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How to Help Your Children Read the Bible

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Professor David Murray has great passion and exceptional skill at helping people build lifelong Bible-reading discipline into their children. In an article at Desiring God, he gives 8 tips to help your children read the Bible.

  1. Give them a Bible they enjoy.
  2. Give them an example to follow.
  3. Give them a compelling motive.
  4. Give them a clear, manageable plan.
  5. Give them questions to ask.
  6. Give them answers when they have questions.
  7. Give them encouragement to keep reading.
  8. Give them grace in their failures.

All of this comes from a simple vision:

One of the best gifts you’ll ever give to your children is familiarity with the Bible and its message.

Amen! I commend Murray’s full article to you. Check it out!

When Sprinkling is Not Enough

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On his blog, Russell Moore wonders whether Bible quoters have replace Bible readers. By these terms, he refers to those who use the Bible as an encyclopedic reference book with wise sayings and quotable verses to support their perspective. Moore laments a generation of Christians that rarely read a Bible book from beginning to end and are unable to follow a narrative arc or train of thought.

I’m delighted to see this situation turn around in part through the readers of this blog. In fact, it gives me some ideas for what to write on this coming year.

If you’re currently blasting your way through the whole Bible, I hope you’re having a terrific time. Keep pressing on! Some days, it feels like you’ll never finish, but that’s not true. Stay the course for only 45 minutes a day, and you’ll finish in about 70 days.

As Moore writes in his post:

To engage with a narrative requires…not just a sprinkling but an immersion in the text.

Check it out!

How Reading the Bible Should be Something Ordinary

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Tommy Keene writes at The Christward Collective about reading the Bible in an ordinary way. What he means by that is that we should read the Bible as we’d read any other book. Not just a sentence or paragraph at a time, but consuming chapters and books and more in great gobbles.

First, he suggests we ought to read the book and not merely read around the book. Set aside all your commentaries and study notes so you can soak in the text itself. Reader’s Bibles help immensely by clearing out all the gunk that has accumulated over the generations.

Second, he encourages us to read entire books of the Bible in a single sitting. Don’t bother to stop every time you hit something you don’t understand. Don’t pause or rewind; just keep going. Let the big picture impact you first, and then go back to the difficult parts as needed.

As Keene says:

Over the years we have trained ourselves to read the Bible in an unnatural way, so we’re going to have to break some bad habits.

Keene’s sound advice is well worth considering. Check it out!

The Lost Skill of Listening to the Bible

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Last week, The Gospel Coalition published an article with the intriguing title “Don’t Just Read the Bible.” I was expecting the article to be about Bible study (Don’t just read the Bible but study it.) But in fact, the author went in a different direction: Don’t just read the Bible; listen to it being read.

I have valued Bible listening for quite some time, which is why I’m happy to allow for audio-Bible listening in our 90-day reading challenge. Listening to the Bible is a marvelous way to soak in the big picture, the main ideas, the overarching story line. And in his TGC article, Jonathan Bailey makes a good case for the practice:

So how do reading and listening shape us in different ways? When we read, our default tendency is to study, to pull apart the text and piece it back together, and to draw conclusions. We’re after comprehension: to grasp with the mind, to sharpen our thinking, to learn, and, above all, to understand. When we read, we want to get something out of it. 

When we listen, we have to leave all that behind. We lose our ability to be precise; there’s no underlining, cross-referencing, or consulting commentaries. Listening is more leisurely. When we listen we’re after apprehension: to lay hold of something, or better said, to have something lay hold of us.

Now of course, comprehension is not a bad thing. But I certainly appreciate the useful distinction between comprehension (getting something out of it) and apprehension (merely beholding the wonder). This sounds just right. And anyway, having our own Bibles to read is a rather recent development in the history of the world. Before the 16th century, most people would only get to listen.

So in the bio at the bottom, I noticed that Mr. Bailey just launched a Kickstarter project for a new Bible listening mobile app. An app designed to perfect not the reading experience but the listening experience. Different vocal tracks with a variety of English-speaking accents. Seamless synchronization. Original music scored to highlight the text. Listening plans and playlists.

I must say I am impressed. So impressed that I immediately backed the project to get a lifetime subscription to the app. Perhaps you might want to consider this project as well. It became fully funded within 3 days, but it’s still open to new backers. The more they raise, the more features they can add at launch. But regardless of how much they raise now, it sounds like many more features will come over time.

