Question
Do you have any advice on a structured way to read the Bible? We’re currently just flipping through random pages. I’d like to have a more organized approach to our Bible study.
Answer
There is not just one correct way to read the Bible. Some have a reading plan, where they just read a chapter a day, or a number of chapters, so that they read the Bible through in a year. Others study different topics, which may suit some people better. But the negative of this way, is that there will always be parts of the Bible which you will never read. I personally have my own way, in which I read four chapters every day. It works like this:
- Starting at Genesis 1, I read a chapter a day, until I get to the end of Job, then start again at the beginning of Genesis.
- Starting at Psalm 1, I read a chapter a day (except for Psalm 119, where I read a shorter section each day), until I reach the end of the Old Testament (the end of Malachi), then start again at Psalm 1.
- Starting at Matthew 1, I read a chapter a day, until I reach the end of John, then I start again at the beginning of Matthew. In this way I’m always reading a chapter of the life of Jesus, every day.
- Finally, I start at Acts 1, and read a chapter a day until the end of the Bible (the end of Revelation), then start again at Acts 1.
In this way, I’m reading two chapters of the Old Testament every day, and two chapters of the New Testament. This also enables me to read a chapter of the life of Christ every day. This daily reading is just to keep the details of the Bible in my mind continually; I also do Bible study topics, prepare sermons and answer questions like yours, so I’m continually studying God’s Word. Like I said before, this is just my own reading, and there are many other reading plans you could choose from.
I trust that this makes sense to you. God bless!
