Have you ever started a Bible reading plan and given up? You breezed through the exciting stories of Genesis & Exodus, but lost momentum at Leviticus and quit with Numbers? Perhaps you have followed a devotional that comments on a few Scripture verses, but it never really gets into bigger picture of whole Bible? You can end up with a bunch of favorite Scriptures verses that feel good but may be out of context.
Bible reading can be boring, frustrating, confusing, and even yawning! Perhaps you have read the whole Bible before, maybe numerous times, and the text has become too familiar? It just doesn’t feel fresh anymore and feels more like a daily to-do thing?
I want to encourage you to try reading different versions and different kinds of Bibles. For example, last year I read The Message cover to cover for the first time, how refreshing! Sure, it is not my favorite go-to version, but it made me think numerous times. The year before that, I read the ESV Reader’s Version which has no headers or verse numbers in the text.
This year, I am re-reading the Chronological Study Bible in the New King James Version. It is big but counting the number of pages and dividing them by 365, I just need to read three pages of the Old Testament and one page of the New Testament—this is doable!
Nowadays, we can order Bibles online to have them delivered, right here in Vietnam, even if it takes a few weeks. Why not browse your favorite online bookstore and get yourself a new version? Who cares if you actually start on January 1!
There are also numerous Bible reading plans available online, for example at www.bible.com/reading-plans. You can find the One Year Chronological Bible to read in the order events took place. The One Year Bible and The Entire Bible in Year both mix reading from OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs each day—that will keep it varied so you will not get stuck at Leviticus! Nicky & Pippa Gumble of Alpha have a One Year Bible with a daily encouraging commentary from the couple’s lives.
Perhaps you want to slow it down and one year seems too much? You can also read the Bible in 2 years or just start with the New Testament.
However you go about it, I hope that Bible reading is one of your habits and plans for 2021. I’d love to hear what you have found helpful! Drop me a note at pastor@hif.vn or on social media.
Pastor Jacob
Bible Reading Plans and Devotionals:
10 Bible Reading Plans to Start This January The One Year Chronological Bible The Bible – Jody Jesperin Basics of Studying the Bible – Mark Beuving Overview Part 2 – Paul’s Letters – Mark Beuving Survey of the Bible – Bruce Wilkinson Clarifying the Bible – Mitch Maher More Bible Study Resources