A Short Saturday Question
How do you read the Bible?
It’s massive and despite its awesomeness, sometimes, its hard to find a way into it. I thought it might be cool to share the different ways we're all engaging with the big black book today.
I'll go first. Right now I'm reading through the whole thing. I'm using the book "Your Daily Walk" as a loose framework. It walks you through the whole Bible in a year, but to be honest with you, I'm on January 18th so I'm a little behind. Part of the problem with trying to read the Bible in a year is that you speed by so many layers of ideas when you go quickly. So I go slow.
And one of the things I'm doing right now is highlighting areas where I feel like God is showing His love for us. For most of my life I thought that He at best tolerated me and was an angry, loved to punish kind of God. So now, whenever I come across something that seems loving I underline it and write "God is love" beside it.
For instance, in Genesis 6 when God gives Noah the detailed directions for building the ark I wrote “God is love” next to that because I realized you only really give detailed directions to people you love. If some stranger pulls over on the side of the road and asks me how to get to the highway, I go high level and say, "Yeah, it's two miles ahead. Look for the gas station on the left. You can't miss it." If my wife or sister needed directions somewhere though I would draw a map. I would be detailed and careful and deliberate, because I love them. And that’s what God did with Noah, giving him detailed directions on how to build the ark.
This is silly, but when I do find an example of God being loving, I don't write out the word "love," I draw a red heart so that I can find it again when flipping pages. I know that's a very Hello Kitty thing of me to do but there it is. I want to flip my Bible open in a few years after I’m done with this exercise and see it explode with red. I’m a dork. Noted.
But how are you reading the Bible?
Any tricks or tips or ideas you've found helpful?
Let's talk.
I read a proverbs a day, whatever the day is, today is proverbs 23. May sound silly but if I read it in the morning and really focus there is always something that pertains to a verse during the day, how I should treat someone or handle a situation.
ReplyDeleteThe past few months I've been reading the old testament. You mark God's love, I mark out where there is a clear distinction between the natural man and the spiritual man. Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, David and King Saul, etc.
I never thought about the detail thing but it's true.
Would you believe me if I said that I don't? At least not as often as I should. Even then I seem to pick passages willy-nilly. Or ones recommended to me recently.
ReplyDeleteI just thought I'd come right out and be honest about it.
I'm constantly amazed by all the awesome stuff Jesus did.... "Holy Crayola! He healed a leper? He turned water into wine? Good job he didn't mix those two up, we're 98% water after all"
VW: Shible--Special translation for people who don't think they need the Gospel, as in "Bible Shible"
I generally read it fairly quickly. I like the Discipleship Journal reading plan (found on their website). I doubled up and finished this year a couple of weeks ago. I write that not to brag, but to make the point that reading quickly helps me to see the big picture better. When I'm in the major prophets I see the connection to the history of the nation better.
ReplyDeleteI also like being in both the OT and the NT daily.
I read it from Gen to Rev then repeat. I do this slowly so I can really learn what it has to say. I read the page, then read all the study notes then read the next page, the study notes and so on. I don't rush through because I want to really learn it.
ReplyDeleteA chronological bible can be helpful for reading through the old testament because the books overlap and aren't all in the order stuff happened.
ReplyDeleteLike Nicodemus at Nite, I too like to read a Proverb a day. Been doing that for years. Also like to read one chapter from the OT and one from the NT. Currently in I Samuel and Matthew.
ReplyDeleteLike Jason, I am also reading through following the Discipleship Journal/Navigators' plan. And like Lu, I read all the study notes.
ReplyDeleteLove your thoughts on the details. You're absolutely right. Thanks for the enlightenment!
People only give really detailed directions to people they love?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever worked in a job with a boss who wanted things done very specifically? Was he expressing love, or just an expectation of obedience and a desire for things done the right way?
I generally like this site, but some of the recent posts have been a bit of a stretch. I think sticking to what made your brand strong is a better idea that tenuous theology. If you want to prove God loves you, flip to the New Testament. Read how he came to earth in human form and was beaten and nailed to a cross. You only do that if you really, really, really love someone.
Using Professor Horner's Bible reading system: 10 chapters a day, all in different places of the Bible.
ReplyDeleteHere's a little snippet from the description:
"Each day you will read one chapter from each list, in order. THAT'S RIGHT -- *TEN CHAPTERS PER DAY*!!! Use ten bookmarks or sticky notes with the individual lists on them to keep track of your locations.
Since the lists vary in length, the readings begin interweaving in constantly changing ways. You will NEVER read the same set of ten chapters together again! Every year you’ll read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and prophetic books about 1 ½ times."
Check out the whole thing here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46416541831
It's been pretty incredible so far. Highly recommended!
Currently I've been going one chapter at a time, starting with Genesis. I try to read one every day, but sometimes I miss days, so this has been taking me a few years. I'm on Luke now.
ReplyDeleteI've also done the chronological reading of the Bible, which I really like for giving a little different perspective.
Sometimes I like to pick one book and stick with it for a while, reading all the cross references.
