Welcome to Miracle Word! We are on an adventure and journey into the World of Word—Scripture. Psalm 119:129 says, “Every word you give me is a Miracle Word, break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning” (The Message).
We who are gathered here are just “ordinary” people, looking to God for our way through life. Miracle Word is not an academic study, nor a doctrinal discussion, and this is not a religious exercise. We are regular people, who often stumble along in life, but are being drawn into the incredible, great Story of God.
To begin Miracle Word, simply click on “Today’s Miracle Word Reading.” Then follow the path therein.
We want to encourage you register (you can stay anonymous) and join in on the discussion in the “Forums.” In the Forums we will tell our stories, and how our stories have been changed by the Story of God’s Miracle Word.
We who are gathered here are Christian or not, faithful or not, but we are all gathered here in need of God. We are here because we and the world are broken, and we are ready to join God in being healed. We are here because we recognize that we have not done so well in defining God, so we are now ready for God to define us.
We are here because our story needs the foundation of God’s story. We are here because we need each other. God’s Miracle Word does not just come to us as individuals but it comes to us as individuals in community. So the Story of God grows among us as we participate in God’s story and the story of the lives of one another.
We are here because the world is groaning (Romans 8:22). Our human efforts, our religious efforts, our political efforts have been found wanting. We are here to join with God’s Kingdom in making an impact in lives, in environment, in churches, in communities, and in governments. We are not here to become a policy group; rather we are here to serve the world as friends. Not one of us is in any position of superiority, we are all broken. In our brokenness we are ready to join with the brokenness of the world, humbling ourselves before the God who heals.
We do not read Scripture to know it; we read Scripture to be known by God, so that Scripture then can shape and form us. So we read for change, not for knowledge.
As we read the Scripture here are our presuppositions:
- Scripture is Word, Word is Jesus, and Word is the miraculous Living Life among us.
- How does my life, my attitudes and action, become shaped by this Scripture?
- How does this Scripture both heal me AND send me to serve others?
- How does this Scripture bring us together?
- How does this Scripture join us with God’s Kingdom now?
We read with the understanding that the Old Testament and the New Testament are two different Covenants, each having the same God. The New Testament is God revealed in Jesus, the One who came as Word (John 1:1), bringing to us the image of God in the flesh. In Jesus, our sinfulness has found the clearing house, and our lives find a focal point. The Old Testament is the Story of God, a personal God, who talked with, and personally loved people. He Spoke and gave them His Word. We see in those early followers an “early” faith, sometimes very mature, that points to the fullness of faith in Jesus. We who read Scripture now, have the luxury of knowing Jesus and the light that He brings to our Old Testament readings.
We are here to be diligent and patient through Scripture. We are not here to explain it through our personal experiences, biblical footnotes, or doctrine. We are here reading the Scripture to struggle with it, to tussle with it, and to be immersed in it. For this reason we suggest that you read without consulting footnotes, let the scripture breath for you and with you.
We read without a need to complete. In Miracle Word, you can read the whole Bible through in a year, or you can read portions. We encourage you to read with an expectancy of finding in life the everyday Miracle of God in Christ. You may just read one phrase on some days and be overwhelmed by the Word. Stop and live with the Miracle, soak It in, pray with It, let the Voice come to you.
We are not here to find answers to life’s personal problems. We are here to let God bring definition to our lives.
Here are three suggested reading plans for Miracle Word. (When you click on “Today’s Miracle Word Reading”, found on the home page, the three plans will be seen.)
- Plan number 1 is a path for reading the whole of Scripture through. The average time per day is about 15 minutes.
- Plan number 2 is called “overview passages.” This plan gives you a good feel for the total content of Scripture.
- Plan number 3 is called “Missional Selection.” This plan takes one Scripture text that we can reflect upon as the Word comes to us, shaping and forming us.
- You are encouraged to read the “Missional Reflection” each day. This reflection is intended to help us let Scripture bring shape to our lives.
There are six days of reading per week. Sundays are off days!
One more thing: if you have questions or comments about Miracle Word, or if you would like to order more books, email us at cornerstone@cornerstone4u.org.
Chuck Arney
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
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