So I encourage you to check it out! Here is the Kickstarter campaign for the listening app. And here is the article at TGC about the unique value of listening to the Bible.

The Staggering Consequences of Neglecting Your Bible

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Erik Raymond looks at Psalm 1 to draw out “The Staggering Consequences of Neglecting Your Bible.” He observes the severe contrasts in the psalm to draw the following conclusions:

So often we minimize doctrinal differences, but we cannot forget, doctrinal error leads to eternal punishment. We must be sure above all that we have that essential doctrine clear and see the Bible as God’s holy Word, given to us as a treasure to for reading, meditation, prayer, preaching, and singing. Too often our doctrinal confessions that assert a belief in the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures are betrayed by lives that ignore them. We must be sure that we are not succumbing to the false teaching that denies the supernatural nature of the Bible.

When we look at the result of a life lived drinking and delighting in the Word contrasted with one that rejects and belittles it, we have ample cause for evaluating our habits and our hearts.

Here in the dawning of a new year, it is certainly healthy to ask yourself what changes you should make with your life in order to give yourself more faithfully to this Word. For motivation, you need only to consider the staggering consequences of neglecting your Bible.

Check it out!

Bible Reading Plans

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If you’re still considering whether to take up the 2018 Bible Reading Challenge, you’re not too late! And if you’ve decided to do it, you might wish for a list of milestones to let you know you’re on schedule to finish in time.

So at the suggestion of Tyler Redden, a reader pursuing the challenge, I’ve created a few reading plans for you. Just pick which reading order you prefer and click the link to find a Google Doc with the daily readings mapped out for you. From the doc, click File > Make a copy in the top menu. Then you’ll have an editable version of the doc to make your very own.

What Would Happen If You Read Nothing But the Bible for a Year?

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We just announced our 2018 Bible reading challenge, which lasts but a wimpy 90 days. How tough would you be if you kept going and read nothing but the Bible for an entire year?

You might be something like this guy. Jacob Via felt convicted because he spent loads more time in books about the Bible than in the Bible itself. So he declared a 12-month fast from all the other books to make time to feast on living bread.

Via’s blog post describes what exactly he did and how he did it. But my favorite part is his list of takeaways. Everything on that list is something you could find in a journal article or book on hermeneutics. But how many of those things drive your daily decisions? How many of them have so mastered your thought-life and your faith that they are your first reaction to suffering or unexpected circumstances? How many of us could say that “godliness is of value in every way” (1 Tim 4:8), such that we rest secure and confident in the truth of what was once spoken by the Majesty on high for the ages?

In other words, while these takeaways might be things you know, have they ever been things you’ve experienced?

Via’s conclusion:

Let me encourage you to spend a year in the Word. Read it a lot. Read large sections at a time. Don’t worry about the parts you don’t understand. Just keep reading, and it will become clearer and clearer. Allow Scripture to interpret scripture. It’s more than a good book. It’s more than a roadmap to life. It’s life-giving. It’s living and active. As you read it, it begins to read you. Rediscover the Father’s heart. Rediscover the movement Jesus started. Allow it to transform who you are. And allow it to direct what you do tomorrow.

Via’s blog post might not be the most polished or deeply-researched thing you’ve ever read. But don’t let that prevent you from seeing how spectacular it is.

Check it out!

HT: Andy Cimbala

Announcing Our 2018 90-Day Bible Reading Giveaway

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I believe in reading the entire Bible quickly, and I think the NIV Sola Scriptura Bible Project is like reading the Bible in 4D. The CSB Reader’s Bible is also top-notch. So today we’re announcing a giveaway to encourage voluminous reading with promises of these Bibles designed for readers.

Due to the generosity of Zondervan and Holman Bible Publishers, we have a copy of each of these reader’s Bibles to give away. And we assure you: The odds of winning this drawing are not impossible. If you enter, you will not be up against hundreds or thousands of entries. Last year, we had 2 winners selected from 39 entries.