Personally, I think you have to switch it up some. If you really want to train a muscle, you have to look at strength, endurance, power and flexibility. You can be strong in one area and weak in others. I'm a fan of biblical cross training.
My church uses a system called REAP (Read, Examine, Apply, Pray). It is pretty awesome. They also provide a bible year program that can be turned into two years. After a couple of months of getting real behind, I went for the two year plan so I could spend more time focusing on what I am reading and not have to "rush" through to just check off the reading.
ReplyDeleteI like the Hello Kitty heart idea too :)
I really love this idea. Big puffy heart. No kidding. Oh! and the ROI comment about dating was dead on.
ReplyDeleteI recommend reading the Bible in may different ways. I think we lose out love for the Word because we forget it is a living word.
ReplyDeleteRead it through with things you are looking for and you will find those things. At least once read it as a piece of literature. Focus on the differences between the different genres within the Bible and ask what the literary purpose is.
Read the Bible at least once asking these three questions. What does this tell me about God? What does this tell me about myself? What does this tell me about my relationship with God.
Read the Bible at least once asking the questions, "What is this telling me to do?" and "What have I learned from this that I can share with someone today?"
Don't always read the Bible in order but read it with a plan. Most people fail when they read the Bible because they get into parts that are boring because they are not relevant to us culturally. Skim those parts but don't set yourself up for failure by reading in that same order every time.
Break the Bible into thirds and read from each third. Start in Genesis, Psalms, and Matthew. Read a chapter from each.
Another time try to read entire stories or books at a time then think about what is going on there.
Be creative when you read the Bible. Stop doing it the same way over and over.
Oh, and at least once listen to the Bible all the way through, preferably while you are reading along.
That should be enough tips for now.
I read the Revised Common Lectionary every day with my wife and we read through the Psalms each month (usually three in the morning and three in the evening). It's a real challenge to do it that way, but it makes the habit a little easier to get started if you have a day-to-day often related reading from the OT, the NT, and the Gospels as well as the prayers provided by the Psalms.
ReplyDeleteWhen I teach my students to read the Bible for themselves, I challenge them to use the basic lectio divina pattern of listen, meditate, pray, rest.
I've always picked one book, read it and then picked another. This year I'm using a "read through the Bible in a year" program. I've tried this a couple of times before and didn't make it much past February. But this time I am reading with a small group and we discuss the week's reading each time we get together, so I am on track and loving it! I guess the coffee mug fits me that says: "Works adequately under constant supervision."
ReplyDeleteI love your idea to notice a particular theme! I make margin notes everytime a 'thought' hits me. I just wish Bibles came with larger margins! :) It's great to be in the Word, whatever your method.
I also read a Proverb a day thanks to a friend who mass emails one out each day.
Jon, long-time lurker and long-distance laugher, first-time responder...Thanks. I heart this idea. Think I've tried many of the usual methods others are mentioning. And I can't tell you how many times I've gone to Chambers' My Utmost For His Highest, set it aside, picked it up, set it aside...I've picked it up at the moment because I need a kick in the spiritual pants mixed with some Brit wit.
ReplyDeleteYour love-details nugget--great stuff. Reminds me that there must be other similar jewels of perspective to be unearthed if I'd just fight to get off of automatic pilot when things get too routine. ("I'm supposed to be doing this, so just do it even if it stares back at you. There. Did it. Next?")
I am almost finished with reading through the Bible in 90 days. When I tried the RTTB in 1 year programs I found it very tough for my personality. By Numbers & Deuteronomy it felt like a chore. By condensing it to 90 days I feel I am getting a much better grasp of the overarching story and it is something I look forward to. I am now on day 81 of this program and have not missed a day of reading. There have been a couple where I did not read the full assignment, but I was able to get back on track a day or two later.
ReplyDeleteTo get my break down I took my copy of The Message and divided the # of pages by 90 to identify the pages I would read per day. I then adjusted those to get to logical chapter/book breaks.
When I am finished in a couple of weeks I think I am going to do it again, but this time read it in chronological order in 90 days.
I just finished reading God in the Flesh by Don Everts, about the "stage directions" or "non-red" verses in the NT. Great read, and it's encouraged me to re-read the gospels deeply, asking who Jesus is, and what makes him different.
ReplyDeleteI've got a bookmark in the Pentateuch, one in the history/poetry, one in the prophets, one in the gospels, and one in the epistles. I read from one for a while til I need a change, then switch it out... But I know that over time, I'll read the whole book.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of underlining and marking things with hearts (or start/clovers horseshoes...whatever!). Precept Ministries taught me to mark what I see, then make lists of what I'm learning. It's a great way to stick to the textual evidence, and I get the great visual cues every time I open the cover.
I love the heart idea and unlike a previous commenter I don't think this post reflects "tenuous" theology. What's wrong with looking for examples of God's amazing love throughout the Bible? Of course Jesus is the ultimate example but God's love permeates the whole book; and if you're reading the earlier parts of the Bible as part of a study programme, how wonderful to look for - and mark - examples of the Father's love.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the 1-1-1 plan: one passage once a day for one week - helps me get through all those layers, and then I have a single passage in my head for a week instead of multiasking on the brilliance. (Otherwise I'd just forget everything after I read it.)
