MUST READ: Read the Entire bible in 26 Days!

26 days, ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'd like that and I'm going to start today!

This has to be the toughest schedule I've ever encountered, but I will try.

thanks,
mamaluk

that is a pretty rigorous plan! I started today and I'm almost done with the Genesis portion, only a few more chapters to go. Probably taken me an hour and a half so far just to go through the Genesis part.

It sounds really hard to do, but when you think about it, the average American (Christian even) spends way more than that amount of time in front of the TV everyday.

This simply allows you to read through the entire bible in 26 days by reading 30-50 chapters a day taking from one hour - two hours a day.

Brethren,

In the past, reading through the entire Bible only casually took me at least one year, and since then I had read IT through 3.5 times, sloppily. Now I read different parts of IT each day slowly. But I still think I want to breeze through IT's entirety in 26 days. For me, I love to saturate my mind with Scriptures,since I get easily distracted by the world.

No less, I think that for someone who has the time and especially for those that are new in Faith, reading through the Bible, even briefly, might be better than just reading bits and pieces slowly to begin with (which I did in my younger years), in time, my 'theology' became quite lop-sided. Adding to the time I spent on books from all those fabulous and famous saints, slowly I set the Bible aside and replaced the Bible by reading man's writings. (e.g. 4 hours in books,but 10 minutes in Scripture each day.)

Strangest thing, the more I read man's writings, the more 'spiritual' and prideful I became, and the less I wanted to read what GOD has to say.
Thanks to the correction of the Holy Spirit, I now am more aware in setting aside the 'groves' in our 'high places' and return to the Scripture much more than before.

Truly, the Bible is alive, and that's what's so amazing, IT grooms our spirit, while with me anyways, man's writings groom the flesh.

This is in no way to undermine the great works of man through out the Christian history, who definitely taught me a great deal as well. However,, when shining man's work through the light of Scriptures, there's just no comparison.

just my humble testimony,
Sola Scriptura, In Christ
mml

It's so important to read the scriptures. I would encourage those who haven't read the Bible through many times to get this a try. Our fellowship has read through the Bible as a congregation for several years during the month of January and it's been very beneficial to all who were willing to do it.

I wouldn't regularly do this (go through in 26 days) but one can read the scriptures several hours a day and read through the entire Bible many times, even slowly during the course of a year. I would encourage you to pray about it. It seemed as if some of the pieces of the Bible fit together differently the first time I did this.

philologos wrote:

This simply allows you to read through the entire bible in 26 days by reading 30-50 chapters a day taking from one hour - two hours a day.

At the risk of sounding a discordant note, I don't really understand this. I am often asked how we should read the Bible and I always answer with a single word "slowly". It is the 'entrance' of God's word that 'giveth light' and I have to question how much of the scripture is going to 'enter' at this pace.

well im going to do this, im new in the faith, not even one year old yet, and i have just been reading here and reading there, some times ive read whole books in one day, some days almost nothing but im begining to understand that you need to know the whole bible... you wont understand some things in the new until you understand the things in the old, sure you can know enough to get saved, but i want that deep spiritual life, i want to go all the way, and in my former life i could watch tv for hours... i could spend hours in drinking and doing drugs...i could spend hours in chasing after these sins...and then hours in doing them.
then i think we have no excuse not to chase after the living gods word.. well i dont know for anyone else but im going to do this. A real motivation is keith daniels sermon the word of god.
I hope you will listen to it, it will furter encurage you to read more of gods holy word

I think I would like to do this.

I read all the way through last year, this year is reading every book twice doing the same thing. I would like to read the whole Bible reading each chapter twice.

What is strange is that while I thought reading every book twice would give a better bird's eye view of Scripture, what it did was make two or three verses burn into my memory in a way that I will never forget them, the way they were presented in the context. Here are some examples:

Num 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Ruth 1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

1 Sam 11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

Wow, I am so excited for all your participation, thankyou SI, perhaps, revival starts by HIS children returning to the written Word afterall!

I've read only 4 chapters of John so far, but I'm going to ask the LORD to discipline me and teach me all the way through.

