Idols

Day 8 (Sunday, July 5): Exodus 20:4-6 Focus: You shall not make for yourself an idol; making an image of God shrinks the limitless to something manageable and false

Day 9 (Monday, July 6): Isaiah 44:6-20 Focus: A craftsman makes a god from the same wood he cooks his dinner with, a bitter irony

Day 10 (Tuesday, July 7): Psalm 115:3-8 Focus: Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases, and those who make idols become like them

Day 11 (Wednesday, July 8) (In the Prophets): Jeremiah 10:1-10 Focus: Idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they must be carried because they cannot walk, and they cannot save

Day 12 (Thursday, July 9) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Matthew 4:8-10; Matthew 6:24 Focus: Jesus refuses to bow before the tempter; no one can serve two masters

Day 13 (Friday, July 10) (In the NT Letters): Romans 1:21-25; Colossians 1:15-17 Focus: Exchanging the glory of God for images; Christ is the true image in whom all fullness dwells

Day 14 (Saturday, July 11): Psalm 135:15-18 Focus: The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands; those who trust in them become like them

Week 2 Reflection: Identify one habit, screen, or distraction that competes for your deepest attention. Set it aside for a full day this week. At the end of that day, journal what the absence revealed about what you’ve been trusting.

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Week 3: 3rd Commandment, Do Not Carry the Name in Vain

Theme: Bearing God’s Reputation Before the World

📺 Watch: 3rd Commandment: Do Not Carry the Name in Vain

Day 15 (Sunday, July 12): Exodus 20:7 Focus: The Hebrew nasa’ means “to carry or bear”; this command is about representation, not merely profanity

Day 16 (Monday, July 13): Exodus 28:12; Leviticus 19:12 Focus: Aaron carries the names of Israel’s tribes before God; swearing falsely by God’s name profanes it

Day 17 (Tuesday, July 14): Leviticus 22:31-33; Leviticus 18:21 Focus: What it means to “profane” God’s name, breaking His commands while appealing to His name

Day 18 (Wednesday, July 15) (In the Prophets): Jeremiah 34:12-16; Amos 2:6-9 Focus: Leaders who free slaves then re-enslave them; the wealthy who exploit the poor. Both acts profane God’s name before the watching world

Day 19 (Thursday, July 16) (In Jesus’ Teaching): John 5:43; John 17:6 Focus: Jesus comes in His Father’s name and makes that name fully known, the most complete honoring of it possible

Day 20 (Friday, July 17) (In the NT Letters): Romans 2:17-24; Colossians 3:17 Focus: “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you”; “whatever you do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus”

Day 21 (Saturday, July 18): Psalm 8 Focus: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth

Week 3 Reflection: Think of one relationship or setting where people know you follow God. Write down one specific way you will honor His name there this week, then do it before Sunday.

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Week 4: 4th Commandment, Remember the Sabbath

Theme: The Gift of Rest in a World Demanding Endless Toil

📺 Watch: 4th Commandment: Remember the Sabbath

Day 22 (Sunday, July 19): Exodus 20:8-11 Focus: Six days of labor; the seventh a Sabbath, rest woven into creation from the beginning

Day 23 (Monday, July 20): Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Focus: The Exodus version grounds Sabbath in creation; this version grounds it in liberation. Remember what it meant to have no rest

Day 24 (Tuesday, July 21): Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 23:12 Focus: God was “refreshed” on the seventh day, and the Sabbath rest extends to servants, animals, and immigrants

Day 25 (Wednesday, July 22) (In the Prophets): Isaiah 56:1-7 Focus: Blessed is the one who keeps the Sabbath; God’s house will be a house of prayer for all nations

Day 26 (Thursday, July 23) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Mark 2:23-28; Mark 3:1-6 Focus: The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath; healing cannot violate a day designed for flourishing

Day 27 (Friday, July 24) (In the NT Letters): Hebrews 4:9-11; Colossians 2:16-17 Focus: A Sabbath rest remains for the people of God, and the Sabbath was a shadow pointing to Christ

Day 28 (Saturday, July 25): Psalm 92:1-5 Focus: A psalm for the Sabbath day; it is good to give thanks to the LORD

Week 4 Reflection: This week, block out one genuine Sabbath hour: no phone, no tasks, no productivity. Sit quietly with God. Afterward, write down what resistance came up and what you discovered in the stillness.

