There is great value in being taught from both the New and the Old Testament. Each book of the Bible has relevance and application (though often indirect) to our lives.

I desire to provide a “well-rounded” diet to the congregation. We follow a diet using the four basic food groups (meats, starches, vegetables/fruit, and dairy) to ensure health and growth. Similarly, I plan to preach from the four basic literary styles: history (Genesis – Esther), poetry and prophecy (Job – Malachi), gospel (Matthew – Acts) and epistle (Romans – Revelation).

My plan is to preach through the whole Bible in 10 years. Each quarter we will study from one of those four groups. The first quarter (roughly) we will study history, the second, gospel, the third, poetry and prophecy, and the fourth, epistle. This plan will provide a systematic approach to the study of all Scripture and provide the framework for expository preaching. There will still be special Sundays (e.g. Easter and Christmas) that will warrant special messages.

Beyond this “well-rounded” diet, I will provide a number of aids to help the congregation in being nourished by God’s Word. On the backside of the sermon outline, there will be a weekly plan for reading through the Bible in a year. I will attempt (whenever appropriate) to use examples in the sermon from the previous weeks readings. There will also be a Scripture memory verse from the sermon text each week. I will list the text for the following weeks sermon so that the congregation can study the Scriptures for themselves in preparation of the message. There will also be application questions for discussion that each family could consider together.

Because God’s Word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,” we must take the opportunity to provide a nourishing and substantive diet for the congregation so that they can mature: “that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Pastor Joe