Praising HIM !!
happily, mml

Just a recommendation to go alongside all this. When you are studying the Scriptures, perhaps read swiftly through a single book a time or two to get "the big picture," and then do more detailed slow study a time or two, then again, another swift reading. You'd be surprised how much you learn doing this. I remember the first time I did such with the book of Joel, how much fruit I personally gained from my studies.

Jimmy, I think this is good suggestion.

I am going to sticky the Robert Murray McChyene reading plan also which is a more mediatitve slowler reading plan.

There is a story told about a family who visited one of the beauty spots in the English Lake District. They jumped out of the car and ran to someone sitting by the lakeside. "Is this Buttermere?" they asked. "Yes" answered the lakeside sitter. The driver of the car ticked a box on his clipboard and the family jumped back into the car and sped away.

Did the family ever 'see' Buttermere?

philologos wrote:
At the risk of sounding a discordant note, I don't really understand this. I am often asked how we should read the Bible and I always answer with a single word "slowly". It is the 'entrance' of God's word that 'giveth light' and I have to question how much of the scripture is going to 'enter' at this pace.

I have to agree with you there, Ron. For me it's quite simple: 1 chapter a day, OT today, NT tomorrow. Start at the begining, get to the end, begin again. If I miss a day, don't play catch up, just pick up where you left off. My goal of reading, to find Christ in the book. If I can learn one new thing about Christ a day, that's 365 things a year. How's that for a "easy yoke" and a "light burden"?

That's the daily thing, coupled with a dose of "My Utmost For His Highest". I'd rather "retain what I read" than "lap through the Bible". The Book isn't going anywhere, and if Wurmbrand could last all that time without the Book at all, then I can last on the morsel I prtake of. A good friend once told me that God prefers consistency to over commitment. Wise words, if you ask me.

Sometimes I may suppliment with an intensive study, as the Lord leads.

philologos wrote:
Did the family ever 'see' Buttermere?

Nice :-)

ive started yesterday, i did get thru the first day, i must say it was quite ruff, but then as si was saying this is not a plan u always should follow, i meen i do see the whole picture in the stories and so on when i read much but the little ones one might miss, but the thing is i havent been a beliver for so long, and it would be wery embarasing if i were to witness to a lost person and they would to ask me- have you read the whole bible? and honestly i havent, and ive been saved for 10 months, so i do belive this is a good readingplan for me. i know you dont have to read the whole book to be saved, you dont need to read one single word to be saved, but i want to know the bible, and like Greg said once or twice a year i think it is a good thing to read it like this... then on the other hand this method maybe bless someone very much and give them great light in the word by the spirit, and for some other person a chapter a day is the best way, But one thing is for sure if you havent read in your bible before you go to bed today or any day... i would call you a backslider, if you could have and you dident...

I will never forget when, at 16 I read the enter Bible through quickly in the Living Bible version (I think). What I discovered was that the main character was God! And the Bible is written through God's eyes! Suddenly I saw everything in the whole world differntly - more through God's eyes.

That put me into an entirely new mindset. That's when I began to have a burden for the lost, and those who did not know the Word. And so I gave myself to God - to use me in which every way he wished.
Diane

I think even the RMM reading plan is too fast.

Difficult not to add comment... I couldn't agree more about chewing. It's ultimately [i]absortion[/i]...

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

My ... It just dawned on me that I had pulled one each from the Psalms and John ...

Ron, these two books have kept me enthralled for 6 or 7 years now and yet that is only to make mention of it by way of similarity. Chewing presupposes eating in the first place so I could never give any proscription otherwise. Think this is a great idea for many, a discipline perhaps. Just as well, to keep in mind that important illustration, that the goal isn't to get through it, but for it to get through to you.

I have to agree with you there, Ron. For me it's quite simple: 1 chapter a day, OT today, NT tomorrow.

The only problem with this method, and many common such reading plans that have you reading seemingly at random all over the Scriptures is that you'll never really read the Scriptures in context by doing such. Such might be ok for the Psalms, but is a horriable idea for reading books like Romans.

this is a blessing...now i just dont have sermons when i listen to my mp3 player on the bus...now im listening to gods word... sometimes i feel like even if i lived to be 900 years i still wouldent have so much time in the word of god that i feel i need and want.. but even if i dont have all the time now...ill have all of eternity in his precense later...that should be enough i think :)

gods peace to you
christian

KingJimmy wrote:

I have to agree with you there, Ron. For me it's quite simple: 1 chapter a day, OT today, NT tomorrow.