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Week 5: 5th Commandment, Honor Your Father and Mother

Theme: Treating Dignity as a Weighty, Serious Matter

📺 Watch: 5th Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother

Day 29 (Sunday, July 26): Exodus 20:12 Focus: “Honor your father and mother so that your days may be long,” the only commandment with a promise attached

Day 30 (Monday, July 27): Proverbs 6:20-24; Deuteronomy 11:18-19 Focus: Bind their teaching on your heart; tie it around your neck. Parents’ instruction is wisdom for the whole journey

Day 31 (Tuesday, July 28): Proverbs 23:22-25; Proverbs 1:8-9 Focus: Listen to your father; do not despise your mother when she is old, wisdom that adorns you like a garland

Day 32 (Wednesday, July 29) (In the Prophets): Malachi 4:5-6; Ezekiel 22:7 Focus: Turning hearts of parents to children and children to parents; the indictment of a city that treats father and mother with contempt

Day 33 (Thursday, July 30) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Matthew 15:3-6; Luke 2:51-52 Focus: Jesus rebukes religious leaders for using piety to avoid caring for parents, and he himself “was obedient to them”

Day 34 (Friday, July 31) (In the NT Letters): Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:20-21 Focus: Children, honor parents in the Lord; fathers, do not provoke your children. Honor flows in both directions

Day 35 (Saturday, August 1): Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 128 Focus: Children are a gift from God; the blessed home flows from fearing the LORD

Week 5 Reflection: This week, reach out to a parent, grandparent, or elder (a call, a text, or a visit) to let them know their life matters to you. If they have passed, write them a letter, read it aloud, and share with someone what you wrote.

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Week 6: 6th Commandment, Do Not Kill

Theme: Life in the Image of God, Breaking the Cycle of Violence

📺 Watch: 6th Commandment: Do Not Kill

Day 36 (Sunday, August 2): Exodus 20:13 Focus: The Hebrew ratsakh is broader than “murder,” an invitation to meditate on the full tragedy of human violence

Day 37 (Monday, August 3): Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 9:5-6 Focus: Humans carry the image of God; taking human life works against God’s original intent for creation

Day 38 (Tuesday, August 4): Genesis 4:8-12; Genesis 6:11-12 Focus: Cain kills Abel; Abel’s blood cries from the ground, and the earth fills with violence before the flood

Day 39 (Wednesday, August 5) (In the Prophets): Isaiah 1:15-17; Jeremiah 7:5-7 Focus: God will not hear the prayers of hands stained with blood; stop doing wrong, seek justice, defend the oppressed

Day 40 (Thursday, August 6) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Matthew 5:21-26 Focus: You can avoid killing and still hold someone in contempt; Jesus locates the root of murder in anger and dismissal

Day 41 (Friday, August 7) (In the NT Letters): Romans 13:9-10; 1 John 3:14-16 Focus: Love does no harm to a neighbor; anyone who hates a brother is a murderer

Day 42 (Saturday, August 8): Psalm 139:13-18 Focus: You knit me together in my mother’s womb, the intimate knowledge behind every human life

Week 6 Reflection: Name one person you’ve dismissed, avoided, or spoken about with contempt. Pray for them by name each day this week. Before Sunday, reach out to them with one kind word: a text, a note, or a conversation.

