In April 2015 after my maternal grandmother died, with whom I did not have the closest of relationships, I was inspired to start reading the Bible book by book following online lists of the best chronological order. I used the ESV edition without chapter and verse by day and the NIV complete audiobook bible narrated by David Suchet by night.
I completed all 66 books by this summer (2016). I was surprised by how much of the Old Testament I was already familiar with and even more surprised by how much less of the New Testament I knew.
I lost motivation through Leviticus, Numbers, Samuel and Kings which ate up several months or I would have finished sooner. It was also my first time reading the book of Revelation. A book neither of my parents who are in the faith have read or as it turns out several believers in my acquaintance have not yet read which I think is both interesting and disturbing. I still wonder if it was significant for me not reading it until I was 30 years old. I had no inclination to read it before you see and I do not remember hearing it in services but felt a strong compulsion to read it even though I knew I would not understand it straight away.
Before I had been very much a chapter and verse text person quoting here and there without regard to context. David Pawson showed me the error of my ways through his website DavidPawson.org and his videos on YouTube. I came away from this experience, reading a book at a time and listening to Pawson's talks on it then reading it again invaluable. I have a new appreciation for the Old Testament, which before I felt was Jewish territory and held onto for heritage sake and nothing more, and a fresh excitement for the New Testament, especially when John is talking.
I am very grateful to Pawson for explaining cultural, historical and geographical information in a user friendly way and not a stuffy inaccessible way. I would recommend his talks, videos and books for explaining Biblically sound information with passion.
Now that I have that experience behind me (a completed project when usually I fail to follow through) which before I did not know I could accomplish I feel more confident in both my faith in the Messiah and myself. I hope to read through the Bible every year of my life and as soon as I finish Revelation to go back to Genesis and start again and to never quote a passage unless I am sure of it's context again. I may use the ordered lists again or I might just read cover to cover. It was important for me the first time to have context but now that I have that grounding I will have to see what feels right at the time and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
I also now have ambitious plans to work my way through all 63 volumes of Spurgeon's sermons and William Barclay's commentaries. I will start those projects Jan 1st 2017 and document my progress for accountability here.
God bless.
I completed all 66 books by this summer (2016). I was surprised by how much of the Old Testament I was already familiar with and even more surprised by how much less of the New Testament I knew.
I lost motivation through Leviticus, Numbers, Samuel and Kings which ate up several months or I would have finished sooner. It was also my first time reading the book of Revelation. A book neither of my parents who are in the faith have read or as it turns out several believers in my acquaintance have not yet read which I think is both interesting and disturbing. I still wonder if it was significant for me not reading it until I was 30 years old. I had no inclination to read it before you see and I do not remember hearing it in services but felt a strong compulsion to read it even though I knew I would not understand it straight away.
Before I had been very much a chapter and verse text person quoting here and there without regard to context. David Pawson showed me the error of my ways through his website DavidPawson.org and his videos on YouTube. I came away from this experience, reading a book at a time and listening to Pawson's talks on it then reading it again invaluable. I have a new appreciation for the Old Testament, which before I felt was Jewish territory and held onto for heritage sake and nothing more, and a fresh excitement for the New Testament, especially when John is talking.
I am very grateful to Pawson for explaining cultural, historical and geographical information in a user friendly way and not a stuffy inaccessible way. I would recommend his talks, videos and books for explaining Biblically sound information with passion.
Now that I have that experience behind me (a completed project when usually I fail to follow through) which before I did not know I could accomplish I feel more confident in both my faith in the Messiah and myself. I hope to read through the Bible every year of my life and as soon as I finish Revelation to go back to Genesis and start again and to never quote a passage unless I am sure of it's context again. I may use the ordered lists again or I might just read cover to cover. It was important for me the first time to have context but now that I have that grounding I will have to see what feels right at the time and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
I also now have ambitious plans to work my way through all 63 volumes of Spurgeon's sermons and William Barclay's commentaries. I will start those projects Jan 1st 2017 and document my progress for accountability here.
God bless.