Consider the Bible Challenge!

Still Looking for a New Year’s Resolution?

(or) Looking for a Way to Deepen Your Faith During Lent?
Got 30 minutes?

Consider the Bible Challenge!

The Bible Challenge is organized by The Center for Biblical Studies based in an Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania. It aims to help increase people’s familiarity with the Bible through a number of Bible reading programs. The Center’s website offers many helpful resources, including a guide to understanding each of the books of the Bible, and new sets of reflections and words of encouragement.St. Paul’s has participated in the Bible Challenge for several years. A number of people have taken the challenge to read the entire Bible in one year. The Bible Challenge offers a schedule, to help people find a manageable pace. There are readings for Monday through Saturday, and Sundays you take a break and listen to the Bible in church. You can start any time, just pick a Monday to begin (and, if you get off schedule, it’s easy to pick up again where you left off) Find the schedule HERE

Other people have found it helpful to read the Bible Challenge book to accompany their readings. The book offers a reflection to accompany each day’s readings, and follows the same schedule. Noted luminaries from across the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion have contributed reflections. One day you might read something that touches all the day’s readings by the Bishop of San Diego – the next, a reflection specifically on the story of David by a university professor in Kenya. The readings inform and provide perspective and color. The book is available for $20 from Michelle, or your favorite bookstore.

Finally, if you’re looking for a Lenten practice, consider reading the book of Luke during Lent. We will be reading the book of Luke in church this year, so focusing on Luke during Lent may give you an insight into how the pieces we hear on Sunday fit together. Again, the Center for Biblical Studies has a book containing a schedule to read Luke during fifty days (good for beginning the Sunday before Ash Wednesday if you want to be done on Easter, or if you prefer, read it beginning Easter Sunday and end on Pentecost).

You can do the Bible Challenge on your own, as a family or with a group of friends. You’ll certainly find lots to talk about as you find things you never knew were in the Bible, and discover new favorite passages to share.