A New Breath at HopeScribed
Learning Scripture in its Natural Rhythm
In Him we live and move and have our being. — Acts 17:28
Welcome to the First Full Year of HopeScribed
I want to personally welcome you into the journey we are about to take together.
This year is not just a content change. It is a return. A step back in order to step deeper.
We are going to read Scripture the way it was originally experienced, as living narrative rather than numbered fragments.
What Makes This Year Different?
Together, we will:
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Ignore modern chapter and verse divisions
Was inserted in 1227 Langston, had no Biblical foundation for where the divisions fell.
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Set aside theology created after Christianity became a legal institution in the third and fourth centuries
During this time not only was Christianity legalized but it was also heavily compelled by the authorities who ruled the day. This came with consequences that are still a division today.
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Stop forcing our ideas into the text
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Let the Word define how it applies to us
This may feel bold or even uncomfortable. That is good. Growth usually does.
God created your mind to question, to search, to weigh what is true. Yet many of us were taught to sit quietly in church without asking why. Today is the day that changes. We will ask questions like...
Why do we do this?
Why was that added?
Why do we no longer see what Scripture describes?
Where did certain practices go?
What happened to the Sabbath?
What happened to discipleship?
What happened to awe and wonder?
How did we get here?
How is our traditions/doctrines/actions today mirror Israel?
Who started this? (This will consist of different topics)
Where is this in Scripture?
We will ask more questions than we have ever asked before. And guess what? God.... Well, He isn't afraid of these questions. Not only does he encourage us to ask them, but Jesus tells us to be watchful, so the elect won't be deceived. He commended one of the seven churches in the Book of Revelation for searching the scriptures daily and proving them true. (them being teachers)
These are not rebellious questions.
They are the kind that build relationship.
So today, I challenge you:
Be curious.
Be different.
Be brave.
Be courageous.
Because life begins to change when we stop settling for what is familiar and start walking closer to Abba with open eyes and honest questions.
Religion Has Replaced Relationship
Across time, human ideas have interfered with God’s voice. We traded ancient discipleship for religious systems, comfort, and convenience.
We have allowed:
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Doctrine to speak louder than Scripture
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Preference to rewrite obedience
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Comfort to move boundary lines Scripture never moved
Jesus never offered a wide, easy, or popular path.
He said the road is narrow, and few find it.
He called us to be salt, yet the world is more spoiled than ever. Not only globally or politically, but spiritually.
In our homes. In our hearts. Even in our churches.
Covid Exposed What Was Missing
When church buildings closed, something happened. Not only loss, but revelation.
We rediscovered:
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Faith without performance
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Worship without production
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The altar as a place for every tear, not just salvation
Many waited to return to normal. Others saw that normal was not working. We realized that corporate church alone cannot sustain spiritual life.
Not without relationship. Not without discipleship. Not without heart.
Reading Scripture in Breaths, Not Numbers
This year, we will explore Scripture in Breaths. These are natural story units rather than artificial divisions. Just as we breathe in rhythms, Scripture also moves in rhythms.
Some Breaths are long. Some are sharp. Some are quiet. All are alive.
Why Use AI?
I cannot ask humans to remove human influence, then insert my own. That defeats the purpose. AI was asked to identify natural narrative breaks without any allegiance to denomination, doctrine, or religious tradition. Not to teach us. Only to reveal structure.
We will test it together. We will study. We will question. We will grow.
The Journey Ahead
We are not doing this to sound smarter.
We are not doing this to argue.
We are not doing this to tear apart faith.
We are doing this to rebuild relationship with our Father.
I personally feel like the same church that looked the lions in the eyes
Is who we need to become.
What was lost?
I pray God reveals.
Welcome to the questions.
Welcome to the wrestle.
Welcome to the narrow road.
Welcome to a new Breath.
Abba,
We cry out to You, asking You to restore what so many of us have surrendered.
We did not lose it all in a moment.
We stepped away, little by little, believing one step would do no harm.
But it was never just one step.
We stacked them, one upon another,
giving ourselves to the world and starving the spirit You breathed into us.
Abba, we need You now more than ever.
Open our eyes.
Soften our hearts.
Let empty doctrines fall.
Let every defense built on human teaching lose its power.
Renew our desire to know You — truly know You.
Teach us Your Word as You spoke it.
Show us Your works as You have done them.
Let us testify of Your goodness with honesty and reverence.
Draw us back to Your presence, Your peace, Your will, Your truth.
Bring us home to You, Abba.
Amen.
Before You Go
I would love to know:
What excites you most about returning to Scripture without chapters and verses?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
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