Warm hellos once again friends, brethren, fellow laborers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast of lower Alabama. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.
Back in March of 2016 I sent out what’s below to the multiple churches I pastored in the Carolinas as well as those in the country of Colombia. Perhaps it will be helpful to you as you prepare for the upcoming Passover in just over two weeks.
“Prepare to take the upcoming Passover with Scripture Reading”
As we prepare our minds (intellectual focus) and our hearts (emotional balance) for partaking of the Passover symbols, and thereby renewing our covenant-attachment to God there are many things to review in our relationship with Him.
In the great annual project we are given to “examine ourselves” (1 Corinthians 11:28), the beginning place must be prayer and reading of the scriptures, which is the two-way conversation—our spiritual lifeline with God.
A wise pastor/minister (one of the men I assisted, and worked/trained under) often each year prior to Passover advised members of the congregations he served to pray a prayer specifically for repentance to God for their sins. He would also take out a church booklet, “the Ten Commandments” and encourage each one to review the high points, (making sure it aligned with scripture) [emphasis mine], and then ask God for the insight to see how he was falling short of the mark of keeping each one—then, repent of those things as he went through God’s Word [emphasis mine] and the booklet.
I encourage you in the just a little over three weeks we have before Passover to make time for special prayer about your progress in getting to know God better, and make time for special reading about the elements of the relationship we have with our Father and with Jesus Christ our Savior and King.
Below is a reading list that I personally use in preparation for Passover. Some years I read more and some less… some years, other scriptures, too. This year I’m on track to get them read. I hope it may be useful to you. Next week we may review a great and powerful force that kicks in when you “give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).
A good, blessed, and happy week to you!
-Scott Hoefker 03/28/16
Passover Reading List
Psalm 32 and 51. Both on the subject of repentance—restoration to joy.
Romans 6-8 is a summary of God’s personal plan for conversion.
Chapter 6—Baptism. Unity with Christ through spiritual burial and resurrection.
Chapter 7—Overcoming sin and human nature.
Chapter 8—Using the power of the Holy Spirit, conquerors advancing to glory.
Matthew 26-27—Jesus’ last Passover and crucifixion.
Mark 14-15—Jesus’ last Passover and crucifixion.
Luke 22-23—Jesus’ last Passover and crucifixion.
John 6—Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse (two miracles introduce it).
John 13:1-13—Foot washing ceremony.
1 Corinthians 11:17 —Instruction for the Passover service.
Ephesians 1 and 3—The spiritual prayers of Paul for his congregations (1:15; 3:13).
Philippians 2-3—Instruction in the converted attitude.
Chapter 2—Christ, our example, model.
Chapter 3—Christ, the object of our devotion; unity.
Colossians 1-3—Theme of the book is the pre-eminent glory of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 1— Superiority of Christ-7 superiorities, His reconciling work, the hope of glory.
Chapter 2— Baptism, our lives centered on Christ.
Chapter 3—Abundant life of a Christian.
John 13:21 – John 16—Jesus’ fellowship with the disciples on Passover night.
John 17—Jesus’ prayer to the Father advocating for us.
1 Peter 1 and 2 Peter 1—Both speak of the enormity of our calling and the promises God gives to us.
Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.