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Week 7: 7th Commandment, Do Not Commit Adultery

Theme: Covenant Faithfulness as a Mirror of God’s Own Love

📺 Watch: 7th Commandment: Do Not Commit Adultery

Day 43 (Sunday, August 9): Exodus 20:14 Focus: “You shall not commit adultery,” protecting the sacred covenant at the heart of community life

Day 44 (Monday, August 10): Genesis 2:21-24; Matthew 19:4-6 Focus: A man and woman become one flesh, something God himself has joined together

Day 45 (Tuesday, August 11): Proverbs 6:27-32; Proverbs 2:10-19 Focus: Israel’s wisdom literature calls adultery the epitome of foolishness, like an ox led to slaughter who does not know it

Day 46 (Wednesday, August 12) (In the Prophets): Hosea 2:14-20; Malachi 2:13-16 Focus: God as the faithful husband and Israel as the unfaithful spouse; “the LORD, the God of Israel, says that he hates divorce”

Day 47 (Thursday, August 13) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Matthew 5:27-30; John 8:1-11 Focus: Faithfulness begins in how we see others, and Jesus extends mercy to the woman caught in adultery

Day 48 (Friday, August 14) (In the NT Letters): Ephesians 5:25-33; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Focus: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church, and your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

Day 49 (Saturday, August 15): Psalm 51:1-12 Focus: Create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within me

Week 7 Reflection: Write the name of one person you find it hard to see as an image-bearer to love rather than use or avoid. Pray for them daily this week, and before Sunday practice one genuine act of care toward them.

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Week 8: 8th Commandment, Do Not Steal

Theme: Open Hands in a World That Grasps

📺 Watch: 8th Commandment: Do Not Steal

Day 50 (Sunday, August 16): Exodus 20:15 Focus: “You shall not steal”; taking what belongs to another harms more than the immediate loss

Day 51 (Monday, August 17): Exodus 22:1; Deuteronomy 8:7-18 Focus: Restitution requires five oxen for every one stolen; all that Israel has is God’s gift, not something earned

Day 52 (Tuesday, August 18): Deuteronomy 15:4-5, 7-11 Focus: There should be no poor among you; open-handed generosity is the community posture that makes stealing unnecessary

Day 53 (Wednesday, August 19) (In the Prophets): Amos 8:4-7; Micah 6:10-12 Focus: Those who trample the needy and keep dishonest scales; the LORD will never forget what they have done

Day 54 (Thursday, August 20) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Luke 19:1-10; Matthew 6:19-21 Focus: Zacchaeus repays four times what he stole; store treasure in heaven, not on earth

Day 55 (Friday, August 21) (In the NT Letters): Ephesians 4:28; 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Focus: The one who once stole should now labor and give freely; equality and generosity as the early church’s answer to scarcity

Day 56 (Saturday, August 22): Psalm 37:16-17, 25-26 Focus: Better is the little that the righteous have than the abundance of the wicked; the righteous are generous and lend freely

Week 8 Reflection: Make one concrete act of generosity this week: give away something you’ve been holding onto, or give to someone in need beyond what feels comfortable. Journal what that act stirred in you.

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Week 9: 9th Commandment, Do Not Bear False Witness

Theme: Truth as the Foundation of Justice and Community Trust

📺 Watch: 9th Commandment: Do Not Bear False Witness

Day 57 (Sunday, August 23): Exodus 20:16 Focus: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor”; words in a courtroom can take away a family’s land, freedom, or life

Day 58 (Monday, August 24): Deuteronomy 19:15-21; Proverbs 14:25 Focus: No one can be convicted on a single witness; a truthful witness saves lives, and a false one faces the very penalty he sought to impose

Day 59 (Tuesday, August 25): Proverbs 25:18; Proverbs 12:17-22 Focus: A false witness is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow; the LORD detests lying lips but delights in those who tell the truth

Day 60 (Wednesday, August 26) (In the Prophets): Isaiah 59:1-4; Zechariah 8:16-17 Focus: Truth has stumbled in the public square: “speak the truth to one another; render true judgments that make for peace”

Day 61 (Thursday, August 27) (In Jesus’ Teaching): John 8:31-32, 44-45; Matthew 26:59-61 Focus: The truth will set you free, and false witnesses appear at Jesus’ own trial, turning the commandment against its maker

Day 62 (Friday, August 28) (In the NT Letters): Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9-10 Focus: “Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor”; the new self is renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator

Day 63 (Saturday, August 29): Psalm 15 Focus: Who may dwell on your holy mountain? The one who speaks truth from the heart and does not slander with the tongue

Week 9 Reflection: Before this week ends, have one honest conversation you’ve been avoiding, or go back and correct something you said that wasn’t fully true. Share with a trusted friend what you did and what it cost you.

