Since we are a new church I thought it would be a good idea if we read the entire Bible together as a church, beginning with the book of Genesis. I asked the congregation what did they think of the idea, and everyone said they really liked the idea, most said they had always wanted to read the Bible all the way through. I have found a wonderful guided study that we will use, and it requires about 30 minutes of reading time a day, plus you have two days off during the week. I will be using our web page for posting of guided questions and we will gather in each others homes to discuss our reading. One of our teen members asked if we could wait two weeks since she had to study for finals. I said "of Course we would wait", she was so excited about reading the bible. We will start in two weeks. Have any of you done a bible study that you read the entire Bible?

-- Anonymous, January 07, 2001

Answers

Denise, I'm curious, will you be using the KJV or some other translation for your Bible study? As you know our youth are typically less-tolerant to the Ole English contained in the KJV. Also, since many of the books of the Bible are short in length, e.g. Obadiah, II & III John and Jude are less than a chapter, will this impact on your 30 minutes time allocation? Overall, I think this is a splendid project!!

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Hi, Bill to answer your question regarding the Bibles to be used. The course I am using is called "A through the Bible Reading Program" by standard publishing. The course uses the NIV translation. I encourage the congregation to bring their Bibles to church so they can read along with the scripture. Since the people who come to my church have not been to church in years or never attended a church, this is a way to introduce the bible. I explain where the passage is and we wait until everyone has found the passage. Most are using the NIV or RSV. I have noticed the youth are reading the GOOD NEWS BIBLE. One of the tools I will be using is the internet, I will post the weekly reading and reflection questions on the church web page, and then mail a list of the congregation email address to everyone so we can stay in touch. In addition we will have a private forum page for comment. Actually Bill the course says the reading will take 20 to 30 minutes. Here is the lesson for week one: Monday - Genesis 1-5 and I Chronicles 1:1-4, Tuesday Genesis 5-11, Wednesday Genesis 12-18 and I Chronicles 1: 4-28, thursday Genesis 19-24 and Friday Genesis 25-28. Look for: origin of man, two trees, results of sin, the earliest promises of a great blessing and faith made living. We are excited and if anyone wants to join us in reading the entire bible let me know. I will be posting the readings on the church web page. By the way I have one teen who decided he does not want to come to church anymore. His parents were upset, I called the teen yesterday and asked if he would help with the church outreach ministry, most of our young black people in our town are athletes at the university and a long way from the urban setting, so I will be going to the college to meet with them and do a bible study. So our relunctant teen said yes!! I explained we will also have to attend the basketball games. (He is an avid basketball player and fan.) So we will be presenting this teen with a special teen bible.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Outstanding idea. Getting new Christians into the Word can be a challenge sometimes, and your walking them thru it is good. I think this is being spoken by the Holy Spirit to many in the Body of Christ this year. Another BB I surf, God Chasers, has released a through the Bible in a year schedule, and I'm in another one year program outlined in my Bible study notes. I use the Full Life Study Bible in NIV. How long does your program take?

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

That's great! You will be suprised at how much you will retain. This then gives the Holy Spirit the ability to call to your mind scriptures that you don't even know that you know. Praise the Lord! Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Rev. Price the Bible study is 52 weeks long, a one year study. The back of the study says "Spend 20 t0 30 minutes a day, five days a week. The other two days are for study, catching up, or just days off. (This way you're less likely to fall behind schedule and quit.) Check off your progress as you finish each day's reading. A brief summary each week previews the readings and tells you about the especially interesting points and themes to watch for. Maps and charts through out the book help you fix the time and place of the Bible readings. The readings are arranged chronologically as they were written. That's a built-in Bible study itself. Read the Psalms and prophets at the same time as you read their historical settinng. Read the life of Jesus in a harmony of all four Gospels. This book does not present any particular doctrinal viewpoint. It's a procedure for reading God's word, so that in your reading God can speak to you first hand without a teacher or commentator in between." That is the info on the back of the study book we are using.

-- Anonymous, January 08, 2001

Look for :

"Now , he (man) is become like us. We cannot abide that man possess immortality."