Rules:

  1. You must have a United States mailing address to win one of the reader’s Bibles. Residents of other countries will receive a $30 Amazon gift card via email.
  2. You must read (not scan or skim) all 66 books of the Protestant Bible. You may choose the translation and reading plan (canonical, chronological, etc.). You don’t have to stop and meditate on every detail, but I’m trusting you to be honest about reading and not skimming. Listening to an unabridged audio Bible is acceptable. You may also use any combination of audio and visual reading, as long as you’ve read or listened to the entire Bible within the allotted time period.
  3. You may not begin until January 1, 2018, and you have until March 31, 2018 to finish. If you’d like to understand why we recommend such fast-paced reading, see our Bible reading plan for readers.
  4. To enter the drawing, you must email me at peter.krol@knowableword.com (or contact me through the web form) with the date you finished and what you thought of the speed-reading process. Your thoughts do not have to be glowing, but they should be honest; you’ll still be entered into the drawing if you didn’t enjoy your speed-read.
  5. On or around April 1, 2018, I will randomly select 2 winners from those who have emailed me their entries. And there’s no April Fool’s joke here; I’m just giving everyone a fair 90 days to enter. I will email the winners to get valid shipping addresses.
  6. The first prize winner (if US) will get their choice of the NIV Sola Scripture Bible Project (4-volume set) or the CSB Reader’s Bible (one volume). The second prize winner (if US) will get whichever one the first prize winner didn’t choose. Any winner outside the US will receive a $30 Amazon gift card via email.
  7. Unfortunately, missionaries with DiscipleMakers are not eligible to win the contest.

I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you have as much fun with this sprint as I do, and may the Lord draw us all nearer to him through it!

Now is the Time to Plan Your 2018 Reading

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reading on bench

Laëtitia Buscaylet (2017), public domain

As we near the end of one year, it’s natural to think about our goals for the next. And whether it’s saving money, losing weight, building relationships, or learning a skill, we need plans to meet our goals.

You may not think of your reading list as goal-related. You may want planning as far away from your books as possible. But what we read has an enormous effect on our thoughts, our emotions, our worldview, and our souls.

In twelve months, you’ll be a different person than you are now. What you read between now and then will shape what kind of person you will be.

Connection to Bible Study

This might seem like a strange post to read on a blog all about Bible study. But these topics are vitally connected.

We have a finite amount of time, and without a plan we may not using our time well. When we’re tired or sad or frustrated, it’s easy to fall into bad patterns and spend time in unproductive or unrefreshing ways.

In particular, we don’t often drift into reading or studying the Bible. The Bible makes demands of us, and it’s much easier to camp out in a novel or on social media. But the word of God is our life! By it we see ourselves and everything around us accurately. We put ourselves in spiritual danger when we neglect the Bible.

Without making a plan, we won’t read much of the Bible. And planning to read the Bible means planning not to read anything else at the same time. As we set reading goals for 2018, let’s do so with the Bible as our highest priority.

Making Plans

We can break down our reading plans into at least five areas.

  1. Plan to read and study the Bible. For Christians, this is non-negotiable. Through the Bible we hear the truth from God that we so easily forget. We hear commands, we receive encouragement, we are equipped for battle against the evil around and within us. We need this book! Plan to read the Bible. Plan to study the Bible. If you read nothing else in 2018, read the Bible.
  2. Plan to read other Bible-based books. While the Bible is in a class by itself, there plenty of other books that teach biblical truth. Consider books in the categories of theology, biography, memoir, and Christian living, and find some trusted sources for recommendations. (Start with your pastor and elders and move on to friends and other trustworthy sources.)
  3. Plan to read for development. Whether you want to grow personally or professionally, there’s a book for that! Plan to read books related to skills you’d like to develop or topics you’d like to learn about.
  4. Plan to read for refreshment. God has made us to work and to rest, and we acknowledge and submit to our Creator when we plan times and activities for refreshment. If you are renewed and re-energized by reading fiction or comic books or graphic novels or humor, plan for it. We love God and our neighbors better when we have fuel in our tanks, and reading can fill us up.
  5. Plan other media consumption. Television, movies, video games, social media, and other internet-related activities—none of these are inherently bad. But they suck us in; we blink and 45 minutes later wonder what happened. Seek out these media with intention, mindful of your weaknesses and temptations.

Why Now?

December offers down time that January does not, so if possible, it’s best to make plans for the new year now.

