I read the Bible in sections nowadays, not cover to cover like I used to. I tend to always include the Psalter as well (the monk in me insists). Also, Mr. Rogers, though Presbyterian during his life, did receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick from a Catholic priest on his deathbed!
I'm glad to hear that last bit. Mr. Rogers' Calvinism had (rightly) led him to doubt whether he was one of the elect, as he knew his good fruits could (of course) always be better. I hope he threw himself at the feet of Christ and trusted in the promises of the sacrament.
From what I understand, the priest was also a Benedictine abbot. Happy that he was friends with monks (who wasn’t he friends with?). I’ve hope that Fred Rogers, Fulton Sheen, and the Benedictine monk are all now amicably chatting at the warm hearth of heaven.
I'm thinking on dead dudes a lot now because I'm trading Narnia to my kids. Lewis really didn't plan to write seven, originally, and I wonder if he's totally revamped the series by now.
Excellent summary/overview. Will share with our son-in-law, who sometimes asks questions, but who often doesn’t really want the answer—or at least not a long answer! Thank you.
Thank you. Obviously you know a lot!Based on our previous conversations with him, I’d say his questions are challenges to our beliefs, rather than the genuine inquiries of a sincere seeker. But we keep praying! Right now I’m praying that he will read your post.
Hannah, you are brave to dive into this. For me as a Baptist girl in childhood, then waylaid by grief in youth that sent me into being a Prodigal for 35 years, I " get" the intensity of the Bible. One of the only things I have left from my Mom, who brought me to Christ in my childhood and died overnight in 1966, is the King James Bible she gave me in 1964.
The Bible is likely the deepest book ever written. It is a " coded" book, to be understood spiritually, not just intellectually. For me, the only way I can read it is with daily nudges from Holy Spirit, of what books or verses to read at any given time. Just hanging out with God does slowly, gradually "seep" in to my soul and draws me to His heart and mercy for this flawed and wounded woman. He truly never leaves me nor forsakes me. As long as I receive His love day by slow day, that sustains me. Godspeed to you, Hannah, fellow Warrior woman! Wendy
While reading the entire Bible is good, I think it is overrated. (Is this my Catholic moment?) Even those who had relatively vague understanding of the Scripture's text itself became saints just fine. In contrast, I read the whole thing every year, some passages even in Hebrew, Greek, and Russian, but stay very far away from being a saint. So I like your crash course a lot and find it kind of unfortunate that people who are interested in Christianity often jump into reading the whole Scripture on their own only to give up.
I do think it's worth it to read the whole Bible again and again. But there are definitely certain parts I only read to be sure I'd read them, and parts I'm never gonna read again (most of Numbers!).
I think this is a great overview for getting into the word. Trying to follow reading plans, especially timed ones, never worked for me. What did work was recognizing that, like you said, the Bible is a collection of books, and we're not in a race to get through them.
But to anyone who thinks the Bible is boring, I could not more vehemently recommend looking up the books and YouTube seminars of Dr. Michael Heiser, and also binging the Blurry Creatures podcast (starting from when they began interviewing theologians and scholars - you can feel free to skip the first several episodes that focus on Bigfoot and cryptids, unless that's your thing).
Mrs Hannah, I could not disagree more strongly. but I’ll be brief.
I have been advocating, and practicing, perpetual Bible reading for 30 years-ish now and time would fail for me to tell you of the difference it has made in my life.
If it is all God’s word then it’s all relevant.
Furthermore, knowing that men and women gave their lives so that I might have a copy humbles me.
I'm not saying to skip the rest of the Bible indefinitely. I just think a lot of people never read it because they start with the most boring and difficult parts.
You may have a point , though having taught Genesis verse by verse I consider it one of the least boring books ever.
I maintain that , unfortunately, most modern Christians are never taught to do the hard things and that we too often lower the bar with the noble intention of accessibility.
It's a lot easier with someone discipling you! But like I said, most of the people who tell me they can't get through the Bible quit AFTER Genesis or Exodus.
One of my heroes, long since departed, said that the reason parts of the Bible are boring is because the Author of the Bible is the Author of Life, and parts of life are quite boring.
