Abundant Life: February 2009

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Help! I can't read the Bible!

At Westside we are constantly working to get people into Bible reading. We provide a special reading schedule and a Reader’s Companion Guide so you can get the daily Bible readings done, and understand them. We talk about the daily Bible reading on Wednesday nights, and reference them in the Table Talk and the pulpit regularly. In short, there is a ton of talk about Bible reading at Westside. The good news is that it is paying off. This is one of the Bible “reading-est” churches I’ve ever known. Regular Bible reading is the norm among us, rather than the exception. The spiritual growth and development that comes from people regularly reading Scripture is also easily apparent. It is exciting to see and a joy to be a part of. Yet in all of that there are some who may be left out. What about folks who don’t read well?

Don't Quit Praying! Luke 18

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke18:1)

Jesus knows us. He knows our weaknesses and tendencies. He knows our strengths and successes. A warning from the mouth of one who knows us so well should carry much weight. So what does Jesus warn us about in times when we “lose heart”? “Men ought always to pray and not lose heart”(Luke 18:1). Don’t quit praying! Jesus tells a parable to illustrate the principle (Luke 18:2-5). A widow requests justice from a judge, who for a while refuses to act. However, the widow’s persistence finally leads him to avenge her “lest by her continual coming she weary me”( Luke 18:5). We must learn the lesson well from this determined widow: don’t quit praying!