The REAL World of Genesis 1

The REAL World of Genesis 1

Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

I have recently become aware of a troubling new challenge to (and rejection of) the face-value, historic understanding of the creation account in Genesis 1. It claims that the original “world” of Genesis 1 is “lost” to us and can only be “rediscovered” by studying other ancient cosmologies that were being developed in Babylon, Egypt, and Phoenicia. Because Genesis was first written for the Hebrews living in ancient times, this view proposes that we must understand the cultural and religious climate of the world in which they lived in order to grasp the real meaning of Genesis 1.

A leading evangelical Old Testament scholar, Dr. John Walton, authored a book entitled, The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (2010, InterVarsity Press). Dr. Walton, Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, has also presented his views in the notes on Genesis in the NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (2019, Zondervan).

Dr. Walton proposes that the Hebrew word bara, translated “create” in Genesis 1:1, does not require the modern English meaning of “bring into initial existence.” Instead, in his view, the term can signify taking what already exists materially and giving it its proper function and purpose.” In other words, God gave the sun, moon, and stars, for example, “functional existence rather than material existence” (NRSV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, p. 4, in the article titled “Creation and Existence”). They already existed materially before God “created” them.  

So, according to this theory, Genesis 1 does not actually describe God bringing anything into its initial existence at all, whether in a seven-day period or otherwise. It does not have anything to do with God initially bringing into existence light, the expanse, the vegetation, the sun, moon, and stars, fish and birds, or beasts and man. It proposes instead that Genesis 1 tells us that God took materials that He had previously created materially, perhaps even millions of years earlier, perhaps through evolutionary processes, and gave them form and function.

The more I have reviewed this approach, the more concerned I have become. I have been surprised to see it being considered, supported, and validated in various conservative, evangelical religious circles. Even some instructors and other leaders in Christian university settings whom I know personally have given it a public hearing without clearly refuting it.

They claim, along with Walton, that one may accept, support, and teach this position without compromising the Bible’s inspiration, accuracy, historicity, and reliability.

Obviously, this approach allows for, perhaps even calls for, some form of “theistic evolution” or “evolutionary creationism.” These ideas propose that evolutionary processes may have occurred over eons of time before God’s revelation in Genesis began, but that God oversaw or allowed these processes.

In this view, the “days” of Genesis 1 are not “days” in any time-related sense, whether 24-hour days or long ages of time. The controversy over the age of the earth and the universe is irrelevant to the “real” message of Genesis 1.

There are multiple reasons for my conviction that this interpretation is false. Not only does it, in my opinion, contradict the face-value reading of Genesis 1. It also contradicts the way the rest of God’s inspired word treats Genesis 1. I cannot find any evidence that Moses, the prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, or the apostles approached the text in this way. Nor have I seen it in the uninspired writings of the earliest Christians.

In other words, this “lost world” theory proposes that basically no one really understood the “true” meaning of the text until very recently, when modern scholarship “found” it. How did those living in the age of inspired scripture miss it, if it is now so obvious? How did Christians and commentators throughout the centuries not see this, if it was there all the time, relatively easy to discover?

And another thing. If this theory is true, when did the real meaning of Genesis 1 become lost? Who lost it and why? Considering how seriously the Hebrews transmitted their God-given beliefs through the centuries, how did they not pass on to their children the “correct” interpretation that has only recently been recovered?

I am convinced that the “real world” of Genesis 1 was never “lost,” and I base that conviction on what I read everywhere in the Word of God. I cannot see any inspired scripture which would keep me from taking the Genesis creation account at face value. Rather, the Spirit-led writers treated the text just as most Bible students once did – just for what it says. They did not attempt to “get behind the text” and explain that it meant something different from what it said.

The Law of Moses

Let’s begin with the words God spoke – yes, God Himself – when He gave Moses and Israel the Law, including the Ten Commandments.

Ex 20:9 “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 11 “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore, the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”

It's interesting to study the source of the seven-day week in world history. Have you ever considered its origin? From a biblical standpoint, the seven-day week reflected the week of creation as described in Genesis. There is no other explanation given.

When God Himself said, “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day,” how would the people of Israel have understood “six days?” If they would have taken these words to mean something different from what they say, the burden of proof is on those who would teach such a thing.