I don't know how many times I've tried reading the Bible in a year. The farthest I've gotten is Ezekiel. Maybe one year, but not next. I'll just read Genesis, Psalms, Romans, and James on repeat.
Dang! Great post! I’ve cover-to-covered it, done the year in the Bible stuff, put it aside for years at a time, come back to it like it was a drug … pushed it away like it was a drug … like a dog to its vomit, as they say.
But you did a great job on this assembly. Referencing Augustine even … I was a theology major in an Augustinian college. You have some chops on you.
Same here. I mean it was a good foundation but the best thing about college is the people who shape and challenge you. We need to find a more affordable alternative for that!
Interesting syllabus. When teaching people who are curious about Christianity, I encourage reading the Gospels first, and then the rest of the New Testament, except Revelation; skip Revelation for now. Then I suggest they read Old Testament passages -- which are often cross-referenced and annotated in a good, study Bible -- in light of the Gospels.
Your syllabus is more detailed and seems very constructive. Have you found that people who've taken your suggestions have benefited from this more purposefully targeted reading?
Most Christians or Christ-curious folks I've encountered agree that the Bible isn't a novel that you read starting at Page 1.
The most important element of reading the Bible might be a high-attention, actively listening person whom can accompany you on the journey :-)
I like going through the Bible chronologically. This year I went through it in a different order. Next year I’ll park in Mark, and maybe Ephesians and soak in those.
Just noticed. There's no Day 3 + 4 specified?
Ha, thanks for pointing that out! Of course it wouldn't work out that perfectly. I am a knucklehead!
It's okay! I'll just not read for those days lol.
Kidding. I'm spreading out days 5-9.
I read the Bible in sections nowadays, not cover to cover like I used to. I tend to always include the Psalter as well (the monk in me insists). Also, Mr. Rogers, though Presbyterian during his life, did receive the Sacrament of Extreme Unction/Anointing of the Sick from a Catholic priest on his deathbed!
I'm glad to hear that last bit. Mr. Rogers' Calvinism had (rightly) led him to doubt whether he was one of the elect, as he knew his good fruits could (of course) always be better. I hope he threw himself at the feet of Christ and trusted in the promises of the sacrament.
From what I understand, the priest was also a Benedictine abbot. Happy that he was friends with monks (who wasn’t he friends with?). I’ve hope that Fred Rogers, Fulton Sheen, and the Benedictine monk are all now amicably chatting at the warm hearth of heaven.
I'm thinking on dead dudes a lot now because I'm trading Narnia to my kids. Lewis really didn't plan to write seven, originally, and I wonder if he's totally revamped the series by now.
Excellent summary/overview. Will share with our son-in-law, who sometimes asks questions, but who often doesn’t really want the answer—or at least not a long answer! Thank you.
I hope it's helpful! Send him my way if he wants to chat. I know stuff about things!
Thank you. Obviously you know a lot!Based on our previous conversations with him, I’d say his questions are challenges to our beliefs, rather than the genuine inquiries of a sincere seeker. But we keep praying! Right now I’m praying that he will read your post.
Hannah, you are brave to dive into this. For me as a Baptist girl in childhood, then waylaid by grief in youth that sent me into being a Prodigal for 35 years, I " get" the intensity of the Bible. One of the only things I have left from my Mom, who brought me to Christ in my childhood and died overnight in 1966, is the King James Bible she gave me in 1964.
The Bible is likely the deepest book ever written. It is a " coded" book, to be understood spiritually, not just intellectually. For me, the only way I can read it is with daily nudges from Holy Spirit, of what books or verses to read at any given time. Just hanging out with God does slowly, gradually "seep" in to my soul and draws me to His heart and mercy for this flawed and wounded woman. He truly never leaves me nor forsakes me. As long as I receive His love day by slow day, that sustains me. Godspeed to you, Hannah, fellow Warrior woman! Wendy
While reading the entire Bible is good, I think it is overrated. (Is this my Catholic moment?) Even those who had relatively vague understanding of the Scripture's text itself became saints just fine. In contrast, I read the whole thing every year, some passages even in Hebrew, Greek, and Russian, but stay very far away from being a saint. So I like your crash course a lot and find it kind of unfortunate that people who are interested in Christianity often jump into reading the whole Scripture on their own only to give up.