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble with where to apply this strategy, though. I just went through the minor prophets, and I'm not sure if I want to move on to Isaiah or Hebrews. I usually just pick a book that doesn't have a lot of markings on the pages, and study that so I can PUT markings on the pages (OCD that I am, my Bible must be equally marked!)
And, I like your God is love idea, I might steal that. (Hearts might hurt the uniformity of the markings in my Bible, but there's a time to overcome OCDness.)
I own a bible. It even sits on the table by my bed in easy reach. Yet, I am not sure I have ever opened it since I bought it. I also own 3 other bibles, which are in a storage unit, all unread.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am in confessional.
After I submit this I am going to open it and start in the gospels. I will comment again later and tell you how it goes. Before you think too bad of me, I work at a Christian Conference Center in NC, and am bombarded by scripture. I attend at least 2 services daily, where scripture is read.
Now I am rationalizing bad behavior. I will shut up and just read.
When I was in my theology classes, we would read double-spaced printouts of books of the Bible with extra wide margins just so that we could mark up absolutely everything to see the textual connections and patterns and themes (like your hearts by examples of God's love). This method, referred to in my classes as manuscripting, takes a while but is very rewarding. So far I've only worked through two books this way--Genesis and Mark--but would like to do more in the future.
ReplyDeleteUsually, though, I go a bit faster in my personal time in the Word. I like to start with either 3 Psalms or a chapter of Proverbs, working through one book, then the other, then back again (although I can't remember anymore how this pattern actually got started--I think it has something to do with outside advice on how reading the Pslams everyday was hyper-spiritual, and reading Proverbs every day was the only way to truly be wise. But really, if we followed every piece of advice like that, we would spend all day reading the Bible and have no time left over for actually changing the world).
When I was younger I tried the Bible in a year thing, and it didn't work out. I also tried reading the whole things straight through, but gave up somewhere in Numbers or Deuteronomy. I find now that it works better to stay balanced between the OT and NT. The pattern that worked for me to finally finish reading the entire Bible was to read Genesis, then Matthew, then Exodus, then Mark, and so on, alternating between old and new. Then I read all the minor prophets at once because I ran out of NT books, but I still saved Revelations for last; it just seemed like the thing to do. After I finished the pattern I was a bit lost as to where to go next, but now I've simply started ti over again in order to stay immersed in the Word, though this time beginning with the NT, just to shake things up.
OK...So my church's website has a bible reading plan that follows the Revised Common Lectionary. So I read todays lessons out of my new (3 yr old) Bible. The pages were crackling and stuck together a bit. I will work on getting it broken in. I even wrote my first note:
ReplyDelete"God is Love"
I will be original tomorrow.
As a "new this year" Christian, I found this time around that I would try to start with the NT, and expanded that into trying to go through a Proverb and/or Psalm a day to complement that.
ReplyDeleteNot much to expand on as far as hwo I read, but I found that once I fully devoted my life to Christ, the Bible suddenly appeared a whole LOT less confusing and overwhelming to try to open up and read and understand, rather than before when I halfheartedly read and attended church here and there.
I swear there's a connection there somewhere.
Our church has a GPS A Grow Pray Study guide that gives a bible verse to read daily. Along with the verse is thought provoking questions.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to the GPS if anyone is interested.
http://www.cor.org/fileadmin/users/communications/GPS_guide/current_GPS.pdf
I started reading a chapter of the New Testament per day to my parents, as my dad can't read anymore. We have so enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteWe are using the Good News For Modern Man version. We are now in Acts and the drama is getting thick, with Saul getting converted and changing his name to Paul.
We do that every night.
Every morning I read to my dad again, only I use Daily Bread, which takes passages from all over the bible. This has been good, because you feel like you get an overview of the bible.
When I go to have a time with God, I find that I cannot use any method. Although I think that the read a Proverb a day is a good idea, I tried to start reading a chapter a day of Isaiah, but it doesn't work.
When I get alone with God, He seems to want to speak to me through the bible. So, I go flipping through the pages until I come to something that seems to be what I should read for that day.
This has worked for me.
I also attend a bible study where it takes us through a book of the bible. We are just finishing Esther. A while ago it was Daniel.
As I am seeking healing of some maladies, I also have a collection of verses on healing that I read out loud each day.
With regards to my finances, I also have a collection of verses regarding finances that I read out loud some days.
I have a collection of verses for each area where there might be a problem and read them out loud when I need to.
There are many ways to read the Word.
One thing that I recently heard from a man of God is that God wants to speak to us. This is the whole point of why He saved us.
We must not just read the bible, or the Word of God, but we must listen for God's voice.
I am trying to do this more.
I've read it a few times cover-to-cover in order. Last time, because I always slow way way down in the minor prophets, I had a bookmark in the OT, one in the NT, and one in Psalms/Proverbs. I still read each section in order, but no plan as to how much or which section(s) I read each day. It worked out better than cover-to-cover because reading the NT with the OT helps you see a lot of connections.
