Of all the New Year resolutions that people make and quickly break is often, “I will read through the Bible this year.”
I find that I need both the context that reading through the whole Bible provides, plus the depth that studying an individual book provides. My natural tendency is to do the study not the rapid read. (I’ll be posting later this week on the technology I use for study.) So this year I am going to try to accomplish both, but in a different way.
I have the goal of running at least 2-3 times a week (along with other exercise routines–minor strength training and playing basketball). If I have done my math right (should have had my wife, the math tutor, check it)–I should be able to listen to the whole Bible by running 500 miles. At my current pace (which is more of plodding than running) that should take me about 42 weeks. (I can hear my son snickering, Nathan would have the miles done in about 10 weeks.)
For those who would enjoy a more traditional approach, here are a couple of sites that provide recommendations for Bible reading plans for the year.
First a set of resources I organized for our church–Bible Reading Plans.
Included are simple and short plans to get you started if you have never read through the whole Bible or if you have felt guilty for not finishing once you started.
Second, one of the most complete resources provided a variety of recommendations–Justin Taylor, from Crossway Publishing.
Several to recommend
- Reading plan plus a thought for the day from D. A. Carson–For the Love of God
- 25 readings per month with a creative approach–Kingdom Bible Reading Plan
- A slower plan that will allow you to spend more time processing what you have read explained by Stephen Witmer, two-year plan.
May we not just read or listen to the Bible but may the thought of God in His majesty and grace dominate our thoughts.
