Reading the Bible

The Bible. 

The best-selling book of all time.

A book made up of 66 books, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New, written by approximately 40 men over 1,500 years.

It’s a book about the creation of the world, the history of nations, and the rise and fall of Israel and Judah, but more than anything, it is the story of God’s love resulting in the birth and death of His Son, Jesus, who came into the world to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

It introduces us to our Savior, reminds us of His great love, and draws us close to Him.

And yet, so often we let our Bibles sit on the shelf.

Consider the following verses:

Psalm 19:7 – “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

Joshua 1:8 – “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

There are so many more, but these reveal enough for us to see the importance of getting in God’s Word every day – to know the depth of God’s love, to know Christ, and to live for Him. As we spend more time in His Word, it permeates our souls and changes us.

How many of us yearn to hear God’s voice and yet forget the promise that all scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16)? Through His Word, He reveals to us His will, His heart, His love, His goodness, His character, and so much more. 

But Where to Start?

Some people start in the beginning with Genesis and quickly get derailed once they hit Leviticus. Others start at the end with Revelation, and well, without a lot of knowledge of God’s Word, it is certainly confusing and maybe a little scary. Still others may just open their Bibles to a random spot and start reading, which could work but is not the most effective place to start.

John - If you’ve never really gotten into God’s Word, John is a great place to start. It is one of the four Gospels that brings us through the life and death of Jesus, pointing to His great love for each of us.

Reading Plans - Beyond that, there are so many ways to get in the Word. Check out several reading plans here. There are options to read through the entire Bible in a year (or in 90 days if you’re feeling especially ambitious), read the Gospels in 40 days, daily reading for personal growth, or even simply a verse a day.

The Bible App - Download the Bible app to access plans like these and many others. Not only can you read the Bible through the app, there are many devotionals there as well, including dozens of devotionals written by FCA staff for coaches and athletes (Check out the eight-day devotional, The Core, to start). It also gives you the option to listen to the Bible (during your commute, when you’re out for a run, etc.).

The FCA Challenge App – New this year! Check this out for a daily reading and devotionals.

Discovery Bible Study – This is a great way to really dig into a portion of Scripture. You choose a passage, read it a couple times, and answer the following questions:

• What does this story tell me about God?
• What does this story tell me about people (or myself)?
• If this is God's word for my life, how will I obey it?
• Who am I going to tell?