Surely those ancient Hebrews were much closer to the “real” world of Genesis than anyone living today, whether a scholar or otherwise. After all, it was their world! Surely God could have communicated to them in ways that they could understand. He would not have misled them. If the “seven days” had been related to the ancient cosmologies of other cultures, and not to the days of the week with which they were familiar, He could have indicated that. Why did He not? 

Why didn’t God through Moses explain Himself? The “lost world” hypothesis would perhaps answer that God didn’t need to explain the “hidden meaning” of the seven days because the Hebrews already understood that meaning.

However, God went on to stipulate the “face-value” meaning of Genesis 1 again. Once more, again in Exodus, God Himself interpreted the words of Genesis 1 in this same way.

Ex 31:16 “‘So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.’ 17 “It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

The Psalms

Let’s continue. What did the psalmists consider to be the truth about Genesis and creation? Granted, they used Hebrew poetry, rather than prose narrative. However, it seems clear enough that they connected Genesis 1 to the God’s original creation, not to His (much) later providing purpose to the heavens and earth that He had already made.

As you read this next text, consider what event was likely in mind when you see, “Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.” Does this statement not interpret Genesis 1:1 as referring to God’s initial creation? (By the way, these words, first ascribed to Yahweh in this text, are later cited and ascribed to Christ in Hebrews 1:10-12, as another indicator of his full deity.)

Ps 102:25 “Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 “Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. 27 “But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.”

Again, though using poetic language, this next passage from Psalm 104 also points back to Genesis 1. It affirms the understanding that the first chapter of the Bible was to be taken for what it said.

Ps 104:5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever. 6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment; The waters were standing above the mountains. 7 At Your rebuke they fled, At the sound of Your thunder they hurried away. 8 The mountains rose; the valleys sank down To the place which You established for them. 9 You set a boundary that they may not pass over, So that they will not return to cover the earth.

The Later Prayer of Nehemiah

Notice how Nehemiah affirmed the Genesis creation when he praised God centuries later. In the 400s BC, Nehemiah led the effort to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem after the Jews returned from Babylonian exile.

Ne 9:6 “You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.

The Teaching of Jesus

Jesus believed and taught that God made male and female from the beginning, apparently pointing to the original creation. Jesus accepted the plain meaning of Genesis and gave no indication that it had been lost. Also, Jesus quoted from both Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 together, as both belonged to one united creation account.

Noticeably absent from His teaching is any indication that the words of Genesis 1 had been misunderstood. There is no evidence that He connected the creation account with ancient cosmologies or anything else that was not stated in the text. He never suggested that there was a “lost world of Genesis 1.”

Mt 19:4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’”?

The “Beginning” of John’s Gospel

When the apostle John by inspiration wrote in John 1:1, “In the beginning …” he tied that phrase from Genesis 1:1 to God’s original creation. I see no room here for the idea that the heavens and the earth pre-existed the creation discussed in Genesis 1. To John, “the beginning” of Genesis 1:1 was not the time that God took the pre-existing heavens and earth and gave them form and purpose. No, “the beginning” for John was the point at which God through the Word, Jesus Christ, brought all things into being.

Jn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

The Teaching of Paul

When Paul by inspiration wrote regarding Genesis 1-3, he also accepted the text at face value. He did not connect it to the ancient cosmologies of Babylon or Egypt. Neither did he indicate at any point that its meaning had been lost.

Paul believed that when God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), that was the point at which He created light. It was not the point at which God took pre-existing light, which had been around for perhaps millions of years, and gave it form and purpose.

2 Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Paul accepted the Genesis account of God’s making the first man, Adam. Adam was a real person, created directly by God from the ground, not as the result of an evolutionary process that began long before Genesis 1. In fact, the Bible says, “Then the LORD God formed man (Hebrew, adam) of dust from the ground (Hebrew, adamah), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Ge 2:7). The very name “Adam” reflects Paul’s conviction that Adam was created from the ground, rather than his having evolved from previous life forms.

1 Co 15:45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Genesis presents Eve as a real person, whom God made from one of Adam’s ribs (Ge 2:18-23). Adam called her “woman” (Hebrew, ishshah) because she was taken from man (Hebrew, ish). He also named her “Eve” (from the Hebrew term for life or living), because she was “the mother of all living” (Ge 3:20). From the standpoint of Genesis, it is false to say that Adam and Eve evolved from pre-human beings who existed possibly millions of years before the Bible’s creation account. Eve had no mother; she was the mother!