ReplyDeleteWV: Strap. An actual word, denoting the piece of leather your grandpa used to bind together all his Bibles and other books on the way to sunday school.
I'm using http://www.youversion.com to read the daily readings they suggest. It gets you through the Bible in a year (NT twice). I'm only doing the OT right now, though, since they'll be doing the NT again later & I'll pick that up. But I have an Archaeological Study Bible that I read from, as well as my parallel Bible (Message & NIV). I underline things I think are neat, and have my journal open & write down anything I feel God is speaking to me. I also try to remember to pray before reading, that God would speak to me. It's so cool cuz God's Word is SO alive - I've read some passages over & over yet I don't always "get it" like I do at other times.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I listen to the bible via an audio track. Some stories need the drama in the reading... I just have a hard time getting the whole story without hearing the way the people involved may have felt or sounded in their situation.
ReplyDeleteAnd another thing (following from my earlier post @7.33 - which referred to an even earlier post!) - since when did SCL become a "brand"?!
ReplyDeleteMy husband has always had an easier time with the fear of God than the love of God too. I'm going to pass on your ideas on how to emphasize the love. I'm the opposite, so maybe I should underline the parts that emphasize the fear of God - I need to understand the holiness of God to realize the depth of His love.
ReplyDeleteI use the One Year Bible. It's like a combo platter of the Bible. You get some from the OT, some from the NT, a piece of the Psalms and a couple of verses of Proverbs. I highlight or underline anything that sticks out to me and if it really hits me hard I write about it in my journal. Sometimes it's a paragraph, sometimes it's one sentence, and sometimes I just end up putting the verse in my own words. I've been doing this for the last 3 months, but it's really helped me to have that time with God everyday.
I've tried to do reading plans, and just reading straight through, but as others have said here, it just didn't work for me. This makes it seem not so overwhelming and I'll have read the entire Bible by next February! Very excited about that!
Thanks for this site. It's given me a lot of good laughs! :)
I have used all three of the One Year reading plans from Discipleship Journal in the past few years, but this year I decided to go slower through a few books that I really loved reading when I went through the plans. Currently I'm reading Luke and then it's on to Isaiah. In addition, I am reading the first three chapters of Ephesians every night before bed for a class I'm taking.
ReplyDeleteAs for marking in my Bible, I have to things right now I'm always looking for that I mark in the margin. One is verses on God's love which I mark with a heart as well in red. I've been doing this for awhile now because I was raised in a church that taught God's judgement to such a degree that I have struggled with seeing him as loving.
Also, I mark passages with an upward pointing arrow that I want to pray about. These are generally verses where I want the truth shown there to be integrated in my life. I also underline important verses to me and often date them with a word or two so I can remember why they meant something to me at the time.
I do like to mark up passages I'm studying in the precepts type of marking system, but I generally use my Bible software to print the passage out on paper and mark it up that way. Sometimes there is so much marking that the passage is too cluttered to read!
I am so tempted to write something ala Dr. Suess
ReplyDeleteI can read it on a train
I can read it on a plane
I can read in in my room
I can read it near a tomb
I would read it in a hutt
I would read it with a mutt
I can read it on the stair
I can read it any and everywhere..
But instead of doing that, I'll say that I like this chronocological Bible I am reading now. The books aren't in the usual order, but according to what is taking place in the same time frame, giving me a better picture of the whole, you know what I mean? Job right after Genesis, etc...
I read through a book at a time using the Kay Arthur inductive study method. I believe this is by far the best kept secret on how to study your Bible. I have grown in my faith so much since I started studying this way. And, Kay encourages you to draw red hearts and other markings in your Bible. Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils rock!! Go to www.preceptsforlife.com for more info.
ReplyDeleteCall me crazy, but I don't think we can simply "read the Bible." I mean..just opening it up and reading it is entirely insufficient, if you ask me! For starters, what in the world can we possibly think we know about a collection of writings, some of which are 4,000 years old! It takes much preparation and thought before one can even approach the Bible and expect to get what it was meant to give! Very little of the Bible is easily portable, and even then, it's not easy. I've said all this for about a year now, and one of the popular statements I hear is, "But, it's God's Word!" Well..no it isn't. If we're going to biblical in a way that is faithfully correct, the Bible is not God's Word, but, Jesus is. Calling the Bible, "God's Word" gives equal weight to every punctuation mark contained within the front and back cover. We all know that is simply not the case!
ReplyDeleteSo, how do I read it? What tools do I use? About a year ago I began purchasing one volume per month of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. I figured a great place to start, as was recommended, was the Gospel of John. I take it slow. Not in a year. There's little point in a year, in my humble opinion. But, maybe in 10 years I'll be doing good about it.
I'm so glad I read this post and comments today. I have been struggling in my Bible reading lately...well, it's been quite a while since I've had a consistent daily Bible reading time. I don't know why I'm having such a difficult time, but I am. Probably because I have to get up so early in order to leave for work (and I can't make myself get up before 5:00) and by the time I get home, my brain can't handle it. I know, justification. I'm glad to see all the suggestions and plan on looking into all of them.
