Our aim is not only to learn sound doctrine and consider the conduct of church officers but to develop the godly character that serves as the bedrock of these offices (1 Timothy 3:1-13).

Every Spring we come to a month-long period in which church members can nominate potential church officers.

Our Book of Church Order (BCO) states that authority in a church is exercised by church officers but that “the power to elect persons to the exercise of [that] authority” resides with the church members (Preliminary Principle, #6). The great power and privilege of the people of God is that they get to elect the leaders of their church. 

God calls his people to cherish his Word so that we may know, believe, love, and obey him. Therefore, God calls elders to minister his Word (and to pray) as their first priority (Acts 6:4). But Jesus taught that we must not only proclaim the Word (Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15; Ephesians 6:19; Revelation 14:6) but must also promote the Word through deeds of love and mercy (Matthew 7:21, 24-27; Romans 15:18; Colossians 3:17; 1 John 3:18). 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. The purpose is to see afresh our need for a Savior, renew our devotion to him through daily repentance, and remember that Jesus has conquered sin and death. In some traditions, an ashen cross is applied to one’s forehead to serve as a physical reminder that you have come from dust and to dust you will return (Gen. 3:19). But it is also a reminder to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).

So you’ve been thinking about reading the Bible in 2025. Maybe you want to read the whole Bible, from beginning to end, for the very first time. Or maybe you desire to get more acquainted with the Old Testament this year. 

Yet, these wonderful reading goals can feel like an overwhelming task. How can we get started? And how can we keep going when the reading gets tough?

I’d like to share with you a few tools that I find helpful. Two I’ve used almost everyday for many years. The other is a new one that I just discovered. Let’s start with the new one: