Read the Bible Cover to Cover and Enjoy It
Only 5% of Christians have read the Bible from cover to cover.
When I found that statistic in my research, I was mad at first. Then, I was concerned. Only 5 out of 100 Christians have read the entire Bible? Wow! Why is that, I wondered?
Reading the Bible cover to cover is hard work, for sure, but it can be done, and it can be enjoyable! Our small group at church read, studied, and discussed the One Year Chronological Bible and loved it! It was the catalyst that launched several of our members to the next level of their spiritual growth.
Throughout that year, I developed materials to help our group understand what they were reading. This website makes available all of those resources. The Study Guide includes articles, detailed maps, helpful illustrations, organized charts, and weekly reviews, everything you need to help you make sense of what you are reading. The Daily Reflections is a devotional with concise summaries and introspective questions for personal application.
Both of these tools will help keep you engaged throughout the year. My prayer is that you will not be part of the 95%, who say that they live by a book that they have not read. I trust that the Lord will use the Study Guide and Daily Reflections to encourage you on your journey through the Bible.
Why Read the Chronological Bible?
The people at Tyndale Publishers have put together a fantastic One Year Chronological Bible (NLT 2000). While there are numerous "read-in-a-year" plans to choose from, the Chronological Bible is the way to go.
Consider the advantages of reading the One Year Chronological Bible:
1) You are reading the Bible in the order that it was written, the way that it was written, which makes sense.
2) With the One Year Chronological Bible, you read the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others) in the historical period of their time.
3) Many of David's psalms are mixed in with the story of his life.
4) You read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) as one story, instead of four.
5) Likewise, the letters of Paul are mixed in with the history of Acts. They are not disjointed books, but rather they are integrated with Paul's life.
6) The New Living Translation (NLT) is easy to read, which helps for a quick understanding of difficult texts and requires little time trudging through difficult words.
Are You Ready to Order a Chronological Bible?
My Study Guide and devotional were written for the One Year Chronological Bible New Living Translation (NLT 2000). It does not work with other chronological translations, which have different reading schedules. Therefore, when you purchase a Bible, please make sure that you get the one pictured here.
The One Year Chronological Bible is not hard to find. Just visit your local Christian bookstore. If it is not there, you can always order one online. Click here to purchase one on Amazon.
Example Pages from the Study Guide
Illustration Page
Noah's Ark
Detailed Map
Ancient Near East
Helpful Chart
Overview of Bible History
What to Expect
Logistics
Reading the BiAY will demand that you read anywhere from two to four chapters a day, which equates to about 20-25 chapters a week. Depending on what you do during your time, reading on the surface and catching the big picture or stopping to study more deeply, you will spend from 15-60 minutes each day in the Bible.
Let me caution you here. If you do not already set aside time each day to spend with God, then reading the BiAY will be difficult, not impossible, but difficult.
It is certainly okay to take longer than a year. I've had many people tell me that they took two years. That's perfectly fine. With God’s help, you can do it.
I don’t want to discourage you, but I do want you to be aware of the challenge that this will be. I believe that you will find the devotions to be the most helpful to you.
If you already set aside time daily to spend with God, then the BiAY will not be a problem for you. In fact, I would encourage you to take it to the next level and get as much out of BiAY as possible. To do that, I would recommend reading the devotions and using the Study Guide.
The Bottom Line
Here's the bottom line: it’s all about time and discipline.
If reading God’s Word from beginning to end is a priority for you, then you will make time in your day for it to happen. Don’t try to find time in your day, but make time in your day.
By struggling to find time each day to read the Bible, you are, in essence, saying that reading it is not a priority. Make it a priority and budget your time wisely, so that you can experience this wonderful journey through the Bible.
My prayer for you is that the BiAY will develop in you not only an appreciation for the Scriptures but also a burning desire to know them well. Become an expert student of the Bible!
You will be amazed at what a difference a year can make! But are you willing to roll up your sleeves, dig in, and do it? I am praying that you are. I will promise you this — you will not regret the experience!
Comments from Participants
“Reading the BiAY pushed me to the next level of my spiritual growth.”
“The BiAY helped me gain a better understanding of the big picture of the Scriptures.”
“I have started reading the Bible through before many times, but I always fizzled out. The BiAY curriculum was exactly what I needed to see me through to the end.”
“It was fun and motivating to read the BiAY with my spouse. We always knew that we had read the same
thing each day, and it sparked spiritual discussions we never had before.”
“Going through the BiAY helped me to establish a consistent daily time with God in His Word, something I
had struggled with before. Now that I have carved out time for Him, I will never give it up.”
Print 