As part of my dedication to organization, as a Full-Time Pastor, I am committing to read the Bible through in one year. I start today in the Psalms 1-2.
I have read through the Bible multiple times but I have never sat down and read from Genesis to Revelation and I have never read through the Bible following a plan...I hope that doesn't make me a bad guy.
I know that following a plan is a good way to stay organized and accountable but there is a danger to following a plan. The danger would be legalism, in other words, reading because I have to instead of because I want to. Legalism is dangerous in any form and legalism will lead to bitterness of soul. A bitter soul will not experience the joy that reading the Scriptures will cause in our hearts.
I covet your prayers that I will follow this everyday because I WANT TO not because I HAVE TO. It will benefit me, my family and the church that God has allowed me to pastor!
Savannah and I committed to the same recently. Since it is both of us, we help each other to have the right frame-of-mind. If we are both in the wrong frame of mind, we wait till later on in the day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the Word is powerful. While most things (like going to church at 9:00am or giving 15% tithe and offering or praying at a certain time) might become ritual or tradition, studying the Word can convict you, even when you do it for the wrong reasons. I recall several sermons where I was just there out of tradition or legalism, and the sermon (God's words) pierced my heart. While a tradition may usually lead to vain repetition, perhaps looking into the mirrored perfect law of liberty and playing with the Spirit's sword can never be a bad thing, even if it becomes tradition.
Also, you said Psalm 1 and 2. Don't you have to read 3 chapters a day to finish the Old AND New Testament in a year?
ReplyDeleteI know this...preachers are often guilty of reading/studying in preparation to preach or with preaching in mind. It does me good to read/study/meditate for my own personal sake.
ReplyDeleteHope your reading the Bible through is a blessing.
Psalm 1:1 Note that the progression in v.1 is walking, standing, then sitting. That might preach. (ooops...the preaching perspective again)
Thanks fella's I appreciate the encouragment...
ReplyDeleteKing Jimmy I agree that if my mind and heart aren't into it I will wait b/c I believe the Lord will fix my heart and I this Bible reading plan goes Sunday-Saturday with a different section of books each day here it is...
sun-epistles (apostles' wives right)
mon--The Law
tue-History
Wed-Psalms
Thurs-Poetry
Fri-Prophecy
Sat-Gospels
Bro-Adrian--I totally agree and that is my biggest battle in ANYTHING I read. I am always looking for an outline and that is a struggle that I deal with. However, I agree, walking, standing sitting will preach.
You stated that you wanted to read from Gen to Rev. Then y start in Psalms. I agree pastors need to read the bible constantly in portions. Not just a chapter here and there, but entire books, nit necessarily in one sitting, but read 1 book completely then go to another. On Sun night my teen class studies through entire books. We have done Genesis, Ruth, 1,2,& 3 John(I know short ones, but powerful) Psalms, Ester, now in Judges. This has taken 2 yrs 1 day a week.
ReplyDeleteI love to preach through books of the BIble and encourage our people to read each book. I also read my text multiple times before I preach - the more the better. I have read the text as high as 100 times, but mostly about 20. You really get a better understanding that way. I have read the BIble through twelve times and need to start again.
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