"I shall not abide man forever "

And , also , beware :Christianity - Misconceptions

No easy read , this book . Good Luck ! !

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Don't click that Christianity - Misconceptions link : Sorry ! No workee . . . still haven't mastered 'links'.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Sounds like a good program Sister Denise.

-- Anonymous, January 09, 2001

Rev. Denise Rogers is the second minister that I have heard to suggest that the entire Bible be read. Dr. Charles Stanley was the first minister that suggested this essential part of the christian life. I can truly say that the greatest enlightenment in my life was when I read the complete Bible. I pray that her church will be inspired to read the whole Bible and I also pray that all ministers will encourage their members to read the Bible.

Sincerely,

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2001

Rev. Rogers,

Could you let me know what the name of the study you are using is called and where I can order it from?

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2001

Hi, Michael the study I am using is called "A through the Bible Reading Program" by Standard Publishing. Call your local book store and see if you can order it. If you can't find it let me know. We are starting in two weeks and I will be posting the weekly reading and themes on our church web page.

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2001

St. Paul Community Church (Bozeman, Montana)will be reading the entire bible. Monday Jan., 22 is the first day of reading. We would love to have you join us. Since we are a small church, the congregation loves hearing from others outside of our state. So let us know if you will be reading with us. So that we can pray for you. Please go to our church web site for listing of themes and some background info. Info will be posted by Monday evening. Our site address is http://www.stpaulcommunitychurch.bigstep.com Here is the readings for the week of Jan. 22nd. It should take 20 to 30 minutes a day for five days. Of course you can do the readings when it is convient to you. The reading program takes a year.

Mon: Genesis 1-5 and Chronicles 1: vs. 1-4 Tues: Genesis 6-11 Wed: Genesis 12-18 and 1 Chronicles 1 vs. 4-28 Thurs: Genesis 19-24 Fri: Genesis 25-28

The readings are taken from a bible study called "A through the Bible reading Program" by Standard Publishing. The readings are placed according to chronological order. Blessings to All.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2001

Congratulations Pastor Rogers for beginning a congregational project of reading the "entire Bible." Would that many congregations of long standing in our Zion would acquire the same thirst for the living Word of God. In my 43 years of Christian ministry, I have seen many such efforts dwindle to nothing (not saying yours will be any means) in my ministerial experience. I am again energized by YOUR congregations "thirst" for the Word for the New Testament tells us that ". . . It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD." (Mat. 4:4) I recognize that yours is a "new" congregation so to speak, of those who used to be in the church and those who are "seekers", but I am reminded of that great experience of Ezra's recounted for us in Nehemiah 8: 1-8, concluding with verse 8, "So they read in the book of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading." What an enlightening thrill that must have been!! Something caused Jehovah to send a spiritual famine in the land of Israel in the time of Amos the prophet for the Word says, "BEHOLD, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I WILL SEND A FAMINE IN THE LAND, NOT A FAMINE OF BREAD, NOR A THIRST FOR WATER, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD. (Amos 8:9) You are "on target" Pastor! My prayers attend you and the congregation there in that great "sky country." I will look forward to accessing your church web site to read along with all of you. AMEN.

Harold Turner, Pastor Zion AME, Delaware, Ohio

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Thank you Rev. Turner for your kind words! I do not think the Bible Study will dwindle. How can it, the Bible is so exciting, and we will be getting together in coffee houses and each other's homes for discussion. Though I am new to the AME domination, I am so blessed to be in the fifth district. My Bishop is Bishop John Bryant, who truly wants his churches to be educated churches. I have to share a story regarding my Bishop. I have a thirteen year old who says he will not read the Bible. The rest of his family is reading, but he said NO! I emailed my Bishop and he gave me a wonderful translation for this teen. Also the Pacific Northwest Conference is on fire for the lord. So when the leadership of the church, Bishop, Presiding Elder, Board of Examiners are supportive of such endeavors and encourage them. It empowers local pastors. I think we as pastors can do a lot to motivate Bible programs. By the way my Bishop also suggested "Through the Bible in a year Bible as a resource" So there is a lot we can do.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001