Round the Sphere Again: Bible Reading
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 10:22PM 
Updated!
And updated yet again!
Without a Plan
When I took a Bible Survey class way back before I was married, I had to read through the whole Bible. I enjoyed it and learned lots about the different genres contained in the Good Book and how everything in it fits together. I used one of the through-the-Bible-in-a-year plans a couple of years ago and it was a good refresher, I suppose, but I also found it frustrating, because when I read, I like to ponder what I read. I like to answer the questions and unwrap the layers and you can’t do that with 10 chapters (or whatever it is) per day.
So I plan to never do a through-in-one-year plan again. I’ve spent over half a year reading and studying Romans now and I love reading that way.
This year, Aaron Armstrong is not using a reading plan for much the same reason.
For me, the problem was that I wasn’t spending enough time soaking in the Word. With a strict schedule of 4+ chapters a day, I found there was very little time to stop and savor. Much of the time was spent consuming. This is not the way that I prefer to read my Bible.
Instead, Aaron plans to read a few books, “mastering them and being mastered by them.”
In my opinion, through-the-Bible-in-a-year plans are good for showing the whole storyline, and knowing the storyline is a necessary foundation. But once you’ve established the foundation, it’s time to move forward and build on what you’ve got by digging deeper into the text.
With a Plan
My friend Rosemary is using a plan, but not a through-in-one-year plan. She’ll be choosing books and reading them through twenty times before she moves on.
How are you reading your Bible this year? Let me know and I’ll update this post with your info, too.
- Diane is going through the Bible slowly, too. She “started Genesis LAST January and just finished Deuteronomy.”
- Madge finds reading on a schedule frustrating.
- Kim’s (Hiraeth) daily reading is in Berkhof’s Systematic Theology, but she’s leading a study in Acts and participating in a study of Romans.
- Kim (The Upward Call) is reading the bible in a year chronologically and also teaching the book of John.
- Judy is reading through in one year again.
- Becky is using this plan.
- Persis is using a Bible reading plan for shirkers and slackers.
- Staci Eastin is using Professor Horner’s plan.
Reader Comments (7)
Rebecca, I can't tell you how happy this made me to know I'm not the only one who gave up years ago on marathon Bible reading. I started Genesis LAST January and just finished Deuteronomy this morning!! Besides several small NT books studies and other topical studies last year - I'm just not wired to whiz through several chapters without stopping to investigate.
Thanks - you made my day. :)
I've been frustrated a number of times with trying to keep up on a reading schedule... I find I cannot not stop and take the rabbit trails into the Scriptures the way my curiosity and the Holy Spirit leads...
I've done 'the Bible in a Year' emails several times and I did like it, but I didn't really consider it the same as 'real' Bible reading and I certainly didn't consider it Bible study. For me it was a morning Bible wake me up--there was usually something that stayed with me.
I decided not to do it again this year (didn't do it last year, either). But I will do it again, maybe next year.
This year I am doing what I did last year; I'm leading a study in Acts and participating in a study of Romans. Both are in depth studies, so they tend to take me into other areas of scripture. Our church is also studying the WSC which provides a lot of Biblical study. My daily reading is in Berkhof's Systematic Theology this year, so that provides another layer of study and exposure. So I guess you could say I am taking the layered approach. It works best for me.
I embarassed to say I went through the Bible in 2011 for the first time ever. I'm "proud" to say I'm doing it again this year. It was a joy everyday to listen and follow the readings at www.dailyaudiobible. Brian Hardin makes a case for the power of the spoken word in his book Passages. I don't always listen to the brief commentary. I do other kinds of study but this resource begins my day.
Great post, and I loved reading the thread!
This year I will follow again this plan: http://www.matthewweathers.com/year2006/bible_reading_record.htm I love it because it is SUPER flexible, and I don't feel the pressure to "finish it". Last year I did not read all of the books, however it helped me to come and read those books that I would not choose, like Numbers, for example. ;)
I don't feel the desire to follow a rigorous Bible reading plan because I love to memorize and study the Word, and this would be impossible to to with a rigid schedule. Last year, for example, I spent 5 months digging deep into Philippians and James. It was a huge blessing, and I want to do the same this year.
Those words of Aaron that you are quoting, captured my attention as well. So true.
Let us abide in the Word, and rejoice in it forevermore!
Blessings to you all, sweet friends!
I'm using the Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers and Slackers as I failed with the Murray Mc'Cheyne plan last year. There's no calendar pressure but a good chunk every day. If I stick to it, I should read though the Word in about a year and a half.
http://ransomfellowship.org/articledetail.asp?AID=378&B=Margie%20Haack&TID=7
I'm doing Professor Horner's plan like Tim Challies. I decided to do this a couple of weeks before he announced it, though, so I'm ahead of his group (but not by a lot, because I missed several days of reading over Christmas).
The older I get, the more I'm understanding that not everyone's mind works the same way. I am a right-brained, big picture person, and find it more helpful to read large chunks at a sitting. As I read Professor Horner's thoughts on his plan, I get the feeling that he's a right-brained thinker, too.
I also tend to think of reading and study as different things, but my study goes better if I'm reading regularly. I'm also doing a Bible study on David, and teaching Proverbs to Junior Highers (and Biblical Worldview to middle schoolers, but Todd's doing most of that teaching), so my study time is coming from that.