Ten Tips to Help You Read Your Bible in a Year (Part 2)

Originally published on July 25, 2017. Read Part 1. 

I challenged my Sunday School class to read through the entire Bible this academic year. The point is to get a good overview of the Bible in a short amount of time. It’s a great spiritual discipline for young and old Christians. My students wanted some tips on how to get it done, so here is what worked for me.

6. Take time to do a deep dive into passages.

We’re trying to get through the Bible, but that does not mean that you can’t make some stops along the way. If a passage intrigues you, do a deeper study of it.

7. Track your time.

The goal is to get through the Bible through the academic year. Start after the Labor Day weekend and try to make it through the OT before the Thanksgiving holiday. When Christmas comes, you’ll be able to spend time with Jesus in the Gospels. By the time Easter arrives, you should be well into the NT and ready to finish by summer.

8. Expect the highs and lows.

Some books are harder to read than others. I’m not saying to read faster or slower - I’m saying to pace yourself. I find my highs in the Pentateuch, wisdom literature, Gospels, and the later Epistles.

9. Be accountable.

Find someone to go along with you on the journey and pace yourselves. Talk about the details you’ve learned and also the broad themes you’ve come across. Share how this type of reading has changed your life.

10. Reward yourself when you finish.

During the summer, I’ve been reading different books and cross-training my mind. This prepares me to come back to reading the entire Bible fresh again.

For Further Reading

This habit supplements a deeper study of the Bible. If you can read the Bible in this way every year, you’ll fall into a consistent pattern of surveying the Word of God.