ReplyDeleteI read and study the bible differently. Like Nicodemus at Nite, I read a proverb every day, then some of the OT and NT everyday. The first seven years of my walk, I read through the bible every year (different versions). Now I just read. When I study, I pull out several translations, my concordance, the Vines, commentaries or whatever helps I think I need. I'll focus on a particular area (like frustration, anger, finances) and study.
ReplyDeleteYou made my day so happily-dappily by mentioning my name. Will you be my best friend and read the Bible with me?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, that will be $4,037 in copyrite infrengement.
I read four chapters a day, more or less (meaning if I get to the end of a book and it's three chapters, I stop). I skip between the OT and NT for the "big books" and then double up on the OT books for the I&IIs and some of the minor prophets (trying to make it come out even).
ReplyDeleteI pick a verse from that four chapters, and write it down in my notebook, this gives me time to think about what I've read a little bit more.
Then if I'm having quiet prayer time at another time of day, I'll ask for a specific chapter or chapters to read and study, but that's separate.
The four chapters/day gets me through the Bible every year. Doing it first thing in the morning (before breakfast) makes sure it gets done. Not stressing about perfection, that's because I expect to keep the "reading through every year" cycle up, even if I change methods. I've been doing it for seven or so years now and I get more out of it, even the geneologies, every time.
Ugh, I read the Bible in a year. One of the worst mistakes of my life. I spent the next 6 months fighting with myself because I kept thinking "I already read that book. I know it all." So now I go slow and read "A few verses for understanding, rather than a few chapters for mere form."
ReplyDeletei was surprised to see how many people have a planned bible reading! i have no rhyme or reason. i do the pray and open method with relative success. my heart has to be in it, but i almost always open to what speaks to me for whatever i'm going through or a question i have. then i will dissect it more with the strong's concordance and other commentary...
ReplyDeleteI do the bible in a year plan in the back of my ESV Study Bible. It's perfect. It takes some discipline but that IS NEEDED. As Piper says, we are disciplined in eating out meals each day, we need to be disciplined in the Word too!
ReplyDeleteGod emphasized a point to me through your blog. He recently convicted me of speed reading the Bible and getting absolutely nothing out of it. I wrote a blog about this a few days ago. Check it out -- the post is called "Confessions of a Bible Speed Reader" on My Writing Loft blogspot.
ReplyDeleteright now lots of us from church are doing the esv.org chronological plan. then on Sunday the sermon is something from that week's reading. for example: last week's readings included Psalm 51 - the text for the Sunday sermon was Psalm 51.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is assuming I read the Bible, which is a habit I'm trying to do daily. But, my plan is to read through the whole thing. I've read through every verse of the NT at least twice, so my main focus is the Old Testament (which has some awesome things that can easily be forgotten about if we neglect the years before Jesus). In the past when I tried going straight through, I always stopped in Leviticus. So, I skipped the Torah, and very many months later I'm in Nehemiah right now. I sometimes get into the Psalms and Proverbs coinciding with the date (today would be Proverbs 23, Psalm 23, 53, 83, 113, 143). I also occasionally throw Romans in there, b/c one of my friends said you always need some gospel, and Romans is my favorite book of the Bible.
ReplyDeleteI want to get it more structured so I am going through the OT everyday, as well as the Psalms, Proverbs, and just take Matthew 1 forward. I should start scheduling my day around that.
It's interesting that you would post this today, because just this week I've been drawn to diving into the Bible on a new level. I've been mostly devotional with some scripture this year...taking a break from my yearly Bible. But at church they are doing a 90 days through the Bible study. I'm doing it on my own...lots of reading plans online. For me right now it's the right thing to do because it is building my faith and giving me peace through an uncertain time.
ReplyDeleteGreat topic!
ReplyDeleteI have struggled with this basically since I became a Christian, so thanks everyone for the ideas.
This is a slightly different subject, but I'm a bit perplexed by how many Christians either are amazed that other Christians have read the entire Bible or have no intentions of reading the entire Bible themselves. I mean, I think it's okay to take your time, but... there's a reason why we have the whole Bible and not just the "important" parts.
Changing the subject again - Elizabeth does have a point about the details thing, but when you consider the fact that Noah would not have had the faintest idea how to build an ark, I agree that God was very loving to give him such detailed instructions. I mean, I haven't got the faintest idea how to build an ark, and if God told me I needed to build one in order to save the human race, I think I'd be thankful for every detail He gave me...
There is nothing wrong with Hello Kitty by the way :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first tried to read the Bible I would get so overwhelmed by Genesis and Exodus that I would get discouraged and just give up.
If anybody else struggles with this, I suggest building up your 'confidence' (don't read that as 'masked pride' lol) by going through some of the shorter books in the New Testament: Philippians, Titus, 1-3 John, etc. You get a sense of accomplishment that you've finished some books (even if some of them are really only 1 chapter long haha).