The only problem with this method, and many common such reading plans that have you reading seemingly at random all over the Scriptures is that you'll never really read the Scriptures in context by doing such. Such might be ok for the Psalms, but is a horriable idea for reading books like Romans.

I think that it all comes back to attitude. I tend to be the kind of guy that has a few different books on the go at any time. When I pick up a book, I try to read the end of what I last read, in order to work out where I'm at, and thn pick up where I left off last time. This is the approach I take when reading scripture. It is amazing how many times I have found myself reading similar passages in the OT and NT at about the same time (like for instance [i]Romans 10[/i] around the same time as [i]Deuteronomy 30[/i], for example).

I agree that hwne people read with a kind of "A verse a day keeps the devil away" kind of mentality, it is easy to take scripture out of context, however if we make it a point to remember what we are reading, then the risk of this is minimised.

Some good thought here. Another is in reading 'whole' books to come alongside KingJimmy there somewhat... Figuring that was how they were originaly penned.

Have also been truly blessed in former days listening to the scriptues on Audio - Max Mclean in specfic, his reading of them.

I think that it all comes back to attitude.

Agree.

However the way choosen, context is king.

I followed a 26-Day reading plan once. I didn't quite get all the way through but I did absorb much of the Word. I am a teacher, so a couple of times a year this is feasible for me to do and I enjoy the challenge.

Built in the same plan (5 Lane Reading Plan) are different schedules that provide ways of reading the Word in differing amounts of time. I have found this plan extremely helpful in my own personal study.

Though I have been a Christian for a long time, this is the first year that I have consistently and regularly read the Word on a daily or almost daily basis. My understanding and my joy have increased. I highly recommend having a daily plan, it helps.

Below is a link to the 5 Lane Bible Reading Program, which includes a 26-Day feast on the Word. Enjoy!

http://www.lovesark.net/biblenyou/brp.pdf

Kind Regards,

Derek
http://kaminos.blogspot.com/

I would like to do it three days if the lord gives me strength!!!

wow, that looks really doable (in 25 days)

Thanks for the reading plan. It might be worth looking at - it does seem rather quick, so I doubt if it would replace my normal readings. I might give it a trial though and see how it goes....

Blessings

response to just my comment Good Point! :-)

I am reminded of those hotdog eating contests where a bell goes off and the contestants procede to stuff fistfuls of hotdogs in their face and just gulp and gulp and gulp -- no time to chew. What a wonderful way to get a belly ache! Such feats of mass ingestion is not natural, and that's why there's alot of vomitting during and after the sport.

Reading the Bible like this can actually [i]upset[/i] your spiritual stomach. You start shoving mass handfuls of scripture down the gullet without chewing and you will soon notice what I mean. You'll start off strong, but it will soon morph into a burden, a race against the clock. Since you don't have time to taste and chew and properly digest what you're eating, the food will turn into globs of mass that will exit as soon as it enters your head, like water through a sieve.

I've read the entire Bible in a few months, so I can speak from experience. It really did nothing but give me boasting rights. The truth is, I did't retain much of it...much like a hotdog-eating contestant won't retain much nutrients after the event is finished.

The Lord has been calling me to read through the bible front to back, for quite some time now. I have difficulty disciplining myself to read straight through in that I meditate on, research, savor particular verses and find myself hours later having read all over the bible.

I consider this to be from the Lord, another call to read straight through but I won't rush. Because of life's circumstances, I am one of few I suspect who can devote hours a day to ruminate over the Word--a gift from the Lord to have this time.

Please pray that the Holy Spirit is with me teaching me all truth and that I not miss anything the Lord has to teach me.

If anyone else is doing this, please stay in touch by email or personal message and let me know how it's going. Thanks and God be with you.

