“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18, NASB95)
New Year’s Resolution Season…
It is that time of year again. We slide into Thanksgiving, we make a mad dash across Christmas, and we find ourselves smashing into another year on the calendar. People make plans to hit the gym, change their diet, learn a new hobby, etc. Somewhere in the fray of made plans and resolutions, there is usually an effort made at creating a Bible reading plan. “Should I read through the whole Bible?” “Should I do an inductive study?” “Should I memorize the book of Leviticus?”
What is the best way to study the Bible? How can I get a plan together that I can stick with? These are the kinds of questions people ask, answer, and if we are honest, struggle with every year.
And these are the kinds of questions we’ll address in our upcoming Wednesday night study. Interested or planning to attend! Register here.
The Problem With Bible Reading As A Resolution
Let’s walk through the problem points. First, people are busy. I mean, crazy busy. Reading takes time and time is at a premium for most people most days. Second (and this is sad but true), many people don’t enjoy reading. It is hard for some people. It exposes a problem point of desire, education, etc. Third, people don’t know what kind of reading to do. Whole books, the whole Bible, smaller sections, a guided Bible study, alone, in a group, one-to-one? There are so many options. Fourth, and this is the big one, these resolutions often feel like legalistic burdens rather than life-transforming blessings. The Word of God is life-altering, being one of the means of grace God uses to make us like Jesus. The enemy without (and within) longs to press us away from the life-giving qualities of the sacred text. There is a need to read (or hear) that goes well beyond just making a resolution to accomplish a goal.
Bible Reading And Calendar Planning
There are three kinds of Bible reading: (1) reading for knowledge, (2) reading for depth, and (3) reading for transformation. Each one is done differently, planned for differently, and requires a different approach. Yet, each one is necessary and valuable throughout the course of a Christian’s life. As such, a person that is mapping out a plan to “read the Bible” needs to know what kind of reading they intend on doing. You don’t make a plan and then set a goal; that is backward. You have a set a goal and then make a plan.
How do we bring this all together? For three weeks in December, Sylvania Church will be offering a three-week course covering each of these topics. This course will also touch on the pitfalls of long-range goal setting and the execution of a long-term plan. By the end of the course, you will have a better idea about what your personal goal for 2020 should be regarding Bible reading and how to achieve it with a higher level of success.
The class is open to anyone that is able to attend, not just members of Sylvania Church. If you are interested in attending, check-in at this link through the Sylvania Facebook page. The course will be on Wednesday nights, starting December 4 through December 18. The class starts at 6 PM. We hope to see you there.
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