Hurry! As you read these words, 2012 has already started. Starting at the beginning of the year is a great time to make plans to read through the Bible – once, twice, or more – this year. Making a plan, though, is key. If your resolve is based only on a fuzzy notion that reading through the Bible is a good idea, then Search and Rescue may have to be called out to find you stuck somewhere in the book of Numbers.
Obviously, there is not just one approach that stands alone as “best,” and you may be pursuing some other form of Bible study in your devotional life at the moment that is healthy and does not need to be abandoned to pursue a reading through the Bible. At the same time, it seems right that believers should be regularly reading through the whole Bible, growing in their understanding of the big picture, their knowledge of God, and their understanding of themselves as sinners rescued by grace.
Of the approaches to reading through Scripture, here are four possible ideas.
1. Using D.A. Carson’s book,For the Love of God. (Available free online as a blog.) This book is based on M’Cheyne’s daily readings which take you through the Psalms and New Testament twice and the rest of the Old Testament once during the year. Reading usually four chapters daily from four different books, the plan is accompanied by Carson’s insights into one of the readings in a “devotional” that will build in the reader a stronger grasp of biblical theology.
2. Reading through the Bible straight up. Starting at Genesis and reading to Revelation is one of the most logical approaches. Averaging 3-4 chapters a day will get you through with some time to spare.
3. Reading through the Bible chronologically. With a little searching on the internet, you can come up with a reading plan that is in order. The approach is most helpful in placing the Old Testament books within their historical framework.
4. Reading with Tim Challies and 1600 others – the ’3650 Challenge.’ In one of the more intense plans out there, Tim Challies has promoted this approach for the coming year which leads the reader through ten chapters of the Bible daily, resulting in multiple readings which vary by book by the end of the year.
Whatever your approach, have a plan and stick to it. Know yourself and your limitations, but also challenge yourself to increase over your current comfort zone
