An Update on Bible Reading

The Bible Reading Guide — we’re two weeks away from finishing Part Two of the guide, which means we’re halfway through the year-long reading plan. Although there’s a high chance that we’ve all edited our routines since January, I want to encourage you to just keep reading.

Speed vs. Glass

The current reading plan features four readings a day, three from the different parts of the Old Testament (Law, Writings, Prophets), and one from the New Testament. It also includes additional readings from Psalms so that you read that book twice. This approach is what Don Whitney calls speedboat reading. The idea is to read for exposure, to “cruise the width of a clear, sparkling lake.” To study the Bible, though, or to simply dig into a single text for deeper meditation, is like “crossing that same lake in a glass-bottomed boat.”

Speedboats are great, but more often than not, I find myself wanting to slow down and anchor for a while. The goal, remember, is not necessarily to check the box and finish the plan, but it’s to commune with God through his Word. (I’m already working on developing a new reading plan for next year that takes more of the glass-bottomed boat approach!) 

Regardless of the plan and how much lake you’re still covering by June, just read something.

Maybe you’re doing one reading a day and journaling about it. Maybe you’re just doing Psalms over and over again. Whatever part of Scripture you’re turning to, just take and read, by faith. Because as the Bible itself testifies, the Holy Scriptures are the only sufficient, certain, and infallible standard of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.

Let Us Know

Part Three of the guide will be available soon for the third quarter, and it’ll be a guide whether you’re doing the recommended plan or not. The daily reflections and weekly reviews are still a tool helpful for slowing down and prayerfully surrendering your days to God.

And even if you don’t use the guide, we’d love to get an idea of your Bible reading habits. Would you answer a few questions on this topic?

It’ll take you less than a minute.