Melissa Rightmire Melissa Rightmire

Reading New Testament and Psalms in Six Months in 2025

Here we are in 2025 and we are steadfast on abiding in Jesus this year! Here at Crossroads we are learning to abide better by engaging in His Word and letting it shape us as a community of people walking with Him. We want to embody John 15.1-9.

We are beginning by reading the New Testament during the first six months of the year. For those so inclined, there is an option to add the Psalms to your reading plan. This might sound like a big deal, but reading the New Testament in six months will only take about 8-10 minutes of your day! If you add the Psalms just double that amount.

The point isn’t really how much we read in six months, it’s more important that we are learning to ABIDE with Jesus. He in us and us in Him just as He is in the Father and Father is in Him. That is how we get to the point of hearing Him well and seeing Him around us so that we can follow his leading. We read the Bible because that is a primary way the Holy Spirit speaks to us. We learn who Jesus is. We begin to understand His ways, the ways of the Father, and learn the voice of the Holy Spirit. Without engaging in His Word, we are simply manufacturing our own ideas about what God is doing and saying. And that’s only abiding in ourselves . . . not Jesus.

I pray you are joining us this year as we learn to abide! Follow along each day. Share what’s happening! Take on the challenges that are posted and let us know how it’s going in the comments under each week’s reading plan. Text the word READ to 833-210-7705 and let me know how you are engaging or if you want to be a part of a small group or Zoom call. We want to help you connect with the Body of believers as you learn to abide.

I am confident God will bless you and our gatherings with His Presence, direction, and all manner of fruit of the Spirit in great abundance as we abide in Him.

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Melissa Rightmire Melissa Rightmire

Let’s Begin Reading!

It all begins with an idea.

The most important thing anyone can do before reading the Bible is to pray for the Holy Spirit to help you understand, listen, and act on what He is saying to you. If you are not sure how to do that, here is a simple prayer to get you started:

Lord God, Thank you for the words that I am about to read. Holy Spirit, I trust that you are indeed my teacher and my counselor, so would you teach and counsel me as I read today? My mind and heart are open to understanding and I am ready to learn to abide. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

I have nothing but confidence that God will answer this prayer because there is nothing more that He wants than to abide in you and you in Him! He wants to talk to someone who is listening! Get ready to hear as you begin the first day of reading.

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Melissa Rightmire Melissa Rightmire

Week Five

By now you have read enough of the Gospel of Mark to know the writing style is completely different than that of Matthew’s. Because much of it is written in short action packed vignette type scenes, some scholars think this gospel may have been used to act out in plays. Imagine what it would be like to watch these scenes being acted out on an ancient stage in a whole other culture and time. It might be easier to see our lives in the text if we can visualize a scene.

Another important factor about this gospel is the number of times the Greek word euthys is used, 42 to be exact — more than any other gospel or anywhere else in the New Testament. In the NIV, the word is translated as “immediately” 41 of those times. Although the first time it is used in Mark 1:3 it translated “straight.” Do you remember the verse? “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight (immediate) paths for him’.”

There is so much sense of immediacy in Mark’s gospel. As you read this week, consider that sense of urgency and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight into what was behind that when it was written. Then ask, ‘where should I have a sense of urgency and immediacy?’. Are there things I haven’t seen that the Lord is doing RIGHT NOW? Immediately? Straight away? How can I join Him? Where am I in today’s great story of the best news ever?

You can reach me at mrightmire@crnaz.com

 

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Melissa Rightmire Melissa Rightmire

Week Four

How’s it going with the two lists? Have you thought about it? Last week I asked you to start two lists. The first list is what you’re learning about the character of God. The second list is about your identity in Christ. What do you learn about God and yourself through reading the Bible? Is one list easier than the other? Most of us can easily pick out character traits of God, but it is far more difficult for us to listen to what he has to say about who we are because of him.

I’m going to keep talking about these two lists because they’re so important in learning to abide in Christ. We must know who God is, but equally important is knowing who we are in him. This week I challenge you to find 15 to 20 minutes to sit with God in quiet. Take a sheet of paper or your electronic device and write out this question: “What does the Spirit of God say about me?” And then pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what he has to say about you. Maybe spend a few minutes reading the word before you pray. But be sure to stop and listen. And then write what you hear. Don’t question what your heart tells you. Don’t be afraid about what you hear. It’s only Jesus, the Spirit of the living God. He is compassionate and caring. He will never dishonor you. He will not shame you, and he will not condemn you and he is not holding anything against you. If you begin to hear things that sound like shame, guilt, or condemnation, you know that is not of God. Stop writing and rebuke those evil thoughts and center your heart on Jesus again. If you need help understanding the way Jesus will talk to you, read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Everything he says will fit into that criteria.

Let me know how this goes. I’d love to hear from you. I am praying that God will give you great revelation about who you personally are in him and it will strengthen your faith and your ability to abide. You can reach me at mrightmire@crnaz.com

 

 

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Melissa Rightmire Melissa Rightmire

Week Three

We are already well into Matthew’s gospel and have read a LOT about Jesus! This week, I want to challenge you to begin to keep TWO LISTS. One list will be things you learn about the character of Jesus and the Father. This list reflects timeless truth's about God. For example, when it was said about Jesus in Matthew 9:36 that He had compassion on the people “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” What does that tell you about Jesus’ character? You might say, he has compassion on those who are harassed, helpless, and without guardianship. The title of this list is Jesus’ Character. And I just gave you your first entry!

The second list is about US. Who are we to Jesus? The title of this list is My Identity in Christ. Using the same story as above I might add to my list that I am someone Jesus has compassion for. Unlike the crowd who gathered, as a believer and disciple, I could write, “I am a sheep with a good Shepherd who takes care of me. I am no longer harassed, helpless or without guardianship.” Try to keep this list in the positive tone because this is who you are in Christ.

Two lists: Jesus Character and My Identity in Christ. We’ll add to these lists each day and keep them through to the end of the New Testament. I am looking forward to how we all grow in recognizing Jesus and ourselves in Him.

You can do this! Pray for the Holy Spirit to grant you ears to hear and eyes to see what He is saying. I know He will answer your prayer!

 

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