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I used to be sceptical of doing this because I didn't want to get into a meaningless routine or read through it out of guilty obligation. A few weeks ago, though, I realized how much of it I haven't studied/read and was inspired to try this schedule. I'm about 6 weeks into it and I'm really enjoying both reading it thoroughly and the structure of the schedule.
Has anyone else tried this or currently doing this sort of thing?
One good looking thing about that schedule is that there won't be a drudge where you have 3 days of genealogy. I've done a slight variation of the reading the Bible in a year, where it was just the Old Testament in most of a year. I found a nifty Bible that was organized chronologically, which made things very interesting for me, since I like the story elements of the Old Testament.
A few years I tried this method. Read 3 chapters a day for three days. On the fourth day read four chapters. By the end of the year you'll almost be on the target with maybe the last day using 5 chapters to finish Revelation with.
However to be honest I abandoned this method because Bible reading became a bit of a ritual (much like my reading Spurgeon daily) and the heart has to be constantly on guard reading the Bible to fill a square and not worship the living God and the Lord Christ.
But that's just me. Could muchly improve my reading and productive Bible study. The old head knowledge/heart transformation problem I'm sure many Christians are aware of.
Those are the main concerns that made me not want to do it for so long. I guess now I just look at it as a double challenge: to read through the Bible thoroughly and to make sure to get something out of it besides just a check mark in the daily chapter box. Growing in Jesus is definitely the only true goal in doing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtpspur
I have done it before several times. But you know the scriptures that stay with me most I learned in a Baptist Bible School for kids during the summers years ago. Those are the scriptures I am able to quote without mistake. Why? They meant something to the kid who learned them. Now into my 40's, I find myself slipping when reading and falling asleep even. No matter when I schedule my Bible reading, I get sleepy. I use various daily devotions to help.
I say if you desire to do this and it is on your heart, do it for the glory of God, but don't do it just to say I read the entire Bible. Learn as you go.
God Bless
Pen
Even if it does tend toward a ritual a little bit, I still think it's good to have read the whole Bible. Later on in your life, after you've read it, maybe someone will say something that strikes a chord of memory in your mind and you'll think, "Oh, I think I remember reading something like that in Leviticus." At that point, the reading of the Bible paid off, because you can go find what you remembered and it'll be the second time reading it, rather than the first.
I probably should have clarified my post a bit better. I did finish the Bible reading for that year and there have been at least five other times I've been though the Bible. In rethinking my post I fear I went too far in the warnings without giving due credit to the Holt Spirit who CAn and DOES bless the reader--if the heart is at least in desire of a blessing. Sorry if I misled. The Bible reading that I am in fear of is that which does not take into account that it is meant to be read with a worshipful attitude and a respect for the Living God.
For sure. I'm always reading something out of it but since my overall love of reading has made a resurgence over the last year I decided it was time to read through it thoroughly. The funny thing is that reading fiction on the bus ride to work almost every day is where I gained the discipline to read the Bible everyday without letting it get stale or turn into empty routine. Anything -reading, living, marriage, whatever- can get stale if I let it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendragon
I've read the whole Bible three times, two times with a schedule and one time (the first time I read it all the from the beginning to the end) just intending to do it within a year. I started with reading a couple of chapters every day, then I didn't read it on a daily basis and then during the last month I read about twenty chapters each day.
I haven't been reading the Bible much for a while, but I thought I could maybe start again this year, maybe with a schedule, maybe without.
Reading with a schedule was sort of a ritual I did every morning and night and sometimes my heart wasn't really into it (for example if I was very tired), but after all I really enjoyed it. Quite often I read something that really got me thinking even if I wasn't really concentrating on the text to begin with, so it was never really any wasted time.
I would also add that the bottom line at the end of the day (or reading) is, "Did I get closer to Jesus today?" Sadly I have answered no to that a ridiculous amount of times. So I guess part of the reason to try to read it through and to incorporate a schedule is because I'm sort of in this place right now where I'm feeling the result of having not given my spiritual life much attention for a while. For me part of trying to come alive again involves a stronger day-in/day-out commitment to prayer and reading the Bible.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtpspur
Forgive me if I'm being too open about personal things. ;)
Typically I read the Bible at random, or to search out something specific, or in response to a message. The first time I decided to read cover to cover, I did it by reading during my morning and evening commute. Having a set time and place, especially one that's inescapable, helps.