That is what I'd like to help people avoid!!
I do think it's worth it to read the whole Bible again and again. But there are definitely certain parts I only read to be sure I'd read them, and parts I'm never gonna read again (most of Numbers!).
At least Numbers has some stories. Parts from Ezekiel where he tells all the measurements of the Temple are the worst.
I think this is a great overview for getting into the word. Trying to follow reading plans, especially timed ones, never worked for me. What did work was recognizing that, like you said, the Bible is a collection of books, and we're not in a race to get through them.
But to anyone who thinks the Bible is boring, I could not more vehemently recommend looking up the books and YouTube seminars of Dr. Michael Heiser, and also binging the Blurry Creatures podcast (starting from when they began interviewing theologians and scholars - you can feel free to skip the first several episodes that focus on Bigfoot and cryptids, unless that's your thing).
Mrs Hannah, I could not disagree more strongly. but I’ll be brief.
I have been advocating, and practicing, perpetual Bible reading for 30 years-ish now and time would fail for me to tell you of the difference it has made in my life.
If it is all God’s word then it’s all relevant.
Furthermore, knowing that men and women gave their lives so that I might have a copy humbles me.
I'm not saying to skip the rest of the Bible indefinitely. I just think a lot of people never read it because they start with the most boring and difficult parts.
You may have a point , though having taught Genesis verse by verse I consider it one of the least boring books ever.
I maintain that , unfortunately, most modern Christians are never taught to do the hard things and that we too often lower the bar with the noble intention of accessibility.
It's a lot easier with someone discipling you! But like I said, most of the people who tell me they can't get through the Bible quit AFTER Genesis or Exodus.
One of my heroes, long since departed, said that the reason parts of the Bible are boring is because the Author of the Bible is the Author of Life, and parts of life are quite boring.
I suppose.
I don't know how many times I've tried reading the Bible in a year. The farthest I've gotten is Ezekiel. Maybe one year, but not next. I'll just read Genesis, Psalms, Romans, and James on repeat.
It'll happen!
This is helpful and nicely written. Thanks for putting it out there.
Dang! Great post! I’ve cover-to-covered it, done the year in the Bible stuff, put it aside for years at a time, come back to it like it was a drug … pushed it away like it was a drug … like a dog to its vomit, as they say.
But you did a great job on this assembly. Referencing Augustine even … I was a theology major in an Augustinian college. You have some chops on you.
Why thanks!
Man I'd love to be a theology major at an Augustinian college. Except for all the homework.
Basically I just want to sneak into a library and live there
I didn’t learn much at college … it’s the 30 years of reading since that actually had an impact
Same here. I mean it was a good foundation but the best thing about college is the people who shape and challenge you. We need to find a more affordable alternative for that!
Interesting syllabus. When teaching people who are curious about Christianity, I encourage reading the Gospels first, and then the rest of the New Testament, except Revelation; skip Revelation for now. Then I suggest they read Old Testament passages -- which are often cross-referenced and annotated in a good, study Bible -- in light of the Gospels.
Your syllabus is more detailed and seems very constructive. Have you found that people who've taken your suggestions have benefited from this more purposefully targeted reading?
Most Christians or Christ-curious folks I've encountered agree that the Bible isn't a novel that you read starting at Page 1.
The most important element of reading the Bible might be a high-attention, actively listening person whom can accompany you on the journey :-)
True, there's no substitute for being discipled!
I never thought of reading the Bible this way until about two days ago. We'll see if anyone takes me up on it and finds it works for them.
I'm so glad Phisto blocked me. I probably wouldn't have read this unless he had. Not being able to respond to your comment lead me to it.
Excellent piece.
Thanks for reading!
Not bad, not bad. I'm sure some will connect with your approach.
I like going through the Bible chronologically. This year I went through it in a different order. Next year I’ll park in Mark, and maybe Ephesians and soak in those.
Hey, awesome if it works for you! I never stuck to a reading plan and wound up slogging through the areas I was fuzzy on just in case
I like your 30 day crash course plan. This article is going into the roundup this week.
NOICE! Thank you!