Paul likewise presented Eve as a real person. He taught that she was taken from the man, just as Genesis said, not as the result of evolution. Paul taught that a real serpent deceived Eve in a real moment in history.

1 Co 11:8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.

2 Co 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Paul by inspiration taught that the gender distinctives for men and women originated in the actual historical events described accurately in Genesis. When the simple message of Genesis is questioned, minimized, or rejected, the God-created distinctions between male and female are blurred. We continue to see this in the religious world today.

1 Ti 2:11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

In closing …

The best interpreter of the Bible, and the most ancient and reliable interpreter, is the Bible itself. There is no clear indication (that I can see) in the scriptures themselves that the Jews ever understood Genesis 1 in ways other than its apparent meaning. The idea that no one through the centuries could properly interpret the text or comprehend its “real” meaning is very troubling. I would need solid proof of such a claim.

Let me say this once more. If the real world of Genesis 1 was somehow lost, who lost it? When, how, and why did that happen? Did no one ever write it down and preserve it? Wouldn’t that have been Moses’ role?

I cannot comprehend how the Jews, who so carefully and accurately transmitted the Word of God throughout the centuries, somehow lost the proper understanding of Genesis. I cannot see what reason they would have to start taking the text to mean just what it says. How could a Jew, or a group of Jews, pull such a switch and make such a change? Why is there no record of it? Why weren’t they caught and stopped by those who knew better?

Here are some wise words from an unknown source that are worth considering. “If someone tells you that he has found something in the Bible that no one has seen before in the two thousand years since the Bible was written, be careful! Perhaps what he says he found was never there to begin with.”

Of course, one may choose to reject the Bible completely, including what it says about creation. However, in my judgment, one who accepts the Bible cannot remove from it the claim that God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day.

And so, I go back to where I started, back to where this post began, “in the beginning.”

Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Rescuing the “Nancy Guthrie” in YOUR Life

(PHOTO CREDIT - FOX NEWS) For quite a time now, the disappearance and apparent abduction of Nancy Guthrie have captured the attention of many in our nation. The media have paid more attention to her case, no doubt, because she is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a host of NBC’s “Today” show. Though hundreds of thousands of Americans each year are abducted or kidnapped each year, her situation has received singular attention.

I could not find an estimate of the current cost of the investigation, but it is well over $1,000,000. I say that because there is now a $1,000,000 reward offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of whoever is responsible. That does not include the on-site research, the video camera data, the meetings, the salaries, the man-hours, the DNA testing, the reporting, and so much more.

My point? There is a concerted effort to find this precious person. No matter the cost involved, no matter the time required, no matter the effort invested, she must be found. Those closest to her, and those who know her best, will not rest until she is returned or until all resources and tools have been utterly exhausted.

It may surprise you and me that so many are doing so much for just one person. Or this situation may awaken you and me to the value of just one person. We may say to ourselves, “Someone knows what happened to her! Someone can identify the person(s) responsible!”

We may take it a step further. We may resolve that, if we had personal evidence or knowledge to share, we would do so without hesitation. Our motivation would not be based on the million-dollar reward, at least not exclusively! Haha! We would want her returned and the guilty person(s) prosecuted.

Jesus implied that one soul is worth more than all the world. Note his words:

Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

So … who is the Nancy Guthrie that you know?

She – or he – was part of your church family, just as truly as Nancy Guthrie was part of her physical family. This person worshiped with you, sang with you, prayed with you, and shared the supper of the Lord with you. Perhaps you shared the same pew or Bible study group. This person and you have had the same Father, the same older brother, the same faith, the same hope, and the same love. You were bought with the same blood. You faced the same kinds of struggles. You looked forward to the same great, eternal reward.

You and she – or he – were taught to regard and treat one another as follows:

Rom 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor… 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality… 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

But now your “Nancy Guthrie” is gone, out of sight, vanished.

What happened? Is she alive? Did she move? Was she taken hostage? Did some perpetrator make off with her? Did she fall into sin?

You may realize that there were warning signs, and maybe you missed those signs. She – or he – had pulled back from ministry projects. She cut back on her attendance. When she returned, she sat alone, physically isolated. She arrived just when worship started and left before the service closed.