Reading the Bible like this can actually upset your spiritual stomach. You start shoving mass handfuls of scripture down the gullet without chewing and you will soon notice what I mean. You'll start off strong, but it will soon morph into a burden, a race against the clock. Since you don't have time to taste and chew and properly digest what you're eating, the food will turn into globs of mass that will exit as soon as it enters your head, like water through a sieve.

Brother Paul,

I agree and disagree with you. I look at it this way: If I'm using a screwdriver to pound in a sixteen penny nail I'm gonna have issues. But I don't throw away my screwdriver because I can't use it to pound in a sixteen penny nail, or any nail for that matter. Instead, I get a hammer and the job becomes much easier. Now when I go to screw in a screw suddenly the screwdriver's usefulness becomes clear.

Likewise, if I use this reading method as a means for in depth study, I'm not going to get much out of it. But just like studying a master work of art, taking a close look serves one purpose, and standing back to look at the whole serves another.

I've been using this reading plan for my bible reading time. (I haven't made it in 26 days yet, but I love how it breaks up the readings.) But I certainly don't use it for Bible study.

Reading the Bible as a whole straight through like this has helped me in forming a good contextual framework of the scriptures.

Blessings,
Jeremy Hulsey

Reading the Bible as a whole straight through like this has helped me in forming a good contextual framework of the scriptures.

Yes, I agree, brother. For getting a grasp of the contextual framework of the Bible [i]as a whole[/i] it is good, though I'm still a bit iffy over the time allotment. 3 months is better, I believe. I think less than a month is too fast; even to get a good textual conception. Just my own thoughts, anyways. The detailed "hotdog" can just as easily morph into a "contextual" watermelon.

I like your "hammer versus screwdriver" illustration! I'm not quite sure what a sixteen penny nail is, but I get the picture. Great point, I agree 100%.

Brother Paul :-)

Thanks Brother Hulsey for pointing out reading through the bible cover to cover in 26 days gives one an overall view of God's plan and purpose for man.

I just realized I could be halfway through a chapter in the time it's taken to write this---hmm a lesson there to all of us?

"Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy." - R.C. Sproul

Hear, hear!!!!

Thanks for the reading plan! May we read, study, and meditate on His word every day...

Whether we read the Word quickly or slowly, lets read with the help of the Spirit. Without Him we don't stand a chance.

I know a man who, for the last 50 years or so has spent each day reading the Bible, cover to cover, and then starting over. No plan, no set readings, just himself and the Word. The wisdom this guy has is humbling.

Lord may we each have a renewed and greater desire to feast upon your every word, to know the Scriptures, and You more truly through them.

Was this a child completely of your own? or did you get this from someone else?? Btw, I'm going to try it next monday on---> right now I'm preparing for it.

The letter kills the Spirit gives life there must be the relationship that exists outside of the printed word in order for the printed word to be quickened to our spirit. :-) [b][size=large][color=0099FF][font=Georgia]Howie[/font][/color][/size][/b]

Wow!

Could someone point me to the Robert Murray McChyene reading plan?

Thanks.
doug

This is really good, However some may find it quite a rough schedule, however it need not be so, If you set aside 4 periods in one day and divide each daily reading by 4, you could read it in a day easily, probably 30 minutes at a time, so you could have 30 Minutes in the morning, 30minutes afternoon, 30 minutes evening, 30 minutes night time before bed. I think it if done this way it can still be read in a slow meditative manner, and it is a small sacrifice to pay, simply give up the time you spend watching TV.

If done this way it would also help you to keep your mind focused on the word of God through out the day, and in 21 days you would find that your thought process is more around Gods word because you go to it ever so frequently in one day.

I pray God strengthens and gives help to everyone who does this, I started today.

I love the the thought of this plan. You can do it monthly and have 3-5 days where you don't read (the plan).

I am doing this, if anyone else is let me know!

Martyr are you serious:

Whenever I say anything about reading the scriptures I get the whole forum against me.

I only get to read some threads so i have never seen that happen.

I am still following Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System. I started this on 8/22/11. I am on day 141. I have 109 days left to have read through the whole bible. I have read Proverbs and Acts four times. Some times I double up, reading 20 chapters in that day. I plan on doing this system for the rest of my earthly life. It has helped me to know more from the Scriptures. Thanks !