After that, I just tried to read about 10 chapters of the Bible a day. Sometimes I read more, sometimes less, but I set a goal so that I know each day I'm at least striving to immerse myself in the word :)
I'm not really sure how to effectively read the Bible. For a long time I thought I already knew what was in the Bible. Then I started going to a Sunday School class and suddenly realized, from the things I was hearing, that I had no clue at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning a lot from others right now but I want to be able to really read the Bible and "get" it for myself. If you haven't grown up with it, the Bible can be very confusing.
I'm trying, but becoming a Christian seems tough. It's like finding yourself in a foreign country, (new concepts, new culture, new language), without a map.
The first book I read was John. From there ... I'm unsure of an effective strategy.
I recommend something along the lines of Dan Edelen's "Best Bible-Reading Program":
ReplyDeletehttp://ceruleansanctum.com/2007/01/the-worlds-best-bible-reading-program.html
Basically, it's reading an entire book of the Bible over and over, looking for different themes and (this is the key part) not moving on until you feel that you have put into practice what you have learned from that book.
Our church has a type of daily devotional online and each year they go through different parts of the Bible. It's cool b/c you get a different perspective of the passage from whoever wrote the entry that day.
ReplyDeletehttp://wmcc.jointhejourney.com
I also recommend My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers as a devotional if you are not studying a particular chapter of the Bible. It has helped me a lot with things I am struggling with lately like faith, doubt, and discipline.
Two ways: 1) Like others, I'm going through the Bible chronologically right now. I'm slow, too, so I'm still in mid February, but that's ok.
ReplyDelete2) I'm also working on a little project to create a Wordle for each chapter of the Bible. Follow along if you like, at The Wordle Bible. Sometimes I have a comment or two, which may or may not be interesting, but the Wordles are always fun to see--it often helps me to see the themes of the chapters in a slightly different way.
Thing is, I've read most of the Bible, but I've never really gone through the whole thing carefully, so this is me doing my best to really try and take in God's word, drink it deep, and let Him show me new things.
So many awesome comments! So much to think about...
ReplyDeleteI met Jesus in Mark just three years ago, and was so hungry for more I'd just pick a book that sounded awesome and read it.
Then I got anxious about reading the whole bible, so I tried to start at the beginning and go through. That didn't go well.
Then I got discouraged and quit reading, or read sporadically. That didn't go well either.
Now I'm reading a daily chronological bible with my family right after putting my 2 year-old to bed and right before the rest of us go to bed.
There's someone mentoring me right now who basically just reads Luke and Acts. That really inspired me and freed me from the "obligation" to read everything. Now, besides family reading, I read an epistle at least once a week. They're my favorite. :)
This year I started reading through a plan like yours, which is in D. A. Carson's book "For the Love of God". I like that with this particular one, I read a little bit of four different books every day, so that it's not like I'm stuck in Leviticus every day for weeks :)
ReplyDeleteOnly problem is: I haven't really been sticking to the "every day" thing lately. But I refuse to feel guilty about it and give up - I like the way my pastor put it, saying something like this: If you start a Bible reading plan, you probably won't stick to it. But even if you only look at 30% or 50% or 80% of it in the recommended time, that's x% more than you'd be doing without the plan, so it's not a bad thing."
I used to think that reading plans were a bit regimental, and that it would be far better to "read in the Spirit". Then I discovered that the Spirit can work through any way you read the Bible, and I'm much better using a more disciplined approach.
I first read through the Bible as a kid with the Picture Bible comic-style version. And later as a teen through KJV and NIV. As an adult, I've done the One Year Bible a few times, each in a different translation. Then last year I did the Chronological NLT which was a really enjoyable version to read through.
ReplyDeleteBut now, I'm doing only one chapter a day and blogging about it everyday. I have really liked it because it forces me to process and personalize it more. I also am going in no particular order, just going each day to wherever I feel led. I think only my mom and a few friends follow it, but somehow knowing it's public holds me accountable.
Like a few of you, I'm reading through the Bible not in a year but in my own pace. I'm in 1 Kings right now. Each day I also usually do something additional according to whatever's going on in my life. For instance, for Sunday School we've read through a few of the epistles lately. Also, on days like today when I'm falling into old ruts and not loving people close to me, I read the things God has used to convict me about that in the past. Tonight it was some tough 1 John -- I am forgiven, but I am also called to walk in the Light and love my brother. Anyways, that was a big of a rant. All that to say... I'm reading through with random stuff supplementing. :)
ReplyDeleteA couple years back I read the chronological daily Bible and it was the best Bible-reading experience I've ever had.
ReplyDeleteThis is my experience: whether I read methodically, open randomly, or read selected passages in church, the holy spirit speaks to me personally through the word, as long as there are these ingredients: my faith, the holy spirit and the word.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I read it in order, randomly after prayer, in a daily reading like 'A Year With Jesus', in group bible study, in church. All of the above.
I close my eyes and hold it with one hand. I use my other hand, point and stick a finger in wherever it lands, open it up that page, and keeping my eyes closed circle my finger around and then point to one of he open pages and start reading there.