Who were her – or his – friends? Was she a regular participant in a Bible class? Was she discouraged … frustrated … neglected … ignored?

Here’s the next question. What’s it worth to try to find the “Nancy Guthrie” you know?

Flawed assumptions and approaches

This is her problem. She’ll come back if and when she chooses.

She never really made an effort with me. It’s a two-way street.

She just got her back up about someone or something sometime.

I’ll talk to other people about her, and we’ll make our best guesses.

I don’t know what to say or do. I don’t want to get involved.

I wonder why her close friends at church seem to be dropping out, too.

It’s the elders’ job, or the ministers’ job, to assist her.

Clear biblical instructions

Matt 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Gal 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Tim 2:23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Jas 5:19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Effective steps and strategies

Pray. Pray. PRAY. Be as specific as possible, but know that only God is fully aware of what has happened, when, where, why, and how.

Ask God to help you value this soul as he does. He spared no expense. “God so loved the world that he gave his only son … (John 3:16).” Ask him to fill your heart with his love for “Nancy” and with his desire to bring her home.

Find your “Nancy Guthrie.” You don’t need the FBI, the sheriff, and the police! Your “Nancy Guthrie” is in your church app or directory!

Set as your goal, not just getting “Nancy” back to church, but ministering to her in her pain and in her concerns. Your first aim is to let her know that you care. As you often hear, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I like to add, “And they don’t know how much you care until you show how much you care.”

Do no harm. Any perceived arrogance, condescension, or prejudgment on your part will hinder or completely prevent healing and restoration.

Make contact – just to express your love and interest. You could begin with a card, follow that with a text, and then make the phone call.

Offer to meet for coffee or lunch, her choice, your treat.

Listen. Listen. LISTEN. Ask open-ended, non-judgmental questions.

Assure her – or him – of your absolute confidentiality. She will only share her concerns with you to the extent that she trusts you. Of course, you would be required to report any situations involving imminent risk of harm to her or others, any suspected child or elder abuse, and any court-ordered disclosures. This is your legal obligation.

Allow her to express her criticism, disappointment, or frustration openly. She may feel (and need to articulate) anger, grief, resentment, and/or sorrow.

Realize that she may be unhappy with the elders, the preacher, and/or the members. She may name specific individuals, not as a matter of gossip, but as a matter of her own personal distress. On the other hand, she may put most of the blame on herself.

Do not respond defensively. Instead, reply with, “Please tell me more.” “Help me understand why you feel that way.”

Paraphrase. “Let me see if I get what you are saying. Please correct me or clarify your concerns. Are you saying that (put in your own words) …?”

Say, “I’m so sorry you had that experience. That would bother me, too.”

If “Nancy’s” own personal sin, temptation, or negligence has been at the root of her troubles, encourage her to think about it and talk about it to whatever extent she is willing. Ask her to examine herself in the light of God’s word, since you are not her judge. Help her consider what steps she needs to take to make things right with God, with others, and with herself.

Do not break her confidence to anyone without her specific permission, unless of course there is a legal requirement to do so.

If it seems appropriate, pray with “Nancy” before you conclude.

Arrange a follow-up visit before you leave. It can often take multiple visits to open her – or him – enough to tell you the real heart of their struggle.

You may also ask her, “Is there another trusted Christian friend, perhaps an elder brother or sister, that you’d like to join us next time we visit?”

Conclusion

There’s a “Nancy Guthrie” in your life. You know, love, and care about her – or him. What’s happened? Who’s going on the search? Who will make sure that everything possible is done to bring her home?

You will. You must. You can – with God’s help. God bless you as you go!

Church Health and Growth: Pray, Plan, and Present

 

It is amazing what the shepherds of the church can inspire brothers and sisters to accomplish for the Lord when they proactively project ideas, goals, and practical steps for the coming year. Recently (January, 2026) I witnessed a group of elders doing this very thing. On the first Sunday of the year, they took both the morning and the evening services to announce and explain their plans as overseers to lead the church. Their approach was so impressive and so outstanding to me that I felt compelled to tell you about it.

This particular church has three overseers (shepherds, pastors, elders) and about 300 in attendance. These leaders called the church together, reviewed the past year, and laid out a blueprint for the next twelve months. The three men were all together in the pulpit area, and they took turns speaking to the church one by one.

