This year I am doing a program through a local church. It is a year of serving and loving the city, getting the church involved, and showing them that they can live missional lives even if they are busy and that they don't have to be missionaries far away to do it.
The first thing we did this year as a team was to read through the Bible. I was really excited for this. I have set out before to read through the bible from beginning to end, but hitting a lot of geneology a few books in took the excitement out of that plan somewhat.
Having a set aside time to do it and other people to do it with helped a lot. Doing it alone requires even more self discipline than when you have other people along side you struggling through the same exhaustive lists in Numbers.
We had an audio version that we listened to as we read. This kept us at a steady pace, had us all at the same section at the same time, and had us taking the Word in through two senses. This was also helpful when you got lost or distracted as though I can't honestly say I have read every single word of the Bible, I have heard it all.
If I remember correctly, the audio Bible is 75 hours long. We split it up into sessions like this:
8:00 -9:30
15 minute break
9:45-11:15
15 minute break
11:30-13:00
45 minutes for lunch
13:45-15:15
15 minute break
15:30-17:00
15 minute break
17:15- 18:45
Finished for the day
On the ninth day we had to do a few sessions in the morning only but I can't remember how many or how long they were as we changed it up a little bit that day.
It was a lot more tiring than I expected. It was also harder to concentrate than I anticipated, even in the New Testament where it seems like there is a lot more to take in than some of the Old Testament books that had more facts than things you got distracted thinking about. This was also a challenge, not having time to think on a particular scripture too long, but continuous reading. To be honest, I did fall asleep a few times...
However, it was very interesting to read through the Bible in a short period of time. I found it fascinating to see things like how Jacob had his name changed by God to Israel and that name was used for the tribe of Israel, God's chosen people; how Jacob's sons names were used for the 12 tribes of Israel through the Bible and how this thread carries on into Revelations.
However, it was very interesting to read through the Bible in a short period of time. I found it fascinating to see things like how Jacob had his name changed by God to Israel and that name was used for the tribe of Israel, God's chosen people; how Jacob's sons names were used for the 12 tribes of Israel through the Bible and how this thread carries on into Revelations.
If you'd like to read through the Bible too but don't have a number of whole days to set aside there are some plans here: http://therebelution.com/blog/2014/12/reading-gods-worda-new-years-resolution-for-the-rebelution/ that are for a few months or for a year and this site: http://www.howlongdoesittaketoreadthebible.com/ can give you an idea of how many minutes a day you have to read to finish it within your time frame.
I would encourage you to read God's word in it's entirety.
I would encourage you to read God's word in it's entirety.