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Week 10: 10th Commandment, Do Not Covet

Theme: The Heart Behind Everything, Good Desire Versus Restless Craving

📺 Watch: 10th Commandment: Do Not Desire Your Neighbor’s Possessions

Day 64 (Sunday, August 30): Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21 Focus: The only commandment aimed entirely at the interior life; notice the subtle difference between khamad and ‘avah, desire and craving

Day 65 (Monday, August 31): Genesis 3:1-6 Focus: The woman saw, the tree was desirable (khamad), she took; the see-desire-take pattern that the 10th commandment is designed to interrupt

Day 66 (Tuesday, September 1): Joshua 7:20-21; 1 Kings 21:1-4 Focus: Achan sees and takes; Ahab covets Naboth’s vineyard. The same pattern, generation after generation, the same ruin

Day 67 (Wednesday, September 2) (In the Prophets): Micah 2:1-2; Isaiah 5:8-10 Focus: Woe to those who covet fields and seize them; woe to those who add house to house until no room is left for anyone else

Day 68 (Thursday, September 3) (In Jesus’ Teaching): Luke 12:13-21; Mark 10:17-22 Focus: The parable of the rich fool; the rich young ruler: what keeps people from the kingdom is often what they cannot stop grasping

Day 69 (Friday, September 4) (In the NT Letters): Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Hebrews 13:5 Focus: The secret of contentment; godliness with contentment is great gain; be free from the love of money, for God will never leave or forsake you

Day 70 (Saturday, September 5): Psalm 23 Focus: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The 10th commandment’s deepest answer is trust in the God who provides

Week 10 Reflection: Keep a covet journal this week. Each time you notice envy or craving (for someone’s life, recognition, body, or possessions), write it down without judgment. At week’s end, bring the full list to God in prayer and leave it there. Share one entry with a trusted friend.

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📺 Conclude Here: The Law Watch this video as you close the journey. It traces the biblical understanding of God’s law from Sinai through the prophets to Jesus and the New Testament, showing how the Ten Words were never meant to be the final word, but a signpost pointing toward the life God always intended His people to live.

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Closing Reflection

Return to Exodus 20:1-2 as this journey ends. Notice what comes first: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Everything that follows, all ten words, flows from one prior reality. God acted. He rescued. The commands come after the liberation, not before it. They are not the price of His love; they are the shape of it.

What has meditating on these ten words revealed to you about the God who gave them? The Ten Words are not finished with you yet. They are a lifetime of meditation, returning again and again to the same passages and finding new depths as you grow. As the Bible Project puts it, as you let Scripture interpret itself, something remarkable happens: the Bible starts to read you.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2)

Introduction

Lent is a season of intentional reflection and spiritual renewal. This 47-day journey invites you to slow down and meditate deeply on Scripture, allowing God’s Word to transform you from the inside out. As Psalm 1:2 reminds us, the blessed person delights “in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Lent calls us to repentance—turning from ourselves and toward Christ. As Luke 24:47 says, “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” This reading plan traces that message from meditation’s foundation to the resurrection’s triumph.

This isn’t about speed-reading or checking boxes. It’s about quiet, repeated engagement with God’s Word—speaking it softly, pondering its mysteries, letting it shape your heart. And it’s about sharing what you discover with others.

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Inspired by The Bible Project
For deeper insight into this approach to Scripture, watch The Bible Project’s video on reading the Bible as meditative literature: https://youtu.be/VhmlJBUIoLk?si=IDkLMCNHA400YspD

“In Hebrew, the word ‘meditate’ means literally to mutter or speak quietly. The idea is that every day for the rest of your life you slowly, quietly read the Bible out loud to yourself and then go talk about it with your friends, pondering the puzzles, making connections, and discovering what it all means. And as you let the Bible interpret itself, something remarkable happens. The Bible starts to read you.”

