Reading Through the Whole Bible

Have you ever read through the entire Bible? 

Why did you do it?

Getting a handle on the whole counsel of God helps me understand some of the harder passages.  It gives me a context in which to figure things out.  Scripture must reconcile with the whole of Scripture.

Getting an idea of God’s big picture helps me gain perspective for the here and now as well as for the end times.

Getting a broad perspective helps me trust God more even when I don’t understand what is happening because I see through the pages of Scripture how He is a sovereign and faithful God.

How did you do it?

Some people use a plan that guides them through reading the Bible in one year.

I personally vary the ways I read through the whole Bible.  I usually do not give myself a time limit but rather simply go at a comfortable pace and get done when I get done.  Some methods have taken me a few years to make it through but it has been well worth it.  Here is what I’ve done some of the different times I’ve read through the Bible:

• developed outlines as I went through the Bible
• recorded everything that showed God and man communicating (prayer)
• marked all passages that pointed to Jesus
• determined what character of God it depicted
• profiled the various Bible characters as I came to them
• more diligently prayed over what I read than usual
• underlined key verses for the passages I read each day

By changing the way I read through the Word each time, it doesn’t grow old to me and God has used some of the results in providing substance for materials on the web site and in seminars.  I didn’t read through the Bible for that purpose.  I read through the Bible because of my relationship with God, to learn more about Him and consequently build my love for and faith in Him but He uses it in various ways.

I taught a course called a Panoramic View of Prayer looking at prayer from Genesis to Revelation.  Lord willing, it will one day be available as a curriculum. 

The Walk the Walk as Those Who Have Gone Before utilizes a sampling of the Bible character profiles.  I found studying Bible characters very helpful.

Have you read through the whole Bible?  Why?  And, how have you done it?