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After three months of reading, let's celebrate the achievement on Sunday April 25.

After the end BIND challenge is finished on April 4, if you have not completed the Old Testament, use the month of April to go back and finish what you did not complete. 

Then on Sunday April 25, we are going to have a big BIND celebration for all those who finished this marathon of a challenge! It's time for recognition and celebration, with much rejoicing. This is a huge accomplishment. I am so proud of so many for walking this phenomenal journey of encountering God.

This is a "Read the Bible Through" opportunity. How many times have you wanted to read the Bible through in a year, but ashamedly stopped when you got bogged down in the sacrificial Law section or the historical books like Chronicles? Sometimes a year is just too long of a commitment to such an important task.

Why not make the commitment shorter, but still read the Bible through? That's what this opportunity is all about. You will be able to read the entire Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, in 90 days, just 13 weeks, if you read about 12 pages a day. It's not time consuming Bible study, but rather reading God's revealed Word more like a novel.

Seventy-five million people in America say that the Bible is important to them, but few have ever read the Bible through. Let's do what so many other people only dream about.

During the Sunday School hour, we will meet once a week for encouragement fellowship, activities, accountability, group discussion and video lessons. You'll do the actual reading on your own time, which is the most important part.

You will read at the time that works best for you: after breakfast, during your lunch hour, at small times throughout the day, or the last thing before bed. You may also read from the translation of your choice.

It's important to understand what you can, but don't worry about the rest. You'll be getting more than you realize. 

Over time, a number of frequently asked questions have surfaced regarding this Bible reading program. Here are some of the more common queries and answers:

Q. Should I do anything before I start reading each day?
A: We recommend that you say a brief, silent prayer such as this: "Gracious Father, thank you for the gift I hold in my hands. May your Spirit fill me and interpret your precious words for me as I read. In your Son's name I pray. Amen."

Q. How much will I read each day?
A: Each day you'll read 12 pages in the NIV Bible in 90 Days. On Day 1 you start with page 1, on Day 2 you start with page 13. At the end of 90 days, you'll have read the entire Bible from cover to cover. We encourage you to do what you can to alleviate distractions, so that you can reach your goal of reading each word attentively.

Q. When should I read?
A: That's completely up to you. Some will read first thing in the morning. Others will make it the last thing they do each night. Still others will read at various times during the day and/or night. Some will read their daily quota all in one sitting. Others will space their reading throughout the day, reading a page or two in several sittings. Try more than one approach; one of the benefits of doing this reading is becoming comfortable with reading your Bible at any time.

Q. What if I get behind?
A: Try your best not to get behind. But, if you do, there is one very important rule about catching up: Do not skip any pages! There are two reasons for this rule: (1) If you skip anything, by definition you will not have read from cover to cover, which is an important part of this process. (2) If you skip anything, our research shows that you are unlikely to go back and read what you skipped, so, again, you won't end up reading the entire Bible. If you get behind, just read some extra pages each day until you've caught back up to the class.

Q. What if I get way behind?
A: If you happen to get more than a day or two behind, set aside a large block of time during one day Sundays are particularly good for this and just "plow through" the reading. This may seem more like a chore than a spiritual experience, but you will probably be surprised by the insights you glean from this. As importantly, after a day (or so) of reading this way, you'll be caught up! Remember, too, that God's work sometimes seems like, well, work. Reading the Bible from cover to cover is a challenge; however, when this challenge is met, you'll be glad that you persevered.

Commit to it, early, with your whole heart. Remember that we meet God in His Word. We always make time for the things that are most important to us. 

Along the same line, read with expectation. If we are expecting to meet God through His Word, your life can be transformed beyond your wildest dream.

You'll be involved with others taking the same challenge. This is helpful in mentoring, discipleship and horror movies... there is safety and strength in numbers. We tend to drop out if we are alone; but if we are in this together, we can remain stronger in our commitment.

Use a translation that reads well, something more modern is helpful, one that uses words and phrases that make sense. 

Sometimes it is helpful to follow along as someone else reads the text, pronouncing the difficult words so we can continue moving ahead on a steady pace. If you don't have the Bible on CD or cassette tape, click here to have the Bible read to you.

The DVD teaching is done by biblical scholars who help us put all of our reading into context. On top of that, Pastor Skip will preach each week from the section we read the past week. All of this is to reinforce the message we read from God's Word.

The Essential Bible Companion - not essential for the class, but loaded with great information. This is a handy book-by-book tool that offers clear, crisp insights into Scripture. Each book of the Bible is presented on a visually engaging 2-page spread that includes background information, timeline, and important biblical characters.

The Bible in 90 Days Bible - Not essential for the class, it has no notes or tools, definitely not a study Bible, but using this will allow the class members to literally be on the same page, indicating where to start and stop for each day.

The BIND Participant Guide - The church will provide this resource to every participant.

These charts are to help you put much of the reading into perspective, and for later Bible study:

• The Genesis/Exodus Background Charts - Easy to understand charts of important biblical information from the first two weeks of reading.

• The Pentateuch Background Charts - Additional easy to understand comparison charts of important biblical information from the first two weeks of reading.

• The Conquest through 1 Samuel - Charts covering the reading for session number four.

• The Charts dealing with 2 Samuel through 2 Kings, during session number five.

• Charts For Chronicles through Nehemiah - for the week of reading leading toward session number six.

• Here we have Esther through Psalms - leading up to session seven.

• Information on the Prophets are a part of the Chronicles-Nehemiah charts.

• The Putting the Prophets in Their Place document.

• The Minor Prophet Summaries document.

• Charts of the differing Resurrection Accounts.

• For our Fresh Start: New Testament Charts.

Mark Strauss
Mark Strauss (PhD, Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in San Diego. He has written The Davidic Messiah in Luke-Acts, Distorting Scripture?, The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy, and Luke in the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary series. Forthcoming books include The Gospels and Jesus, Mark in the revised Expositor's Bible Commentary series, and Mark in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary series.

 

John H. Walton
John H. Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) teaches Old Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament; Ancient Israelite Literature in Its Cultural Context; Covenant: God's Purpose, God's Plan; The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament; and A Survey of the Old Testament.