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How to Use This Plan

Read slowly. Take your time with each passage. Read it multiple times if needed.

Speak it aloud. The Hebrew concept of meditation involves quietly speaking Scripture. Let the words move from page to voice to heart.

Ponder the puzzles. Notice what seems unclear or surprising. These ambiguities are invitations to deeper discovery.

Journal and discuss. Write down observations and questions. Talk about what you’re reading with friends or family.

Return and reflect. Come back to passages throughout the week. Let connections emerge across the readings.

Ways to Deepen Your Practice

Start with silence. Before reading, take three deep breaths. Ask God to speak.

Write one sentence. After reading, capture one thing that stood out.

Share with one person. Text, call, or meet for coffee. The Word comes alive in conversation.

Mark the mysteries. When something puzzles you, don’t skip it. These are invitations to discover something new.

Repeat a phrase. Choose one phrase and whisper it throughout your day.

End with prayer. Let Scripture shape your prayers back to God.

Week 1: The Foundation of Meditation

Theme: What Does It Mean to Meditate on God’s Word?

This week, discover what meditation actually is. It’s not emptying your mind but filling it with God’s truth—speaking Scripture softly, hiding it in your heart, letting it guide every step.

Day 1 (Ash Wednesday) – Psalm 1
Focus: What does it mean to meditate day and night?

Day 2 (Thursday) – Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Focus: Keeping God’s words constantly before you

Day 3 (Friday) – Joshua 1:6-9
Focus: Meditation leads to success and prosperity of the soul

Day 4 (Saturday) – Psalm 119:1-16
Focus: Hiding God’s Word in your heart

Day 5 (Sunday) – Psalm 119:97-104
Focus: Loving God’s law and gaining wisdom

Day 6 (Monday) – Jeremiah 15:16
Focus: God’s words as joy and delight

Day 7 (Tuesday) – Psalm 119:17-24
Focus: Open my eyes to see wonderful things

Week 1 Reflection: What phrase from this week’s readings keeps coming back to you? Write it down and carry it with you into next week.

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Week 2: The Word That Sustains

Theme: Scripture as Our Spiritual Nourishment

Now that you know what meditation is, this week explores why it matters. God’s Word is more than information—it’s sustenance. Just as bread feeds our bodies, Scripture feeds our souls.

Day 8 (Wednesday) – Deuteronomy 8:1-3
Focus: Man does not live by bread alone

Day 9 (Thursday) – Matthew 4:1-11
Focus: Jesus defeats temptation with Scripture

Day 10 (Friday) – John 6:25-35
Focus: Jesus as the Bread of Life

Day 11 (Saturday) – Luke 4:14-21
Focus: Jesus meditating on and fulfilling Isaiah’s words

Day 12 (Sunday) – Psalm 19:7-14
Focus: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul

Day 13 (Monday) – 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Focus: Scripture equips us for every good work

Day 14 (Tuesday) – Psalm 119:25-32
Focus: My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word

Week 2 Reflection: When has God’s Word sustained you in a difficult time? Share that story with someone this week.

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Week 3: Seeds and Soil

Theme: How We Receive God’s Word

You’ve learned what meditation is and why it matters. Now face an honest question: What kind of soil are you? God’s Word is powerful, but you must receive it with an open heart.

Day 15 (Wednesday) – Mark 4:1-20
Focus: The parable of the sower

Day 16 (Thursday) – James 1:19-27
Focus: Be doers of the Word, not hearers only

Day 17 (Friday) – Luke 8:11-15
Focus: Holding fast to the Word with an honest heart

Day 18 (Saturday) – Psalm 119:105-112
Focus: Your word is a lamp to my feet

Day 19 (Sunday) – Colossians 3:12-17
Focus: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

Day 20 (Monday) – 1 Peter 2:1-3
Focus: Long for pure spiritual milk

Day 21 (Tuesday) – Psalm 119:129-136
Focus: The unfolding of your words gives light

Week 3 Reflection: What “thorns” or “rocky soil” in your life might be choking out God’s Word? Name one thing you’ll release to make room for deeper roots.

