One of the most successful marketing slogans of all time said, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Alas, the tragedy continues among nominal Christianity.
Why do I think so? Because owning a Bible and prayerfully reading it are two different things. A lack of knowledge can destroy lives, as God indicated through the Prophet Hosea. However, I maintain that no person has to live in ignorance of Scripture.
Perhaps you protest, “what about those who cannot read?” Let them learn from audio versions of the Bible. And let them be inspired to learn to read (if possible).
My greatest concern is for those who do in fact know how to read but do not choose to read the Bible or any materials that assist rightly dividing the Scriptures. Their understanding of God and His workings are then based upon their own personal blend of experience and popular thought.
Everyone has theology. However, everyone does not have basic Bible knowledge as the foundational source of their theology. To help overcome the trend to believe whatever seems right, let me simply encourage you to become a regular Bible reader.
Here are three FREE plans to help you form the habit of regularly reading and understanding the truths of Holy Scripture.
- Available for immediate download is a standard Read The Bible Through in one year guide. It’s for those who like the challenge of reading through the entire Bible in about one year with a checkbox for daily readings.
- The Just Give Me Jesus partial Bible reading guide has been designed with two uses in mind. First, it is a Bible Reading Guide for those who have never read through the Bible and their heart’s desire is “Just Give Me Jesus.”
For the young person or new convert, this guide will acquaint the reader with Jesus within 100 passages of Scripture. Secondly, this can be used as a Bible Challenge for those who desire to know more about our Lord. The challenge is to do more than simply read each passage, but make time for “rightly dividing the Word” knowing all Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16). - Lastly, The BIG PICTURE partial Bible reading guide is an easily achievable approach to gaining knowledge from God’s Word.
Your goal is to read and study two passages a week for fifty weeks and in a year’s time, you’ll have a better understanding of the Bible. Adapt this plan as needed and please remember the goal is not to see how quickly you can finish, but to gain “The BIG PICTURE” understanding of Scripture.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. So is your soul. The absolute best soul care that I can offer you is the absolute truth of God’s Word. Start reading it today and be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
Timely reminder. The Bible is so vital and a church that doesn’t hold up the vital importance of personal devotional Bible reading and study is failing their mission. What the Bible Is All About (Henrietta Mears) is one of my favorite resources for this. It’s not just a Bible reading plan for a year but a great study of the Bible and always keeps the big picture in view (which of course is Jesus). Once upon a time it was required reading for those who were seeking credentials in the IPHC and that was when I was introduced to it. I still reference it. I used this as a Bible reading plan and study on Wed. nights a few years back and our folks really appreciated how it brings the Bible together as one whole story about Jesus the Savior. When people see how all of the Bible is important they will read more of it instead of just passages here and there.
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I’ll look into that and will likely purchase it. We (my household) have recently started this: Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System. We’re about a month into it and are really enjoying it. It’s ten chapters every day but they are weaved together in such a fashion that I’m enjoying it. In a years time, I will have read through Acts about a dozen times.
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