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2008 READING SCHEDULE

Read the Bible with us, a chapter a day. Below are the start dates for chapter one of each book.

January 18 - Genesis

March 8 - Exodus

April 17 - Numbers

May 23 - Joshua

June 16 - Judges

July 7 - 1 Samuel

August 7 - 2 Samuel

August 31 - 1 Kings

September 22 - 2 Kings

October 17 - Ezra

October 27 - Nehemiah

November 9 - Luke

December 3 - Acts

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

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T H E S T O R Y L I N E C H A L L E N G E

Out of the 66 books in the Bible, there are 13 that tell the story of the Bible from Creation to the Church.

Genesis – Exodus – Numbers – Joshua – Judges – 1 Samuel – 2 Samuel – 1 Kings – 2 Kings – Ezra – Nehemiah – Luke - Acts

The other 53 books mostly contain side stories, summaries, or sermons written by kings, poets, prophets and apostles talked about in the 13 “Storyline Books.”

We all know that reading God’s Word is a vital part of our spiritual growth, but we don’t always know where to start. The Storyline Books will introduce you to the major people, events, and ideas of the Old and New Testaments without giving you an overwhelming amount to read. And as you read you’ll gain a better understanding of the other books because you’ll know where they fit into the story.

You can read the Storyline Books by December 30th by reading just a chapter a day starting Friday, January 18! That’s the Storyline Challenge. You'll find the start date for each book in the reading schedule to the right. If you get a late start, don’t worry, catch up when you can.

NOTE: There will likely be days this year when you forget, are unable or simply too exhausted to read, so feel free to read ahead. And don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day. Just start again the next day. The main purpose is not to stick to a schedule, but to develop a regular habit of reading the Bible, which will spark growth in all areas of your life!

May God bless your journey through His Word!

STEP 1

Choose & use a study Bible.

A good study Bible has the entire text of Scripture with helpful notes offering insight into the background and meaning os the text. If you don’t already have a study Bible, it is an invaluable all-in-one tool for understanding God’s Word, especially for those who do not have the time or money to use other Bible study resources. The following five are good picks depending on which translation you prefer and what features your need.

STEP 2

Learn more about the Bible.

Where did we get the Bible? Is it really worth reading? How can I get the most out of it? Choose any or all of these books for answers.

STEP 3

Deepen your understanding

Use a Bible dictionary (like Holman's) to look up unfamiliar people, places and ideas you find as you read. Choose a background commentary ( such as IVP or Zondervan)

to help you understant the culture and customs of the original writers and readers of Scripture and it original meaning. And use other commentaries (Wiersbe or Expositor's) to broaden your understanding of what the text means beyond your own conclusions.

STEP 4

Get the big picture.

Once you are familiar with the Scripture itself, it's time to explore its implications for formal system of beliefs--theology. You will want to an introduction to Christian teaching (by Grudem or Erickson) and a history of the development of Christian beliefs (like Gonzalez or McGrath/Packer), and maybe even tackle a larger work of systematic theology (Oden).

STEP 5

Gain confidence in the truth.

Discover the non-judgmental and reasonable side of Christianity and see how it holds up to other religious worldviews (Hazen). Enjoy the classic and convincing arguments for core Christian beliefs (Lewis). Explore what it means to love God with your mind (Moreland/Matlock). Consider evidence for the truth of biblical claims (Strobel). And open your eyes to one of the biggest challenges to truth in our times (Beckwith/Koukl).