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Week 4: The Living Word

Theme: All Scripture Points to Jesus

This week marks a turning point. You’ve been meditating on Scripture; now Scripture reveals its central character. The Word you’ve been reading is ultimately about the Word who became flesh.

Day 22 (Wednesday) – John 1:1-18
Focus: The Word became flesh

Day 23 (Thursday) – Luke 24:13-35
Focus: Jesus opens the Scriptures on the Emmaus road

Day 24 (Friday) – Luke 24:36-49
Focus: All Scripture points to Christ

Day 25 (Saturday) – Hebrews 4:12-13
Focus: The Word is living and active

Day 26 (Sunday) – Revelation 19:11-16
Focus: His name is the Word of God

Day 27 (Monday) – John 5:31-47
Focus: The Scriptures testify about Jesus

Day 28 (Tuesday) – Psalm 119:137-144
Focus: Your testimonies are righteous forever

Week 4 Reflection: Go back to a passage from Weeks 1-3. Read it again, but this time ask: How does this point to Jesus? Journal what you discover.

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Week 5: Transformation Through the Word

Theme: Being Shaped by What We Behold

Knowing Christ changes us. This week explores how meditating on Scripture doesn’t just inform—it transforms. As you behold Christ in the Word, you become more like Him.

Day 29 (Wednesday) – Romans 12:1-2
Focus: Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Day 30 (Thursday) – 2 Corinthians 3:12-18
Focus: Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are transformed

Day 31 (Friday) – Psalm 119:161-168
Focus: Seven times a day I praise you

Day 32 (Saturday) – Ezekiel 36:24-28
Focus: A new heart and new spirit

Day 33 (Sunday) – Philippians 4:4-9
Focus: Think on these things

Day 34 (Monday) – John 15:1-11
Focus: Abide in me and my words abide in you

Day 35 (Tuesday) – Psalm 119:169-176
Focus: Let my cry come before you, O Lord

Week 5 Reflection: How has your heart changed since Ash Wednesday? Write a prayer thanking God for one specific transformation.

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Week 6: The Cross in Scripture

Theme: The Story Has Been Leading Here

You’ve meditated on God’s Word, seen Christ revealed, been transformed. Now walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem. This week, ancient prophecies come into sharp focus. The story has been leading here all along.

Day 36 (Wednesday) – Isaiah 53
Focus: The suffering servant prophesied

Day 37 (Thursday) – Psalm 22
Focus: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Day 38 (Friday) – Genesis 3:1-15
Focus: The promise of the offspring who crushes the serpent

Day 39 (Saturday) – Isaiah 50:4-9
Focus: The Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Day 40 (Palm Sunday) – Zechariah 9:9-12; Matthew 21:1-11
Focus: Your king comes to you, humble and riding on a donkey

Day 41 (Monday) – Isaiah 42:1-9
Focus: The servant brings justice to the nations

Day 42 (Tuesday) – Psalm 118:19-29
Focus: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

Week 6 Reflection: As you read these prophecies, notice how they echo through the Gospel accounts. The entire Bible has been pointing here.

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Holy Week: The Story Fulfilled

Theme: Death, Silence, and Resurrection

This is the week everything changes. Forty days of meditation have prepared you. Read slowly. Sit with Friday’s darkness. Feel Saturday’s silence. Then let Sunday’s joy break over you like dawn.

Day 43 (Wednesday) – Isaiah 49:1-7
Focus: I will make you as a light for the nations

Day 44 (Maundy Thursday) – John 13:1-17
Focus: Jesus washes the disciples’ feet—love made visible

Day 45 (Good Friday) – Luke 23:26-49
Focus: The crucifixion narrative—”Father, forgive them”

Day 46 (Holy Saturday) – 1 Peter 3:18-22
Focus: Christ’s descent and victory—even in death, He conquers

Day 47 (Easter Sunday) – Luke 24:1-12; Revelation 21:1-7
Focus: The resurrection and all things made new—death is defeated, hope is alive

Holy Week Practice: Read each day’s passage multiple times. Friday: read in complete silence. Saturday: sit with the mystery of waiting. Sunday: read aloud with joy.

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Closing Reflection

As you complete this journey, consider how meditating on God’s Word has shaped you during this Lenten season. The adventure of reading and discovery is a lifetime calling to be transformed by Scripture. Choose one habit from this journey to carry forward.

The blessed person meditates on God’s law day and night. Not just for 47 days. But for a lifetime.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)

Who will win the Big Game? Test your football knowledge and win prizes!

The Challenge: Predict the Super Bowl winner and final score for your chance to win! The person with the closest prediction takes home the prize.

How to Enter: Fill out the online form at https://forms.gle/yjMncp1EBkFJdycd9 or grab a paper entry form this Sunday at the welcome desk.

Deadline: All entries must be submitted by kickoff on Sunday, February 9th at 6:30 PM

Prizes: Awarded to the closest final score prediction

Will it be the Patriots or the Seahawks? Make your prediction and join the fun!

Jesus’ Winning Formula for All Christians:

a. Be a Child of God the Father
b. Be a Disciple of Jesus Christ
c. Be a Student of the Holy Spirit
d. Commit to a Personal Regimen of Fasting and Prayer
e. Know and Recognize the Enemy of All Humans
f. Put on the Whole Armor of God Daily
g. Receive the Mind of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
h. Let Your Light Shine Bright for Jesus Every Day

21-Day Fasting Challenge: Select one hour each day for the next 21 days to set aside as a fasting hour for spiritual growth, development, prosperity, and health as our Lord has planned for us.

As always, stay blessed.
Senior Pastor, DOCC & Related Ministries

Ready to dive deep into the “Book of Comfort”? Join me for a transformative 35-day reading plan through Isaiah chapters 40-66, starting September 21st!

What we’ll explore: 🕊️ Week 1: The God of Comfort – Experience His majesty and tender care ⚖️ Week 2: Judgment and Redemption – Witness divine justice and mercy 🏙️ Week 3: The New Jerusalem – Discover God’s restoration plan 👑 Week 4: The Anointed One – Meet the Suffering Servant 🔄 Week 5: Review and Reflection – Apply what we’ve learned

Key themes to watch for:

• The Servant Songs (prophecies of the Messiah)
• Universal salvation for all nations
• Social justice and care for the oppressed
• God’s sovereignty over history
• The promise of new heavens and new earth

Tips for success: 📝 Keep a journal of insights and applications 🙏 Read prayerfully, asking God to speak to you 🔗 Look for connections between chapters ⏰ Quality over quantity – don’t rush!

Daily Reading Schedule:

Week 1: The God of Comfort (Sept 21-27)

• Day 1 – Sept 21 | Isaiah 40 | Comfort My People
• Day 2 – Sept 22 | Isaiah 41 | Fear Not, I Am With You
• Day 3 – Sept 23 | Isaiah 42 | My Chosen Servant
• Day 4 – Sept 24 | Isaiah 43 | You Are Precious in My Sight
• Day 5 – Sept 25 | Isaiah 44 | I Have Swept Away Your Sins
• Day 6 – Sept 26 | Isaiah 45 | I Am the Lord, There Is No Other
• Day 7 – Sept 27 | Isaiah 46 | I Will Sustain You

Week 2: Judgment and Redemption (Sept 28 – Oct 4)

• Day 8 – Sept 28 | Isaiah 47 | Judgment on Babylon
• Day 9 – Sept 29 | Isaiah 48 | Go Out From Babylon
• Day 10 – Sept 30 | Isaiah 49 | A Light to the Nations
• Day 11 – Oct 1 | Isaiah 50 | The Obedient Servant
• Day 12 – Oct 2 | Isaiah 51 | Look to Abraham Your Father
• Day 13 – Oct 3 | Isaiah 52 | How Beautiful Are the Feet
• Day 14 – Oct 4 | Isaiah 53 | Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs

