In this section, the more specific Bible reading plans are being provided based on broader profiles of spiritual maturity.  In addition, some suggestions for personal bible study and bible tools to seek out.  As mentioned on the podcast, reading the Bible in a year doesn’t do much for spiritual growth.  Most people who commit to a “Read the Bible in a Year” plan will spend most of the year playing catch-up, will forget most of what they read, will have little to no verses memorized, and will not have grown their faith nor cultivated a richer relationship with God.  It is largely a “me too” endeavor.

But first, let’s quickly review some scriptures to inspire us on making a daily commitment to reading and learning the Bible.

The following scriptures tell us about the importance of the Bible in the life of the Christian: Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 40:8, Isaiah 55:11, 1Thessolonians 2:13, Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:71, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 1:2-3, 1Peter 3:15, Jude 3, 2Timothy 2:15, 1Timothy 3:16, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 4:14-16, 1Timothy 4:1, Jeremiah 1:12, 2Chronicles 16:9, Philippians 4:8, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 12:2.

In cultivating your relationship with God, remember that as you go through these passages, take time to hear God’s leading.  To rush through the passage or try and have a reading quota per day is counter-productive when it comes to spiritual growth.  If you feel that a passage or verse is speaking to you, then take time to meditate on it and journal what you are hearing in your mind.  If you are reading and a previous passage comes to mind, go to it.  If you feel the need to camp out in a passage for a few days, or even a few weeks, then do it.  The Word of God is living and active and sometimes we need to take time to quiet our minds to really hear what God the Holy Spirit is showing you.

Other than New Believers, how you define yourself in regards to young, mature, stuck, growing, etc. is entirely your view.  There are too many dynamics to consider, but you know where you have been, where you are today and how God is leading you to grow.  So, review the plans below and step into one that seems appropriate for your situation. 

1. New Believers (0-12 Months): Versions: The Message, New Living Translation, or the Christian Standard Bible.

Books: Psalms, Matthew, Luke, 1John, 1Corinthians, 2Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First Timothy and Second Timothy.

Recommendation: In addition to reading a Psalm a day, also read 1John in it’s entirely every week for 6 weeks, then put it back in the regular rotation of books.  Reading 1John daily for the first 30 days is ideal if you have time to complete it.

2. Young Believers: Versions: The Message, New Living Translation, ESV, NIV-1984, NASB-1995

Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1John, 1Corinthians, 2Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1Timothy, 2Timothy, 1&2 Peter, James.  Old Testament: Psalms, Proverbs, Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Recommendation: Make a list of our Essential Christian Doctrines such as the Trinity, the Deity of Jesus, the Resurrection, the Virgin Birth, the sin nature of man, salvation by grace through faith, and so on. As you read, begin to map verses or passages to the doctrines in your journal.  This is a study technique, but can be quite enriching when incorporated into your time with God.

3. Mature Believers: In church for many years, faith feels mechanical, looking to get unstuck, reinvigorate faith, grow deeper roots, or crave a desire to have deep communion with God.

Recommendations: All of these situations require more than reading, though reading is important.  It is likely that if one of these conditions of faith sounds like you, then there are probably two or three that you identify with, so here is what I suggest:

A) Extended time with God in prayer and listening, maybe as much as 2 or 3 hours. Daily is unlikely, but at least once a week, then the fruit of that time should begin to impact your daily time with God; Daily prayer should be to ask God to open the eyes of your heart (Ephesians 1:18) and reveal Himself to you, ask Him to search your heart for sin or barriers to faith (Psalm 139:23-24), and ask that you be rooted and grounded in His love to know the breadth and length and height and depth of His love (Ephesians 3:14-19);

B) Meditate on a passage, close your eyes and allow the verse to get into your imagination, perhaps see what word stands out to you in a verse and meditate on what that word means to you; let it sync in, then return to it and look for other insights after digesting a passage for a time.

C) Get out in nature and thank God for the parts of creation that you appreciate, colorful flowers, the peaceful sound of a flowing river or creek, the trees and the colors of the season, perhaps a bunny rabbit or a flock of geese flying in V formation.  This practice slows our inner-man and allows us to see the love God expressed to us in the beauty of creation.

Readings: A Psalm a Day, Genesis, Deuteronomy, 1&2 Samuel, Nehemiah, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Hebrews, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Peter, James, 1, 2, 3, John

What is listed above is for personal time with God to grow our faith and communion.  Personal bible study is a separate time to enrich our ability to communicate the gospel, teach our doctrines, and defend our faith.