Beginning on December 30th, we will be reading through the Bible in Chronological order as a church. The daily devotions that we send out will be encouraging people to read and meditate on the Bible.
Each reading will take about 10-15 and the plan is spread out into six readings each week. If you would like to follow along in your personal quiet times there are several options below for how you can join in and read the Bible along with others at the church.
Why are we reading the Bible in chronological order?
The value of reading the Bible in chronological order is it gives us a sense of the story of the bible. While the Bible we hold is one book, in actuality, it is a collection of books and each book works together tell a single story. The story that unfolds is God’s story. Our Bible reading plan is broken into three acts much like a play is divided into acts. Each act is then broken into scenes. The three acts are: God’s Plan for all People, God’s Covenant People, and God’s New Covenant People. As we read the Bible as a story we get a more clear picture of God’s heart and for our place as his new covenant people in his world.
Reading the Bible through sounds like a daunting task. How do I start?
Good question! There are three options below for how you can follow along on the reading plan that we are using as a church. Pick one of these options and stick to it!
Two other suggestions for sticking to your plan.
- Pick a time and place to read. Write it down on your calendar and follow through. According to George Guthrie, “studies have demonstrated conclusively the correlation between reading the Bible on a daily basis and personal spiritual health.” Guthrie, the person who designed this reading plan, is saying if you want spiritual health you must read your bible. If you want to be consistent pick a time and place to read.
- Recruit some friends for the journey. Reading will take time and effort. It will be more enjoyable and more fruitful in your life if you share some of what you are reading with your small group. The bible was written to groups of people. Very few books of the bible were written to specific individuals. Since the Bible was written to a community, you should share with your community what you are reading in the Bible. If you don’t have a small group, you can find one here.
Follow the options below for the nuts and bolts for getting started with the Chronological Bible reading plan.