Gratitude and Humility

The first shepherd began by saying that the three elders were honored, humbled, and grateful to be able to serve. The church members had received them, helped them, and encouraged them in their tasks (Heb 13:17). He thanked them for their efforts with the children and the youth, and he urged the church to keep seeking to be innocent as children. He emphasized the central focus: serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Survey and Feedback

The church had received and completed a survey, and the overseers had carefully reviewed every individual response. They appreciated feedback of all kinds. They had learned that a personal approach (shepherding) made them more effective. They asked that brothers and sisters would keep coming to them often.

Specific Opportunities

He mentioned the need for more people to serve in a particular ministry, and he commended by name the coordinator of that ministry. He said that, while they had already scheduled guest speakers for special meetings through 2028, they would also invite preachers suggested by the members to come and preach beyond that period. In other words, they had listened, and they would act on the members’ recommendations.

“Ask an Elder”

Once a quarter, any interested member would be able to attend a scheduled “ask an elder” conversation. All three elders would join, perhaps on a Zoom call or in person, to answer any questions about judgments the elders had made or about biblical doctrine and its application. If the members just wanted to talk or offer suggestions, the elders would welcome such conversations. There would be other opportunities to meet with the elders, but these quarterly events would be scheduled and announced in advance.

Online Resources

Work groups and teacher assignments would be posted to the members-only portion of the church’s website for easy reference. A digital library of the church’s teaching resource materials, would be prepared and posted online. Links to new songs for the church would be included, too, so that the members could learn them.

Commending Good Works and Missions

This first shepherd briefly reviewed the past year, including the baptisms, the new members, the current and new Bible teachers, the youth devotionals, the VBS, small-group studies, and the Bible drills. He commended the church for inviting and welcoming newcomers, with whom further Bible studies had often taken place. He noted that the congregation had given a specific amount, hundreds of thousands of dollars, to support evangelists and missionaries in many countries. He named each of these nations. In addition, several church leaders and members had traveled into other countries, sometimes into dangerous areas, to assist with mission efforts.

He kept saying, “We’re so proud of ...” with a broad smile on his face.

Restoring the Fallen

He acknowledged that several had left the congregation during the past year. He emphasized that the shepherds had done, and would continue to do, all that they could to restore erring disciples and bring them back to a right relationship with the Lord. He urged the church to pray for, and to try to influence, those who had fallen away. They were not to be treated as enemies, but as fallen brothers and sisters. He stressed that church discipline was also intended to win such brothers and sisters back to the Lord.

Training Future Preachers

He commended a second minister that the congregation for mentored and trained for some time. This man and his wife had recently left with the church’s blessing so that he could become the regular, full-time preacher in another state where there was a great need. Meanwhile, the church had taken on a new couple, to train and mentor them for the same purpose. That is, the church was regularly interning ministers so that they could be effective preachers and evangelists.

Annual Themes for Focus

This overseer listed the congregation’s annual themes from the past several years. Then he explained that the elders, with input from the deacons and others, had begun working on the new year’s theme the previous year. They chose the greatest command: to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). That theme was to provide a focus to the year while allowing all of God’s Word to be taught.

Exhortation and Expectation

He stated that the elders expected the members to be present for all services and to make themselves available to participate. This was an important expression of one’s commitment to observe and obey the greatest command: to love God. He said, “I need you. You need me. We need each other.” “God expects us to do this together, to be involved in this together.”

Plans in Print

Then, on behalf of all three shepherds, he presented and described a tri-fold brochure that each person had received that morning. One panel featured the theme. A second panel had an invitation, a photo of the building and property, and the scheduled times of study and worship.

Scripture Reading, Listening, and Memorizing

The third panel featured the Bible reading schedule for the entire church to read the whole New Testament together through the year.

In addition to reading through the New Testament, the elder exhorted each person to listen to an audio version of the New Testament twice during the year. He mentioned the various apps that would be helpful. Such would require just 3 to 4 minutes per day.

The church would have a monthly memory verse. He encouraged all who wished to participate to contact the appropriate person.

~~~~

In this post I have described just part of the pastors’ (elders’, overseers’, shepherds’) first-of-the-year message to the church. I have shared powerful evidence of what can happen when leaders pray, plan, and present dreams and goals for the next twelve months. Please let your church leaders read this article, to consider what they may choose to do.

To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever.