Getting Ready For The Week | Daily Rhythms Week 1
Getting Ready For The Week | Daily Rhythms Week 1
Sunday, August 24, 2025
Reading For Sunday | Ezra 7:10 | 1 Timothy 4:7-8 | Romans 12:1-2 | 2 Peter 1:5-8
Devoted To God's Word
As we learned from Pastor Ken's message this week, the Bible is an extraordinary collection of 66 books written by over 40 authors across 1500 years, yet telling one unified story of GOD’s redemptive love. While its importance is clear, many of us struggle to develop consistent rhythms of engaging with Scripture in ways that truly transform us. Just as Ezra "devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD," we too are called to make GOD’s Word an active and vibrant part of our lives - but the way we best connect with Scripture may look different for each of us.
This week, we'll explore how different spiritual temperaments can help us engage with GOD’s Word in meaningful ways that align with how He uniquely created us. Begin by taking the Spiritual Temperaments Assessment, which will help identify both our "downstream practices" - those ways of connecting with Scripture that feel most natural and energizing - and our "upstream practices" - those that might feel more challenging but can stretch and deepen our relationship with GOD. Just as the early church demonstrated various ways of devotion through teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, we too have multiple pathways to encounter GOD through His Word. Whether you're an activist who meets GOD in confronting injustice, a contemplative who thrives in quiet surrender, an intellectual energized by deep study, or someone who connects through nature, relationships, service, or worship - there are practices that can help GOD’s Word become "at home in you" as Colossians 3:16 describes.
Use the list of Spiritual Temperaments, their definitions and suggested practices as a tool to help position yourself (no matter the focus of your study for the day) to hear from GOD. This week, since our focus is engaging Scripture, we’ll provide some passages to process and some reflective questions around each of the temperaments to help you consider more deeply in what ways you seem to connect most easily with the Lord through His Word.
Remember, while the assessment may reveal our natural inclinations, we all possess the capacity to connect with GOD through each of these temperaments. Just as Pastor Ken emphasized the importance of not biting off more than we can chew initially, start with practices that align with your primary temperaments to build confidence and consistency. Then, gradually incorporate more challenging practices that stretch you beyond your comfort zones, recognizing that spiritual growth often happens when we embrace both the familiar and the challenging. As we explore these various approaches to Scripture, our goal remains the same as Ezra's: to study, observe, and teach GOD’s Word in ways that transform our lives and influence others for His kingdom.
This week, we'll explore how different spiritual temperaments can help us engage with GOD’s Word in meaningful ways that align with how He uniquely created us. Begin by taking the Spiritual Temperaments Assessment, which will help identify both our "downstream practices" - those ways of connecting with Scripture that feel most natural and energizing - and our "upstream practices" - those that might feel more challenging but can stretch and deepen our relationship with GOD. Just as the early church demonstrated various ways of devotion through teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer, we too have multiple pathways to encounter GOD through His Word. Whether you're an activist who meets GOD in confronting injustice, a contemplative who thrives in quiet surrender, an intellectual energized by deep study, or someone who connects through nature, relationships, service, or worship - there are practices that can help GOD’s Word become "at home in you" as Colossians 3:16 describes.
Use the list of Spiritual Temperaments, their definitions and suggested practices as a tool to help position yourself (no matter the focus of your study for the day) to hear from GOD. This week, since our focus is engaging Scripture, we’ll provide some passages to process and some reflective questions around each of the temperaments to help you consider more deeply in what ways you seem to connect most easily with the Lord through His Word.
Remember, while the assessment may reveal our natural inclinations, we all possess the capacity to connect with GOD through each of these temperaments. Just as Pastor Ken emphasized the importance of not biting off more than we can chew initially, start with practices that align with your primary temperaments to build confidence and consistency. Then, gradually incorporate more challenging practices that stretch you beyond your comfort zones, recognizing that spiritual growth often happens when we embrace both the familiar and the challenging. As we explore these various approaches to Scripture, our goal remains the same as Ezra's: to study, observe, and teach GOD’s Word in ways that transform our lives and influence others for His kingdom.