Scripture
Week 4: Bible Reading Plan
Most Christians want to read the Bible. In fact, they love the Bible. They go to church and listen to sermons about the Bible, read books about the Bible, and might even listen to a podcast about the Bible. The only problem is…most people don’t actually read the Bible. The problem isn’t desire, it’s discipline. And at the heart of any discipline is a plan. As the saying goes, “To fail to plan is to plan to fail.” As cliche as it is…it’s also true.
This week is all about keeping the practice of scripture going.
The practice for the week: This week we are going to create a Bible reading plan that works for you. The key is to create a plan that you can stay consistent with. For you, that may look like meditating on a small passage a day, or a whole chapter, or maybe you're a Bible rockstar and you’re ready to read the Bible in a year. Just make sure to choose something you can stick with.
01 – Decide when and where you are going to read the Bible each day. Our suggestion is to make that time in the morning because you are less likely to schedule something during that time. It may be easier for you to do in the evenings or mid-day. That works too. The key is to have a consistent time each day to be in God’s word.
02 – Choose a plan. Our recommended plan is to read a chapter a day. Most people can read a chapter of the Bible in five minutes or less. But maybe you want to try something else. That’s great too. Simply choose a plan you can stick with.
03 – Step 3. Show up each day. Some days you’ll show up and God may speak directly into your life. Other times you may learn something new or see something a new way. But other times you may be left confused, offended, or deeply convicted. That okay. Keep showing up.
04 – Utilize the tools you’ve picked up along the way. We encourage you to start each day with silence & solitude. You may want to read some passages using Lectio Divina. Other times you may want to dig deeper and study the passage. There are many ways we can and should approach the Bible. Don’t forget to use these tools from time to time.
Recommended reading: NIV Bible