St. Paul Lutheran Church
Pastor: Rev. Neil Wehmas | Tel: 712-364-2918 | Fax: 712-364-3038
100 7th Street
Ida Grove, Iowa 51445
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Pastor's Desk

“The Whole Story” Journey Begins

By Pastor Neil Wehmas

                One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions is for one to read the Bible more, or to read the entire Bible in a year.  Much like a weight-loss resolution, having others travel the journey with you can help a great deal.

                In 2025, the year of our Lord, the entire congregation is invited on a journey of reading the entire Bible through the year.  Our worship services and our Bible classes will revolve around the congregation-wide read through.  Sunday worship services will focus upon the reading from Saturday or Monday.  Sunday morning Bible study, Wednesday Bible Study, and Thursday at Subway will focus upon the reading for the given day.

                Here are some tips in helping you through the Whole Story.:

  • Use a Bible translation that is accurate and readable.  These are my suggestions:
    1. Most Accurate, but tougher to read: “Legacy Standard Bible”
    2. Higher Accuracy, and a little easier to read: “English Standard Version”
    3. Lesser Accuracy, but easier to read: “Living Standard Bible”
    4. Oldies, but still good translations: “King James Version” or “New King James Version”
  • Pray before you read. Something like this prayer from Martin Luther:
    1. Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit who writes the preached word into our hearts so that we may receive and believe it, and be gladdened and comforted by it in eternity. Glorify Your Word in our hearts. Make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, and through Your inspiration think what is right. By Your power fulfill the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.[1]
  • Read for at least 15-minutes. Some days there will be up-to three chapters to read.  Don’t feel bad if you don’t read it all.  Try to read for 15-minutes of the scheduled reading each day.  In one-year, you will be surprised how much you will have read.
    1. Alternative, consider making use of an audio Bible like what is available through the “YouVersion” Bible app.
  • Questions to ask as you pray (from Ten Questions to Ask Every Time You Read the Bible by Pastor Andrew Jones):
    1. Who or what is the enemy in this passage?
    2. How is the enemy defeated?
    3. Whose point of view am I reading?
    4. Where is the Lord in this passage?
    5. Where am I in this passage? How did I get here?
    6. What have I experienced that connects with this passage?
    7. What am I feeling?
    8. Where might I have heard this passage before?
    1. Focus upon a single sentence or thought from the passage and let it mold your prayers. For example (based off of Mark, Chapter 1):
      1. Lord God, heavenly Father. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River you said of Him, “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”  I thank you that on account of Jesus’ suffering and death, you have made me your beloved Son, with whom you are well pleased.  In Jesus name.  Amen.
    2. Notice in my example, you are speaking God’s word back to him, and you are internalizing what has been read.

Blessings to you and all within our congregation as we journey our way through the Whole Story.  I pray that it will be a blessing to you.  Find ways to involve your children, grandchildren, and others in your reading.  Some passages will be difficult to read or to understand.  Keep reading and let the fullness of scripture unfold its message for you.

Have a blessed New Year and a Most Blessed 2025.

In Christ,
Pastor Neil Wehmas

[1] Engelbrecht, Edward A. 2009. The Lutheran Study Bible. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

Last Updated: 1/3/2025