The only way to grow in our knowledge of God and our understanding of
how to walk with Jesus in the Spirit is through spending time with God in the
Scripture. For years Christians have sought to read the Bible through in a year.
While this provides a good general orientation to the Bible, the crush of reading
almost three chapters a day can quickly become a burden and leave little time
to meditate on what is said in the Word. The next 12 pages have been designed
for the reader to allow more time within a passage while covering the whole
of the Bible. Each year has limited the daily reading to a 40-week period. This
reduction from 52 to 40 weeks is here for several reasons. First, most people
have trouble staying on track with the many interruptions that come within the
year, such as family vacations and exceptionally busy periods. This schedule
allows for breaks and periods of special focus. Second, when the 40 weeks of
readings are coupled with the Lent and Advent readings the full 52 weeks are
used. So the believer can follow the church calendar of readings and still stay on
track for reading through the Bible in three years. Third, the reader may want to
have a special 40-day retreat with Lord, still allowing time in the year for other
special times in the Word. This is certainly possible while still remaining on track
to read the Bible in three years.
Each of the three years are balanced with Gospel readings, Old Testament
historical passages, Epistle readings, Old Testament prophets, with the remaining
time in the wisdom literature. Throughout each year the reader moves through
the Old Testament and the New Testament. Sprinkled throughout each year are
Psalms and Proverbs readings. The result is that each year a complete cycle is
made through all of the groups of books within the Bible. There is never a time
when the reader is stuck in a seemingly endless section of the Bible.
To plan a year of reading, choose one of the years from the three years
of daily readings and then use the chart of critical dates in the church year to
determine when Lent begins. The list of Advent readings will show you how to
determine when the Advent readings start. The remaining weeks of the year will
then be filled by working through the year of daily readings.