strategizing "time in the word" for a new year
With the start of the New Year, many Christians like to put
in place some sort of structure to help hold them accountable to the personal
habit of spending time in the Word. I’m a big fan of structure and
accountability. I need them myself in any area of my life where the good behavior that ought to happen habitually does not. But just as not all diet and exercise
plans are equally beneficial or interchangeable, neither are all accountability
systems for spending time in the Word. As you lay out your strategy for interacting
with your Bible in the coming year, here is a breakdown to help you weigh your
options.
Reading Plans
What they are: Reading
plans provide a structure for reading the entire Bible over a set period of
time. They vary in length and strategy. Some take you from Genesis to
Revelation, some go in chronological order, and some combine daily readings
from both the Old and New Testaments.
What they do: Reading
plans help us cover a lot of ground in a relatively short period of time. They
give broad exposure to the Bible as a whole, helping us develop familiarity
with it from beginning to end.
Who they help most:
Reading plans help believers of any stage of maturity. Many mature believers
have never read the Bible in its entirety, and for those who have, doing so
repeatedly brings ever-increasing benefit.
What they don’t do: Reading plans
don’t allow for in-depth exploration of themes or stories. Their aim is breadth
over depth.
Which to choose: Which plan
you choose is, to some degree, a matter of preference. If you are looking to
grow in Bible literacy, choose a plan that moves through each book of the Bible
from start to finish, versus one that combines OT and NT readings each day. I favor chronological
plans that move at a slow enough pace to allow time to absorb what you are
reading. If finishing in a year means you are reading faster than you are able
to retain what you are reading, slow down your schedule. Here is a list of
plans you can consider.
Bible Studies
What they are: Because we
so often refer to any time we spend in the Word as Bible study, I want employ a
distinct definition here for the sake of clarity. Bible studies teach us an
entire book or major passage of the Bible from start to finish, taking time to
instruct us in context, genre, themes, and theological implications. They do so
according to time-honored rules of interpretation.
What they do: Bible
studies help us slow down and “own the text”. A good Bible study teaches both
method (how to study) and content (the text it covers), and that takes time. If
reading plans are a sprint, Bible studies are a stroll.
Who they help most: Like
reading plans, Bible studies help believers of all levels of maturity. For the
new believer, they impart much-needed tools for ongoing study, as well as
foundational comprehension and interpretation of the text. For the mature
believer, they hone skills and deepen understanding, preparing them not just
for further learning but for teaching others.
What they don’t do: Bible
studies don’t move at a pace that allows for broad exposure to the Bible over a
relatively short period of time. Their aim is depth over breadth.
How to choose one: Look
for studies that ask you to do the work of comprehending and interpreting the
text, providing you with the tools to do so. The less spoon-feeding of
commentary they do, the more they will help you grow in Bible literacy. Look
for studies that ask you to work at personal discovery before they offer you
interpretation and application. I like the NavPress
LifeChange series, studies
by Kathleen Nielson, or you can try any of the studies I have written for FMWBS and LifeWay. For a faster pace
with solid approach and content, Nancy Guthrie’s studies
are also excellent.
Topical Studies
What they are: Again,
clarity of terms matters. Topical studies differ from Bible studies in that
they seek to integrate broad concepts by pulling verses from all over the
Bible, versus moving systematically through one text. Covering topics ranging
from doctrine to finding contentment to how to be a godly parent, they offer a
Biblical framework for understanding a particular issue.
What they do: Topical
studies help us explore, synthesize and apply broad concepts found in the
Bible.
Who they help most: Topical
studies offer the most help to those who have (or are working to have) a
foundational understanding of the Bible. In other words, you gain the most
benefit from them if you have given time to reading and studying your Bible.
What they don’t do: Used exclusively or excessively, topical
studies offer limited help in building Bible literacy.
How to choose one: Because
they rely so heavily on the footwork of the author/teacher, it’s wise to choose
topical studies written by those with a track record of expository (line by
line) preaching/teaching. An expository teacher is less likely to pull verses
out of context to make a point. It is also vitally important to research the
author’s theology. While you don’t have to align perfectly with their theology,
knowing their vantage point will help you think critically about what is being
taught. Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, John MacArthur, and R.C. Sproul are good
authors to start with. If you’re interested specifically in female authors,
Melissa Kruger, Jen Michel, Hannah Anderson, Megan Hill (forthcoming), Nancy
Guthrie and Gloria Furman have written excellent topical offerings in study
formats or with study guides.
A Matter of Allocation
Perhaps the most important question to ask at the start of the new year is not “Which should I choose?” but “Which should I emphasize?” All three of the options described above have a role to play
in our spiritual growth, as do memorization, meditation, and even devotional
reading. A new year often means evaluating where we have gotten stuck in a rut. Sometimes
a rut isn’t necessarily a bad practice, but a good practice followed to the
exclusion of other good (or better) practices. I suggest you assess where the bulk of your time has been spent when you sit
down with your Bible. Then seek to allocate it going forward in a manner that
builds both breadth and depth of understanding.
I pray the Holy Spirit brings about fruitfulness and
maturity in you as you thoughtfully place yourself under the nurturing
authority of the Scriptures, this year and every year. Feel free to fill the
comments with additional resources you have found helpful!