Attached below is a congregational plan for Bible reading that can help us grow in the knowledge and understanding of God and His word in the coming year. Within the pages, you will find a 2011 calendar with suggested Bible readings. The readings are divided weekly so that each one can decide how to cover the material. If you want to cover approximately the same amount of text each day, divide the number of pages for the week by seven. The weekly assignments can be adapted to your preferred method and schedule.
The reading schedule covers entire Old and New Testaments once in fifty-one weeks. It will take some discipline to complete, but it will be worth it. This averages out to three chapters of the Old Testament to be read six days per week and one chapter of the New Testament to be read five days per week. Sometimes the daily requirement may be a bit more, and at others times it will be less, and the chapters are also different lengths. Do not get discouraged if you fall behind. Keep to the schedule. If you want to make up what you missed, do so after completing the current week’s reading.
Each month’s calendar is small enough to fit inside the cover of most Bibles. You may prefer to post the calendar on the refrigerator or tape it to your computer or television as a reminder to do your daily reading. Encourage the whole family to get involved in reading the Bible. Middle school children should be able to complete each week’s assigned reading. Portions of the reading could also be selected and read aloud as part of a family devotional. In this way, your children will come to understand the importance of the Bible and its prominence in daily life and public preaching.
You might like to purchase a notebook and keep a journal of your daily readings. This journal does not have to be extensive or take up much of your time. Simply write down the date and the chapters you read. Write down the citation for verses that stand out to you, questions you may have, and meaningful passages you want to remember and/or share with others. For example, you might jot down three things about that day’s reading: Your Favorite Part, Something New that you don’t remember seeing before, and A Practical Application. You do not have to write an essay. Just make a note of the verse or verses and keep reading. God bless us in understanding His Holy Word!
Link to a printable schedule: Read Through the Whole Bible in 2011 Schedule
The schedule can also be seen and followed on our calendar page.
Steve Hentz and Larry Walker, Shepherds