A Challenge

For those that have never read the Bible through in its entirety, or who stick to the same ol' passages, I'd like to issue a challenge to you that you set yourself a goal to read the whole Bible. Not in a day or a week or perhaps even a year but in a time period that you decide is manageable.

It's not as daunting as it seems. By reading a Psalm each on Saturday and Sunday (spreading Psalm 119 over a few weekends) and 10 chapters from the Old Testament and 3-4 from the New Testament each week, the entire Bible can be read in just 18 months. By increasing the number of chapters from the OT to 12 a week, the entire Bible can be read plus Psalms repeated in the same time period.

If this still seems like a lot, then try 9 chapters from the OT, 2-3 from the NT, and 2 Psalms per week to read the entire Bible in 2 years; or 5 chapters from the OT and 2 from the NT per week over 3 years (that's only one chapter each day).

How you choose the order in which to read is up to you. I've read from cover to cover, read in random order, read in chronological order, and am now working my way through the books alphabetically. I've used the King James Version, the New International Version, and the Revised Standard Version. And each time I learn something new or am inspired by something I read I think "Wow, I never saw that before!"

So if this is something you've never done before, come on, give it a go.

Comments

SchnauzerMom said…
Good challenge. I've read the Bible through several times, the King James, New King James, NIV, New American Standard. The New American Standard is my favorite.
Jules said…
Hi SM. Many Christians don't step outside their 'comfort zone' when it comes to reading the Bible. I guess some are scared that they won't understand it or it will be boring (all those lists of laws and names!) but there are some wonderful treasures in some of the less-knwon passages. Ezra for one. Or Hosea. When you break it down, it's not that hard to do.
Unknown said…
That is a good challenge. I love reading the New Testament, but some of the Old Testament can be a little more challenging for me because it can be hard to understand. I have read the entire New Testament, and most of the Old, but got stuck around a few books.