Read the New Testament with Us This Year!

Yesterday, our congregation finished reading the entire Bible in a year at a pace of three chapters a day, twenty-one chapters a week. Both as a Christian and as a pastor, it's been an exhilarating experience!

People who have hung in there for the full year and participated in our weekly one-hour discussions of the readings are saying that, as a result of the experience, they feel "more centered" and confident in their faith, closer to God, and more appreciative of the deep connections between the Old and New Testaments. I feel he same way.

All of which is why today, I'm excited that we've started to read just the New Testament in the same way in the coming year. At this slower pace, we'll be able to delve more deeply into God's Word and get to know the God revealed to the whole world ultimately in Jesus, better.

It should be a great journey!

You might want to join along, wherever you are. It's simple: Just read five chapters of the New Testament--from Matthew to Revelation--each week over the coming year. You can use Saturdays and Sundays either to "take a break" or, more likely, to catch up.

To help you to better understand what you're reading, I'd suggest that you get a readable commentary on the New Testament. There are lots of good ones out there. But let me recommend two:

Eerdmans Companion to the Bible
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

Both are a tad pricey. But, after all, you're investing in your development as a Christian and at Amazon, you can snag both for reasonable prices. I found the second one at Half Price Books for $17.49.

If you have a good study Bible, you may want to forgo buying a commentary. The good ones won't provide you with as much great background information as a good commentary, but they will help you understand what you read. I would suggest you consider buying one of these two:

Life Application Bible
Study Bible

Dig into God's Word. You will not regret it!