Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Eat This Book 3

The post today is going to be a little on the short side but maybe some of this stuff about reading Scripture in a new way takes a little while to sink in...

Just picking up on a little bit of a theme from yesterday, I want to suggest a few things.

1. Read with purpose.

2. Do some background study on setting, criticisms, commentaries already out there...

3. Take notes.

4. Ask questions.

5. Ask more questions.

*6. Let the passage work on you for a few days then read it again.

* 7. Pray. Before reading. After reading. Pray.

See if some of these suggestions jumpstart your Bible reading...

Tomorrow, I will suggest some helpful resources to have or consult regarding what you are reading.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Eat This Book 2

Today I want to focus on resources for daily Bible reading that are out there: As you can see below, here are just a few. Do a Google search on your own and find one you like. The important thing to remember is that there are a ton of great references online. There are also some that are not very helpful. Use discernment!


http://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/

http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/reading_plans/

http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html

http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html

http://bible.crosswalk.com/?OVRAW=Bible%20Reading%20plans&OVKEY=bible%20reading%20plan&OVMTC=standard

Another approach that Richard Foster talks about in his book, Celebration of Discipline is to “take a smaller book like Ephesians or 1 John and read it through each day for a month. More than any single effort this will put the structure of the book into your mind. Read it through without trying to fit it into established categories. Expect to hear things in new ways. Keep a journal of your findings.”

I like what Eugene Peterson said about reading Scripture, “We open this book and find that page after page it takes us off guard, surprises us, and draws us into its reality, pulls us into participation with God on HIS terms.”

Have a great day reading the Bible!

Monday, February 26, 2007

Eat This Book 1

(OK, let's get this out of the way: it's been a month since my last post, forgive me. Also, credit for my titles this week goes to Eugene Peterson's wonderful book of the same title taken from the passage in Revelation 10.)



“The important thing is to begin”
These words came from a website designed to help people get moving, to get exercising. It was designed to help those who had not been active at all in their lives (because of weight or other health issues) and now they wanted to start. I got thinking…

This could apply to those of us that need a jump start in the discipline of Bible reading or Bible study. I am going to use this blog this week to offer help in getting started, recommitting to, or digging deeper in our studying of the Bible. This comes from my sermon from two weeks ago. Eastside readers you have a head-start on where I am coming from and where I’m headed with all of this.

Part one, today, is designed for those of us who are “getting started” (see bottom of this post). I am going to get us into the habit. Experts in the field of time management seem to agree (for the most part) that it takes 20-30 days to create a habit. One resource I found answered questions about forming a habit. The best question was the one that asked, “Why does it take 21 days to create a habit and only one to fall back into old patterns?” Unfortunately, there is some truth to that when it comes to the Spiritual disciplines. So, let’s get started; begin; read Scripture for all it’s worth (and more).

In tomorrow’s Part two, I am going to flood you with Bible reading plans from all over, plus a story from my life with scripture. Actually it’s my mother’s story but really her story with the Bible is my story.

On Wednesday, Part Three emphasizes reading with purpose. Take notes; ask questions.

In Part Four on Thursday I will list some helpful resources to have while studying and we’ll look at the discernment needed to use them. Remember, God has given scholarly gifts to other people too (and a lot of them are a whole lot smarter than you or I).

Finally, Part Five on Friday will deal with this question, “What kind of glasses are you wearing?” Don’t know what I mean? Well, you’ll have to wait until Friday!

Here’s something today to get us into (or back into) the Bible reading habit. It's called 20/20. It’s not original with me; I just can’t remember where I picked it up along the way (I think it was Reg Cox – seems like a good reference even if it wasn’t him). 20/20 basically means reading 20 minutes per day for 20 days, thus creating a habit. I’m even going to give you the bible verses to read. Some days it might not last the full 20 minutes. My recommendation here is to pray for the rest of your time about what you just read. Here goes, read on friends:

Day 1: Genesis 1 – 3
Day 2: Gen. 12:1-3, Exodus 20:1-21, Deut. 6:4-9
Day 3: Ruth
Day 4: Psalms 23, 51, 148
Day 5: Psalm 78:1-7, 86:1-13, 139
Day 6: Proverbs 3 & 4
Day 7: Isaiah 40 & 53
Day 8: Matthew 5 & 6
Day 9: Matthew 7 & 13
Day 10: John 14 & 15
Day 11: John 16 & 17
Day 12: Luke 22-24
Day 13: Acts 1-4
Day 14: Romans 1-3
Day 15: Romans 4-6
Day 16: Romans 7 & 8
Day 17: Philippians
Day 18: Hebrews 11
Day 19: James
Day 20: 1 Peter