Many of our care group bible studies, baptism prep classes and most recently sermons from church camp, constantly exhort us to read the bible daily.
And the best thing to do is to have a Bible Reading Plan which will take you through the whole bible, not just a book or two.
As a Christian, one of the most important basics for a close walk with God is to be familiar with the Whole Bible, not just those oft-quoted bible verses (which tend to be quoted out of context all too often anyway).
The best defence against being swayed by weak or erroneous theology is to Know the Word.
So I thought I’d compile all the resources and tips to encourage everyone to read through the bible, within 2 years if the pace of reading it within a year is a bit too rushed or punishing.
*********
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Psalms 19:7-11 ESV
I first read the bible in its entirety when I was about 10. It was a plain black NIV version that a Sunday School teacher gave to me. There were many parts I didn’t understand, but I just plodded on.
Since then, I’ve read the bible maybe about 7 to 8 times through (Good News Bible version, NIV, ESV, NKJV etc), the most consistently during my university years, when I had the best ‘set-aside’ daily quiet times.
Even after having read it through before, it is still important to continually read through it to keep it fresh in our minds, for the rest of our lives.
How to persevere through reading the whole Bible
1. Sign up for a Bible Reading Plan on the “Bible App”
I think the Robert Murray M’Cheyne (RMM) reading plan is one of the best out there. If you need some convincing, here are some reasons why.
So the hubs and I started this two year plan in 2018 (the year before, he did the RMM one-year plan) and it’s been really helpful as an aid.
Also, I like checking off boxes (or radio buttons in this case), and making sure that I’m not off track for too long.
The other super cool part about this reading plan is that D.A. Carson wrote a two-volume devotional for every day!
I purchased them many years ago. But since Christian writers are such generous souls, you can get them free in PDF version here.
And here’s where you can get a daily version.
I am not currently using this devotional. Instead, at times, I pair my reading of the Bible with the Solid Joys devotional app by John Piper.
2. Use the audio feature
This reading plan in ESV (and NIV) comes with audio. Just click the “sound” icon on the top right and you’re ready to go.
I am very impressed with the person who did the recording too. He reads it with conviction and clarity – wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a theologian or pastor.
3. Make it a habit
Humans are creatures of habit, so the faster you can set up a routine and make daily bible reading into a habit, the more likely you are to be successful.
For us, we play the audio during our commute to work. This functions well whether you drive, or whether you take public transport (earphones).
I was very encouraged that a friend whom I shared this with in late 2017, embarked on a plan in 2018 and told me in June that before she knew it, she had persevered all the way!
4. Enforce some discipline/rules of thumb
Some people go with “no bible, no breakfast”, but what works for me is “no bible reading, no social media time”.
It’s easy to say we have ‘no time’ to read the bible. But did you know that you only need 12 mins a day of reading, to read through the whole Bible in a year?
For those who say they have “no time”, do you still end up scrolling through social media for more than 12 mins a day? All too easily, right?
For me, I always seem to be able to find time to trawl through my social media feed, and before one knows it, an awful lot of time has been spent there.
So I make sure I get my daily dose of the Bible, before ‘making time’ for any of that other stuff.
5. Begin with a shorter reading plan
If reading through long OT chapters seems daunting to you (with audio it’s a breeze, really, just make sure you are listening), then you could also start with a shorter plan.
In 2017, I did a one-year plan that covered the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.
But I would highly encourage you to start on a plan that covers the whole Bible, because knowing the geography of the Book that our faith is founded upon cannot be over-emphasised.
By going through each chapter, we realise how much of the bible speaks of God’s plan through the repeated, incessant disobedience of his chosen people, their cry for human kings, and the abundance of evil kings that ensued.
We realise that the bible is not just about pithy verses that can be lifted up to live life by, and we realise that some verses are often used out of context. If you were reading the chapter in its entirety, you wouldn’t use a certain verse in its oft misused way.
6. Find an accountability partner
It’s easier not to fall by the wayside if you are jogging along with someone else.
For Christian couples, a natural accountability partner would be your spouse. If not, anyone in the Christian community would do. Spur one another on to love and good works!
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Psalms 119:9-11 ESV
That’s all for now! I recently attended a talk by Rev Lam Kuo Yong on how to meditate gainfully upon Scripture, and I’ll try to summarise what I’ve learnt in an upcoming post too!
Facebook Comments