Take some time in December to think and pray and lay your 2018 reading before the Lord. Talk to friends about the books and priorities on your list, and commit to praying for one another and following up.

Another advantage of planning your 2018 reading in December is the abundance of “best/favorites of 2017” lists that appear. Prayerfully consider the titles on some of these lists. I suggest balancing new books with older ones, but these lists can point you toward some of the best new books to read. Life is too short and too important to read bad books.

Leave Room for the Unplanned

While I suggest you plan reading for 2018, you shouldn’t feel locked in by your list. There will be other suggestions and opportunities that come up, and these may be worth your time! I usually plan about 75% of my annual reading and count on filling in the other 25% as the year develops.

As we tumble toward January, plan to read the Bible in the new year. And plan your other reading so that it glorifies God and helps you to walk faithfully as his disciple.

 

NIV Reader’s Bible: For Readers or Not?

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Paul charged the church in Thessalonica to “have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters” (1 Thess 5:27, NIV). When was the last time your church read one of Paul’s letters in full during a worship service? He expected his letters to be read and taught in this way, but we’ve grown accustomed to dealing with only a few verses at a time.

Now I’m not saying it’s wrong to read or teach the Bible a few verses at a time. But I would suggest this practice shapes us to think of the Bible only a few verses at a time. And we should at least be aware this is not the only (nor perhaps the best) way to read.

Which is why the recent flood of reader’s Bibles is such a delightful turn of events. I recently received a review copy of the NIV Reader’s Bible from Zondervan in exchange for an honest review. How does it hold up?

What It Does Well

As with other reader’s Bibles, the NIV Reader’s Bible gets most of the man-made clutter off the page. There are no verse numbers, cross-references, study notes, or section headings. Chapter numbers are moved out of the text block and into the margin, in a discreet light blue font.

The text presents in a single column, just like the novels and books of poetry we’re used to reading. Scenes with dialogue give a new paragraph to each character that speaks, just like the other narratives we read in our day. This is quite welcome.

Line breaks are placed carefully, being sensitive to the literary flow of the text. This Bible’s editors laudably show no special concern for traditional chapter divisions. They put the line breaks where the text warrants them. For example, in reading Judges, we get a solid block of text from Judges 1:1 all the way to Judges 2:5. Along the way, we wave to an unobtrusive little “2” in the margin that marks the coming and going of Judges 2:1. But we don’t stop to make the acquaintance of that little 2. We drive right by it until we park where the text itself parks, at Judges 2:5. Then we calmly sip our tea, take a breath, and move to the next phase of the story, beginning with Judges 2:6. But we don’t really know it’s verse 6; all we know is that the next round of literary glory awaits us.

And so on, through poetry, prophecy, genealogy, inventory, and letter. This Bible does just fine presenting a clean text that expects to be read and not mutilated.

What Could Be Better

Unfortunately, a few features substantially distract the eager reader.

  1. The margins are too small. With 1/2″ margins all around, the page simply looks like it has too many words on it. There is no buffer, no rest for the eye. When I try to read this Bible for more than a few minutes, I just can’t do it without my eyes bugging out. And I usually have to use my finger to keep my place on the page.
  2. End notes. I do not understand why there are end notes in this Bible. The end note markers either tease or annoy, depending on the reader’s mindset. But either way, they distract from the simplicity of reading. The notes themselves are placed at the end of each Bible book, creating a feeling that you haven’t really read the book unless you’ve spent the time flipping pages back and forth to read them all.
  3. The book is fat and sharp. It has a shorter page height and a wider page width than some other reader’s Bibles. This both adds to the feel of too many words on a page and increases the page count, making the physical book quite fat. In addition, the corners of the spine are sharp, giving the book a distinct rectangular look when sitting on the table. Most books we read have rounded corners to the spine. The fatness and sharpness combine to make this book difficult to hold for extended periods of time. (In its favor, the book lays very flat on a table. But how often do you lose yourself in a book you’re reading on a table?)

Also, this Bible comes with a slip case made from card stock. It’s not really a case, but just a promotional carton for shipping. So if this Bible gets significant use, it will deteriorate quickly.

Conclusion

The NIV is a great translation for extended reading. But unfortunately, the NIV Reader’s Bible does more to distract from the reading experience than to encourage it. This one’s not for me.

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