Week 3: The New Jerusalem (Oct 5-11)

• Day 15 – Oct 5 | Isaiah 54 | Sing, O Barren Woman
• Day 16 – Oct 6 | Isaiah 55 | Come, Buy Wine and Milk
• Day 17 – Oct 7 | Isaiah 56 | My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer
• Day 18 – Oct 8 | Isaiah 57 | Peace to the Contrite
• Day 19 – Oct 9 | Isaiah 58 | True Fasting
• Day 20 – Oct 10 | Isaiah 59 | Your Sins Have Hidden His Face
• Day 21 – Oct 11 | Isaiah 60 | Arise, Shine, Your Light Has Come

Week 4: The Anointed One (Oct 12-18)

• Day 22 – Oct 12 | Isaiah 61 | The Spirit of the Lord Is Upon Me
• Day 23 – Oct 13 | Isaiah 62 | You Shall Be Called by a New Name
• Day 24 – Oct 14 | Isaiah 63:1-14 | Who Is This Coming from Edom?
• Day 25 – Oct 15 | Isaiah 63:15-64:12 | Oh, That You Would Rend the Heavens
• Day 26 – Oct 16 | Isaiah 65 | New Heavens and New Earth
• Day 27 – Oct 17 | Isaiah 66:1-16 | Heaven Is My Throne
• Day 28 – Oct 18 | Isaiah 66:17-24 | All Nations Shall Come

Week 5: Review and Reflection (Oct 19-26)

• Day 29 – Oct 19 | Review Isaiah 40-45 | The Sovereignty of God
• Day 30 – Oct 20 | Review Isaiah 46-51 | Redemption from Babylon
• Day 31 – Oct 21 | Review Isaiah 52-57 | The Suffering Servant
• Day 32 – Oct 22 | Review Isaiah 58-62 | True Religion and Worship
• Day 33 – Oct 23 | Review Isaiah 63-66 | The Coming Kingdom
• Day 34 – Oct 24 | Personal Reflection Day
• Day 35 – Oct 25 | Application Day
• Day 36 – Oct 26 | Celebration Day

This journey takes us from comfort to mission to consummation. Whether you’re new to Isaiah or returning to these beloved chapters, there’s something here for everyone.

Who’s ready to discover fresh insights from God’s Word?

Isaiah and the Suffering Servant King: https://bibleproject.com/articles/isaiah-and-the-suffering-servant-king/

A special period of Breakthrough will be initiated at the Disciples of Christ on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to join us at the Church or via the Internet at doCcsc.org.

Everyone is encouraged to view the video “Learn How To Pray And Fast For A Breakthrough with Rick Warren” at least once prior to July 27, 2025.

We look forward to this powerful time together as we seek God’s breakthrough in our lives and community.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Celebrating God’s sovereignty through trials and triumph, our summer season invites us into the profound depths of human suffering and divine glory through the From Trials to Triumph Bible Reading Plan. Join us from May 26 through July 22 as we explore Job and Revelation to witness God’s unchanging character through life’s greatest challenges and ultimate victory. Our lives find meaning and hope when our hearts trust His sovereign plan through every season.

Bible Reading Plan

Job and Revelation – Daily Reading (May 26 – Jul 22, 2025)

This 58-day journey will take us through two of Scripture’s most powerful books that reveal God’s character in suffering and His ultimate triumph. From Job’s wrestling with unexplained pain to John’s vision of Christ’s eternal reign, we will discover how God’s love sustains us through every trial and leads us to everlasting glory. These sacred texts remind us that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5

Celebrating God’s love past and present, our Lenten season is the start of the DOCC Lenten/Resurrection Sunday Bible Reading Plan: Wisdom & The Word. Join us on Ash Wednesday (3/5) through Good Friday (4/18). We will read Proverbs and Mark to see God’s matchless love (daily plan below). Our lives heed His voice when our hearts read His word.

Bible Reading Plan

Proverbs and Mark – Daily Reading (Mar 5 – Apr 18, 2025)

Please use the below visual resources to support your Bible reading plan.