You’ve Got The Time!

Listen to the Bible in 40 days

Have you picked up your free MP3 disc containing dramatized readings of the entire New Testament?

The discs are available in two versions, one with the complete New Testament and another version for children that features key stories from the Bible. They may be picked up from the baskets at the front and back of the sanctuary.

With the primary disc, it is possible to hear the entire New Testament in 40 days, roughly the period between April 12-May 23.   All it takes is 28 minutes a day.

“You’ve Got the Time” is the name of this national initiative sponsored by the

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Berea will join other churches related to CBF in seeking to hear anew the Word of God in 2010.

A private donor has worked through CBF to make available these MP3 discs produced by Faith Comes By Hearing, a non-denominational ministry based in

Albuquerque, N.M.

Here are answers to some common questions about this project:

Q. What is an MP3?

A. MP3 is compact digital recording, like the kind used on most portable music devices, like iPods. A recording of the entire New Testament on CD takes 16 discs, but a compressed MP3 recording of the New Testament fits on one disc.

Q. Will I be able to play the MP3 disc in my car stereo or on my home stereo?

A. If your car or home stereo is designed to play MP3 discs, this disc will work. Many newer-model car stereos include this feature, which often is noted on the face of the stereo. These discs will not play in traditional CD players that are not MP3-compatible.

Q. What if I don’t have an MP3-compatible stereo?

A. The discs will play in all computers. Also, from a computer, the audio files may be loaded onto an iPod or other portable music device.

Q. What if I don’t have a portable music device and don’t know how to play the MP3 on a computer?

A. Follow the link on Berea’s Web site, or go directly on your Web browser to

www.faithcomesbyhearing.com and you’ll find an audio Bible in various translations that can be downloaded for free.

Q. Is this New Testament recording available on a traditional CD?

A. Yes, a 16-disc set is available for purchase directly from Faith Comes by Hearing. The grant that has provided the free MP3 discs does not provide for free CDs. A wide variety of other Bible-listening products are available on their website.

Q. Why is Berea doing this?

A. The “You’ve Got the

Time” initiative coincides with the period between Easter and Pentecost, when the church was born and the acts of God were heard in all the known languages.  Reading or hearing the Word of God is a spiritual practice basic to Christianity and therefore fits naturally with this church-wide goal. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

Yet research shows that more than half of all church members never will read the Bible for themselves.

We want to listen to the testimony of Scripture together as a church to see what God might do in us and with us in 40 days.

Q. May I take extra MP3 discs to share with others?

A. Yes, we will happily share the remaining discs with anyone who will use them.  We will distribute copies of the MP3 discs now through Easter to all who will take one and commit to use it.

We also hope you will pass your copy along once we finish our 40 days.

Q. How will I know which portions of Scripture to listen to each day, in order to complete the 40-day course?

A. The MP3 discs are clearly labeled for daily readings, and chapter breaks have been placed digitally on the files for ease of finding your place.

Q. Is this recording available in other languages?

A. Yes, the primary mission of Faith Comes by Hearing is to provide the spoken Word of God to all people in their native language. Recordings in hundreds of languages are available on the organization’s Web site.

As part of our 40-day focus, we will collect an offering now through Pentecost in hopes of raising $1,000, enough to translate one book of the New Testament into a new language that others may hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Offerings toward this goal should be place in a Special Offering envelope and marked “You’ve Got the Time.”

Q. Who do I call if I still have questions?

A. Call Mark, our pastor, if you have questions about the program or how to download another scripture version from the web.  If your question is about how to MP3, grab anyone under the age of 25 and they likely will be able to help you out.  I’m sure they will be glad to assist you.

Read through the New Testament in 40 days

If you’d rather read the printed Bible, here’s an outline based on the division of Scriptures on the You’ve Got the Time MP3 discs. Read these portions daily, and you’ll work through the entire New Testament in 40 days.

1..............Matt. 1-7

2.............Matt. 8-12

3.............Matt. 13-18

4.............Matt. 19-24

5.............Matt. 25-28

6.............Mark 1-6

7.............Mark 7-11

8.............Mark 12-16

9.............Luke 1-4

10...........Luke 5-9

11............Luke 10-13

12............Luke 14-19

13............Luke 20-24

14............John 1-5

15............John 6-9

16..........John 10-14

17..........John 15-19

18..........John 20-Acts 4

19..........Acts 5-9

20..........Acts 10-15

21..........Acts 16-20

22..........Acts 21-26

23..........Acts 27-Rom. 4

24..........Rom. 5-10

25..........Rom. 11-1 Cor. 1

26..........1 Cor. 2-9

27..........1 Cor. 10-15

28..........1 Cor. 16- 2 Cor. 9

29..........2 Cor. 10-Gal. 4

30..........Gal. 5-Phil. 1

31..........Phil. 2-1 Thess. 2

32.........1 Thess. 3-1 Tim. 5

33.........1 Tim. 6-Heb. 1

34.........Heb. 2-10

35.........Heb. 11-James 5

36.........1 Pet. 1-1 John 1

37.........1 John 2-Jude

38.........Rev. 1-7

39.........Rev. 8-15

40.........Rev. 16-2