ReplyDeletesometimes, if i connect, ill red the next chapter or two, underline a few verses, or ill just read on verse and do the process over a few times.
I used the Life Application Bible the first time I read the Bible through as a new Christian. It has alot of commentary notes at the bottom of each page, helping to clear up the more confusing verses in each chapter. I'd have never gotten through Leviticus without it.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I don't think you're a dork. I'm glad you posted this because it inspires me to do something different. Thanks! I'm going to check out that website another commenter suggested.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself fairly intelligent (ha!) but I have to admit, I get lost reading through the OT so I am reading a children's version by Karyn Henley called the Day by Day Bible. It's pretty darn awesome (and easy to understand)!!
ReplyDeleteI've been following the reading plan on God's Bible iphone app. I love it - and I've been commited to it since the initial release of the app. I was given a promo code to download the thing, but I would definitely pay the 99¢ the developer is asking. Anyway it's pretty cool if you have an iphone or ipod touch.
ReplyDeleteGod's Bible
if you're interested in checking it out.
I have grown up in a wonderful Christian home and I attented a private Christian school that really helped me grow as a Believer, but honestly for the longest time I never just sat down and read the Bible. Isn't that silly? Well, for lent this year I decided to read only Christian books and also the gospels. I was dumbfounded. Here is this amazing God that I have served for almost ten years(my ten year "anniversary" as a Believer is in October) and I have been missing so much by not reading His Word.
ReplyDeleteSo, to answer your question, I try and just go through it one book at a time. He speaks to me in the oddest places and through the oddest things. A great friend of mine, who is also a wonderful spiritual leader in my life, says that he will only ever read through the Bible on way and that is straight through from Genesis to Revelation. While I think that is a great way, I also think that sometimes God might want you to read some obscure book because that is an amazing thing in there that He knows you need to learn at that time.
~Hannah
LOVE the "God is love" idea. Best thing (for me) I've ever seen on this site, as I struggle with the same foolishness of thinking of God as only a judge. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI've read through some of the other comments. It's great to see/hear all the different methods that are used.
ReplyDeleteI like the chronological-thing. It does help to see the over-all story, or "big picture."
Personally, each day I like to read a broader passage to see a whole story unfolding; and also, in a different section, tackle a single verse or short section, looking "up-close" at some of the details.
I'd like to say I accomplish my goals in Bible reading daily; but I must confess that, like a lot of goals, not everything happens as desired. Didn't Paul write something about that?
Presently , I follow a method of scripture study called lectio divine meaning 'divine reading.' Essentially, it is meditating and assimilating scripture as a whole into your life.
ReplyDeleteThe method of lectio divina follows 4 steps or elements: read, think, pray, live. The concept behind the elements is that each one will reveal a different aspect from a certain passage of scripture.
The Message bible created a devotional called Solo. The devotional uses the lectio divinia method of scripture reading and it covers 365 days. Day 1 starts in Genesis and each day after covers certain key passages throughout the bible.
Growing tired of writing in journals, I started a blog to keep up with the information I was learning in my time with the LORD during the Solo study. The blog is more based on information, but it will serve as a wonderful reference tool later on. Here is the link if you are interested: http://forthisveryday.wordpress.com/
I have enjoyed the renewed excitement this devotional and method of study has brought to my quiet times!
I love your site and your insightful questions! Have a wonderful day!
Interesting point about the detailed instructions.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I'm reading a book with my friend from out of town. We're reading acts and discussing each chapter via email. It helps me get more out of each passage because I'm looking for something to talk about. Then, I get her insight. So, that's waht's working for me. :)
I piggyback an OT book with a NT book, without specifications of the number of chapters, verses, etc. The books are chosen based on the relevance of my church teachings as well as life circumstances.
ReplyDeleteWhile I read, I underline verses that speak to me, then compare between OT, NT and prayer journal.
Sometimes I read through with a plan ... through one year or two years. Sometimes I take a break from that and read more slowly, or focus more in depth on whatever Bible study I am a part of. Right now, I'm finishing late on a 2 years through the Bible plan. (I'm in Corinthians and should have finished a bit ago).
ReplyDeleteSomething that was so beautiful in your post was that you are finding the love of God in the Old Testament. It's something I am more and more amazed by all the time. We grow up hearing about "The God Of The Old Testament" vs "The God of the New" (at least I did) and other than salvation itself, nothing amazed me more than to find all that grace, mercy and love throughout the entire Old Testament.
michele
I've read the Bible through several times now and I use a different approach each time depending on what I hope to get out of it.
ReplyDeleteThis time through, I've chosen a chronological, 1-year reading plan. As mentioned in another earlier post, it really helps to get a "big picture" view of what the nation of Israel was experiencing and gives some background as to whay the prophets were giving the messages they were giving.
