Harbor’s elders are challenging the church to read through the entire Bible in a year (Old Testament once, New Testament twice). This is a big commitment, and it comes with plenty of dangers.
In spite of those dangers, there are also some great blessings that come (in addition to our main goal of seeing the big picture of the gospel):
- Spending more time in the Word. Many Christians only read a verse or two from Scripture, whenever they remember to do it. Others spend more time each day deciding what to read than actually reading. This commitment makes it easy to just start reading, and keep on reading.
- Seeing the value of all Scripture. Many of us have favorite passages and books that seem to speak most loudly to us, and we have an unspoken belief that other sections of Scripture are less valuable. This commitment will challenge that tendency. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work”(2 Tim 3:16-17)
- Having a base for family discussions. Parents can choose one chapter a week to use for family worship times. If your kids are old enough to make the full commitment, daily conversations around the dinner table can include the day’s reading.
- Deepening fellowship in the church. Community groups can discuss what they are learning from their studies. Friends can encourage each other with things the Lord has impressed on them from his word.
- Being strengthened for missional conversations. Most believers are hesitant to share their faith because they’re afraid about questions they might be asked. After reading the entire Bible, you’ll feel much more confident in your ability to answer questions about particular passages or ideas, and how they fit into the overall message of the gospel.