I have had over 50 people say that they intend to read through the Bible in 2009! Whether you have officially let me know that you are planning to accomplish this feat or not, I encourage you to do so. Let me offer a couple of suggestions to help motivate you and give you incentive to go for it!
1. Get a Journal or a Notebook -- Reading is one thing, but writing things down will help you remember, and will enable you to look back in September to notes you took during a reading you did in January and see a connection to what you are reading on that particular day. It will help you see how God's word is cohesive, and, since writing it down helps you remember things better, it will help God's word become adhesive to your daily life. (Couldn't help the "cohesive/adhesive" play on words).
2. Before you begin on day one, write down specific questions you would like answered as you read the Bible -- Knowing specific things you are looking for as you read can motivate you to study, even on days you may think about skipping your Bible reading. As you read daily, write down passages that address the specific question(s) you have. Compiling a year's worth of notes and a complete reading of the entire Bible will give you a deeper understanding of God's message as it relates to the questions you have. Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking about what questions you may have. Use these or come up with some of your own:
Questions:
What questions does God ask in the Bible? We ask Him questions all the time. Does He have any?
Where in the Bible does it mention or allude to the trinity?
What are the many different names of God mentioned throughout the Bible and in what context are they used?
Record all of the prayers in the Bible and see how God answered them.
What are all of the promises God made in the Bible and how do they effect me today?
What is God's view of His creation? What role does creation, other than humankind, play in the whole scheme of things?
What examples of healing are there in the Bible? How does that impact what I believe about His healing today?
What does the Bible actually say about...? (You fill in the blank)
I think doing these two things will help you stay motivated to study and will give you rewarding returns!
Send me a comment about the questions you will seek answers to as you read the Bible this year!! Or just send me any comment. I like 'em.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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Landon,
ReplyDeleteI will be reading through the Bible in 2009. It has been about 10 years since I read it all the way through and I look forward to accomplishing this important task, as I know God will bless our church by the one who take this challenge.
I have 2 recommendations of how to approach the task of the reading the Bible through in a year based on the level of Bible student.
1. For the person who has never read the Bible through and may be intimidated by the Old Testament (OT): start with the New Testament (NT) first. The reasons for this approach are 2-fold: a.) The NT is easier to read that the OT, so it will not be as intimidating for you and, b.) When you finish the NT, you will feel good about a compelted task and will be motivated to continue with the OT.
2, For the more seasoned Bible student, you can read the Bible beginning in Genesis in logical "chunks", for example...... in Genesis read ch 1-11, which is the Creation account, then read 12-26, which is the account of Abraham, then read 27-36, which is about Jacob, then 37-50 is about Joseph. By that time you will have the book of Genesis and its 50 chapters done. With a little advanced prep as you approach each book, you can logically "chunk" the book into these type of groupings and it will make a logical and fun read. This approach even works in the tough books like Leviticus and Numbers :-))
I am going to use this approach this year.
As I heard a pastor say one time, "Read the Bible like any other book, so you can get through it, and read it like no other book, because it is alive and active and will change your life if you uncover the truths along the way". Many blessings to you all as we read God's Word together.
Your brother in the Lord,
Robert Courson
Thank you Robert! Good words and great suggestions!
ReplyDeleteLandon