Saturday, June 06, 2009

The best Bible reading program I've ever used



Some people don't like programs. They think such plans are legalistic, or wooden, or whatever.

Of course, they can be any of those things. But any program can be.

I'm in day 83 of Grant Horner's 10 chapters a day Bible reading program. (That's not his blog; it's someone else posting details. I found out about the program through a Facebook group devoted to the plan. I post this link for those of you not on Facebook).

The plan is simple: the Bible's books are divided into 10 lists, and you read a chapter a day from each list.

The reading takes me about 45 minutes a day. (Your results may vary).

What I'm astonished by is how much I am recalling from the reading. I have a degree in Bible, and find that I'm learning things I'd never known were there. This is the real deal, folks, and I encourage you to try it for a month. See if you don't find that you were starving for God's word.

My main misgiving about the system is that it's not tied to the church year. In other words, you could -- for example -- read a chapter on the crucifixion on Christmas day. But I suspect that Horner devised this as a study program, not a devotional program, and it is immensely useful in for study.

And for devotion, too. After all, in reading the Bible, your point is not to learn the Bible in itself, but to look through the Bible as a window to see God.

But if, in spite of all your best efforts, you still feel like you don't know the Bible like you should, here's a second chance. Take advantage of it for a month. I think you will be astonished at what you have learned, and you won't want to quit.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this. Horner was my professor in college and the most godly man I know. He and his wife are amazing and very real, unassuming people. I was so grateful when he finally shared with us his Bible-reading approach, because sitting in his classes every day, even if it was Shakespeare class, close knowledge of the Word was SO obvious in all he said. It was so clearly embedded in his thinking and therefore such an inspiration to get into the Word the same way. I look forward to years ahead when it is more and more in my mind and heart as well.

Elizabeth H.