Why dont Christians read the Bible? This presentation looks at the reasons, but also comes up with practical solutions. For more detail, visit my Time For God blog series: http://melaniejongsma.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/time-for-god-part-1/

1. Time for God
a Christian approach
to time management
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2. Time for God
#1 reason people give for not reading the Bible:
“Not enough time.
Too busy.”
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3. Time for God
Less time than in the past?
Busier than in the past?
Less disciplined than in the past?
No, not really
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4. Time for God
Two reasons people need “time management” today:
systems
1. Breakdown of ________.
choices
2. Breakout of _______.
Choices attack systems.
Choices require time.
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5. Time for God
Secular assumptions about time management:
1. Time is ___________.
yours to fill
2. It doesn’t matter
what choices you make
_____________________ but
how you manage your choices
___________________________.
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6. Time for God
Christian assumptions about time management:
to God
1. Our time belongs _______.
Psalm 31:15, NIV—
My times are in your hands….
Proverbs 16:3, NIV—
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your
plans will succeed.
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7. Time for God
Christian assumptions about time management:
2. It does matter what we choose
______________.
Deuteronomy 30:19, NIV—
“…Choose life, so that you and your children may live…”
Joshua 24:15, NIV—
“…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Luke 10:42, NIV—
“…Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be
taken away from her.”
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8. Time for God
Christian assumptions about time management:
2. It does matter what we choose.
Our choices reflect what we believe.
We spend time on what we consider
important.
In fact, the way we spend our time is
evidence of what is important to us.
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9. Time for God
Typical (secular) planner:
Devotions
Board meeting
Lunch with team
Call Jim
Dr. appt.
groceries
Praise team
Bible study prep
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10. Time for God
Connection Planner:
God talks to you
You talk to God
Your activities fit into
the context of that relationship
Each day—the whole day—becomes a
conversation
____________ between you and God.
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11. Time for God
relationship
Conversation signifies ____________.
All relationships are developed through:
Talking
__________
__________
Listening
__________
Repeatedly
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12. Time for God
A relationship with God is no different.
prayer
Talking = _______
Bible reading
Listening = _____________
daily devotions
Repeatedly = ______________
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13. Time for God
These habits are not something we
“add to” our relationship with God.
They ARE the relationship!
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14. Time for God
You can’t have a relationship without
talking and listening.
You can’t have a relationship with God
without
prayer and Bible reading.
Your relationship won’t grow any deeper
without
“repeatedly.”
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15. Time for God
“Repeatedly” is what’s difficult.
(Because of the breakdown of systems
and the breakout of choices.)
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16. Time for God
What systems can you establish to
help you succeed at a new habit?
an existing habit
1. Attach it to ________________.
• Meals
• Bedtime
• Commute
• Planning, scheduling
• ______________
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17. Time for God
What systems can you establish to
help you succeed at a new habit?
accountability
2. Invite ______________.
• Spouse or close friend
• Children or parents
• Community group
• Church
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18. Time for God
What systems can you establish to
help you succeed at a new habit?
relationship
3. Remember: it’s ____________, not
regulations
____________.
(Relationships need to be
intentional
__________ as well as familiar.)
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19. Time for God
Let’s try it this week!
tool
1. Choose a ____.
track
2. Choose your _____.
time
3. Choose a _____.
4. Find an ____ to provide accountability
ally ____________.
5. Come back next week whether you
“succeed”or “fail”
________ ____!
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20. Time for God
a Christian approach
to time management
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21. Time for God
How did it go?
• Reports from the front lines
• Learning from each other
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22. Time for God
How can you handle the choices that
threaten your systems?
ahead of time
1. Make your choices _____________.
once
2. Make your choices _____.
3. Anticipate the walls you will ____.
_____ face
Wall = anything that stands between
you and your time with God.
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23. Time for God
What walls do you face?
• Procrastination?
• Interruptions?
• Boredom? Lack of interest?
• Choices?
• Lack of understanding?
• Lack of visible results?
• No accountability partners?
• ______________?
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24. Time for God
How will you get over them?
Admit
1. ______ your walls.
God
• To _____.
Psalm 32:5, TLB— My strength evaporated like water
on a sunny day until I finally admitted all my sins to
you and stopped trying to hide them.
others
• To ______.
James 5:16, TLB— Admit your faults to one
another and pray for each other so that you
may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous
man has great power and wonderful results.
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25. Time for God
How will you get over them?
Face
2. _____ your walls.
Hebrews 10:39, NIV— But we are not of those
who shrink back and are destroyed, but of
those who believe and are saved.
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26. Time for God
How will you get over them?
Hit
3. ___ your walls.
Mark 14:72, NIV— Immediately the rooster crowed
the second time. Then Peter remembered the word
Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows
twice you will disown me three times." And he broke
down and wept.
John 21:17, NIV— The third time he said to him,
"Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt
because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love
me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know
that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
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27. Time for God
How will you get over them?
ladder
4. Find a ______.
Romans 12:21, NIV— Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.
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28. Time for God
For every wall there’s a ladder.
• Procrastination? ______________
• Interruptions? ________________
• Boredom? ___________________
• Choices? ____________________
• Lack of visible results? ________
• No accountability partners?
_____________________________
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29. Time for God
How will you get over them?
God help
5. Ask ____ for _____.
Philippians 4:13, TLB— I can do everything God
asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me
the strength and power.
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30. Time for God
Hosea 10:12, NIV—
Sow for yourselves righteousness,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
For it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers
righteousness on you.
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