I am reading through the Bible with my kids at bedtime. Well, often I do. Not every night. Like if I'm too tired, or if it's just way too past their bedtime. But I'm doing it often which is better than...not often. We are using Back to the Bible's Chronological approach, and I read from The Message, because when we started in January and we were going to hear the Creation story AGAIN I wanted it to seem fresh and new somehow to the kids, and I thought the language in that translation would help. When we miss a night I don't try to go back and catch up, because I know we would just get further and further behind and then we would give up, so I just read (generally) whatever night we are on, and at the end of the year, they won't have heard every word of the Bible, but they will have gotten a lot more than they have before, and from more parts of the Bible than before. I sometimes paraphrase things, like calling rape an "attack," and when the guy cut the woman into pieces to send to the tribes I just skipped that part all together--I have a 6 and 7 year old, after all.
ReplyDeleteLast year I read through the chronological Bible. I enjoyed it very much. I loved how the prophets were put in the timeline with the kings they interacted with in life.
ReplyDeleteThis year I'm reading through The Message. Just wanted a different take on the Bible. Glad to see I'm not the only one behind-not as behind as you -I'm on May 3rd. I see different things each time I sit down to read and that's what is exciting about it all.
I suffer from speed reading.
ReplyDeleteAll my friends were speed reading and it just seemed like the thing to do. It got so bad that I would hop and skip over whole passages not just geneologies.
Anyhow, my wife bought me the Bible on CD and now I read along while listening. It's kind of like scripture training wheels.
Before Bible on CD I would've never discovered the prayer of Jabez unless someone gave me the book. But listening and reading makes even the dry parts of the law interesting.
I've been going through the Solo devotional like @Lauren above. It has its good points and bad points. But overall, I recommend it strongly.
ReplyDeletepeace|dewde
New reader here, think I've posted a comment once, really like your blog.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading the Bible straight through, for over a year now. It has taken me so long because, I wasn't reading it regularly, but now I am. I'm reading a KJV Study Bible given to me as a high school graduation present. Tough going, but so worth it. Think when I get to the end, I will start all over again, but concentrate on a main idea as I read. Genesis, relationships. Exodus, sin... and so on. And I will probably read my ESV Study Bible after I'm done with this one.
Every few years I switch to a different traslation. It prevents me from quickly skimming over sentences that I've read before. It keeps it fresh.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the New Testament chronologically. It's quite a bit of flipping around. I'm loving the NLT right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the One Year Bible but decided in late January that I was just going to do Psalms, Proverbs and New Testament everyday this year. Occasionally I'll check out the OT verses for the day but I'm inevitably at a part where someone is being stoned to death and I get freaked out and have to flip to Philippians or Corinthians and soak in some "Buddy Jesus lovin."
ReplyDeleteI do want to read the OT but as a new-ish Christian I end up with more doubt than faith after my OT sessions.
My missions mentor told me to try to read 3 chapters at a time, going back and forth between OT and NT. So when I finished Genesis (reading 3 chapters at a time) I started on Mathew, then back to Exodus, etc. It was working great until I finished 1 Kings and realized I wanted to keep reading the story. It had gripped me somehow. I'm on Nehemiah now and still haven't revisited the NT. I will, eventually, I'm just not sure how far the OT is going to take me before it lets go -- if it ever does before I reach the end.
ReplyDeleteI say a prayer and then just flip open my bible and read what ever chapter or chapters I land on. I can't say that everytime my flip open choice presents me with a nugget of wisdom I was searching for, but I always find something reading that applies to me, or just shows me another view of God's awesomeness. Other readings are follow up or preparing for lessons.
ReplyDeleteMy pastor encouraged us to read "the music from Heaven" (5 Psalms a day) and the "wisdom from Heaven" (Proverb a day) and I have been doing that on and off for 20 years. I usually find something new everytime, as life changes but God's word stays the same. I draw hearts too...but where the verses have "heart" in it (yeah.I know. real original) But works for me :-)
ReplyDeleteI am reading thru the NT, and we are doing OT @ church as well.
i'm reading through this year, but i have to go back and fill in some gaps for days i missed. right now, the OT passages are in I Chronicles so I'm swimming in pudding trying to get past the begats. I throw in a Psalm and a Proverb 'cause that's what Jesus would do.
ReplyDeleteI'm using "The Essential Bible Guide" which gives 100 passages from the Genesis through Revelation. I guess it's a fake read-your-bible-through-in-a-year, but it's been helpful, just to see how things all fit together.
ReplyDeleteGod gives me a couple of books to read and study and then I do so.
ReplyDeleteNow I am in Acts and Nehemiah. I cried in Nehemiah 1.
So, a lot of times I just like to go to Biblegateway.com and put in Psalm... and then slap my hand down on the number side of the keyboard and read the number that comes up
ReplyDeleteI read it as if the my heavenly Father is talking to me personally. There are many things that I don't understand and so I get frustrated, but the Father comforts me and strengthens my faith.
ReplyDeleteI mix it up. Every other year or so, I read through the Bible. Sometimes I do a topical study. Once, I used the New Living Bible's cross reference of the Beatitudes to really study them. Right now, I am reading my least favorite prophets: Jeremiah/Lamentations, and Ezekiel. Why? Because God told me to. And I am enjoying them.
ReplyDelete