Reviewing Reading the Bible in a Year

Here's the feedback that came from a questionnaire I did for a bunch of us who have attempted to read the Bible from cover to cover this year.


1. What have you enjoyed about reading the bible cover to cover this year?

• I have greater awe and love for the God of the Word
• Discovering new things
• Seeing emerging patterns/continuity and how the Old and New Testament relate to each other
• I have a more secure overview of the whole Bible
• Placing stories I learnt before (in Sunday School) in proper context
• Seeing new nuggets of truth in stories I thought I knew well.
• Pacing myself with the plan
• Seeing Jesus in every part of the Bible, I had a suspicion he was there but it's good to have it all laid out in front of you.
• Enjoying the discipline of reading and learning a lot more

2. What have you found hard about reading the bible cover to cover this year?

• Sticking to the daily plan. I started well but... (and the feelings of guilt that come with this)
• Genealogies, lists and sacrifices
• The amount of bloodshed in the early OT
• Some books lend themselves more easily (e.g. Psalms) there is a temptation to fall behind because you want to consider them
• Trying to take in what I'm reading rather than brainlessly going into automatic pilot and ticking a box.

3. If someone else was thinking about doing it, what encouragement/tips would you give them to help them persevere to the end.

• Put aside a time each day to read, (and each week to catch up if you fall behind)
• Go for it, God can speak his creative word into your life through things we did not expect him to.
• It's not about "reading the bible in a year" but about getting to grips with what God has said, asking questions, getting some answers and being encouraged / encouraging others
• Doing a mixture of OT and NT each day helps to break up the incomprehensibility of some of the OT books.
• Read more of the narrative stories than are prescribed in one sitting, that way you get more time to wade through the heavier bits
• Don't feel you have to do it in a year. Do it in two if that helps
• Go for it! Persevere and don't get bogged down in guilt if you fall behind, just keep going.
• Use a study bible, as they are especially helpful for answering questions you weren't expecting to pop into your mind.