![]() There is no more ambitious, well-intentioned, or wider-reaching movie this season than Cloud Atlas. There was a collective audible gasp when our group was able to view them.This article is from the archive of our partner. Wooden floors have been built over the mosaic flooring for its protection, but at certain spots, special hatches have been installed that can be lifted to view the original fourth-century mosaics. Intricate mosaic tile floors were part of the original Byzantine church, and they can still be seen today. This church consisted primarily of an octagonal altar located directly above the cave, with a five-aisle nave and an atrium. Thus, Empress Helena journeyed to the Holy Land in 327 AD and a basilica was constructed above the cave, parts of which still exist today. Early church Father Origen writes about a cave in Bethlehem that was known to be the place of Jesus’s birth. However, by the mid-third century, the site had already taken on a sacred position. Preserving A Holy Cave and Constantine’s ChurchĬommissioned by the Roman emperor Constantine in the fourth century, the first church built at the site was consecrated on May 31, 339. ![]() Leading up to our visit and during our time there, I learned the extensive and powerful history of the Church of the Nativity which will inform your next (or first) visit to this incredible church. Visiting in December took on special meaning as the birthplace of our Savior. Today, the Church of the Nativity is one of the most important sites of Christian pilgrimage, alongside Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.Įarlier this month, I led a group of thirty pilgrims to visit Bethlehem and its beautiful Church of the Nativity. Originally built in the fourth century on the spot Christians hold as the birthplace of Jesus, historical sources reference the site as early as the second century. Only six miles south of Jerusalem in the West Bank stands the oldest continually used place of Christian worship in the world, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. Posted in Bible Study, Faith Tagged bible study, faith Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity Begin each day with prayer, asking God for discernment, and dive into each day’s reading. It combines readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms each day to work through the entire book in a calendar year. This 52-week Bible reading plan methodically works through the whole Bible in one year. His Words will hydrate you from the inside out. Make the commitment today to read through the most profound, life-changing truths ever written. Print off one of these free Bible reading plans and tuck it into your Bible. Approach His words of absolute truth with expectation. ![]() And friends, this world NEEDS His light.ĭuring your journey through Scripture, ask God each day to speak to you directly from His Word - whether you read a whole book of the Bible, an entire chapter, or one verse at a time. His wonderful truths instruct, guide, and teach us, and provide the encouragement we need to shine His light in a dark world. Some days may go faster than others, but the whole point is to stay in God’s Word. To that end, each checklist will guide you through the entire Bible at your own pace. Reading and hearing God’s Word increases our faith ( Romans 10:17). ![]() We need God’s Word in our hearts, so let’s be intentional about it.ĭo you want to pick a Bible reading plan that you won’t regret committing to for the next season? I have done all the work for you digging deep to find the top ways to read the Bible broken down in daily readings. These free downloadable plans vary widely, and you will likely be surprised by all the different approaches to help you read the Bible. And that chaos, confusion, and dissension seem to gain momentum every year. Perhaps as you start this new year, daily Bible reading will provide a “soul reset” that you need to combat the world’s daily chaos. God’s Word is living and active, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformation happens from the inside out. That’s not a judgmental statement, because it used to be me! Nothing has completely transformed my life more quickly than spending time reading and studying God’s beautiful words every day of the week. Many people have never read the Bible cover to cover.
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