How do you read the Bible?

[lilyamongthorns]

For normal, everyday readings of the Bible, how exactly do you read it? Do you read it cover to cover? Follow a reading plan? Old Testament in the AM, New Testament in the PM? Just open the Bible randomly and read wherever you land?

I normally read it cover to cover for daily reading.

[Guest Guest]

I read scripture in several ways. Methodical "cover to cover".(good for making sure you don't miss anything and for maintaining good scripture reading habits) "Spot reading" or where I start reading at which ever spot I open to. "Impression reading", or when I look up and read some place I have been thinking about. "Study reading", when I am on a particular topic and am reading passages related to that topic, etc.

[Danny Carlton]

I use http://bythefireplace.com/thebible/_daily_reading.php to track where I'm at and read it there.

[1Timothy115]

Similarly to Seth...

Methodical "cover to cover" this is nightly after prayers and before sleep. I'm currently in Ezra. I always start in the NT and read from that point through Revelation...then, OT Genesis forward to where I began in the NT. This time I started in Matthew. I never have set ammounts to read.

"Impression reading", or when I look up and read some place I have been thinking about. For me this may be just to read a verse which comes to mind.

"Study reading", when I am on a particular topic and am reading passages related to that topic, etc. Study reading takes me all over the Bible most of the time. I may be studying for an answer to someone, or to verify what someone said to me.

[Guest Guest]

I read it cover to cover.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[brodave]

For several years, because I have had plenty of time being a full time pastor;
I read 5 chapters in Psalms - to keep my heart right
I read 1 chapter in Proverbs - to keep my mind right
I read 1 chapter in Acts - to keep my feet moving
I also read straight through 3 chapters / day
Total of 10 chapters. Then what ever I study for messages

[His by Grace]

I've gotten to where I topic study using Pastors sermons from Sunday. this always leads me to another topic so I study this topic . I may study a topic for a week or more straight if I feel the Lord is leading me to but I"m finding I don't just sit and read His word for comfort, like I once did yet I've just began working on that with Psalms. I have also read cover to cover over the years.

[Amaryllis]

I enjoy it chronologically but now I'm just reading them as they come, in their book order, 20-30 chapters a day, trying to finish reading it by November.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

Since I rededicated my life to the Lord in 2003 I follow a schedule designed to help me read the Bible every year. It is set up so that I read a portion from the OT and the NT each morning.

[1Timothy115]

I've switched to morning reading for my devotional. Its still daily cover to cover.

[Tbinkley]

For normal, everyday readings of the Bible, how exactly do you read it? Do you read it cover to cover? Follow a reading plan? Old Testament in the AM, New Testament in the PM? Just open the Bible randomly and read wherever you land?

I normally read it cover to cover for daily reading.

I like David Clouds study ways. (Contact him at Wayoflife ministries) . He says and I agree. we MUST read it from cover to cover . I would like to add ,we must read it BELIEVING ,Heb. 11:6.
Bible reading is a common sense thing.How would you read any other book?
Although there is alot more to understanding GODS Word because it is the mind of GOD.
David Cloud says we must READ it and also have another time where we STUDY it . Now these can be tied together, as I have learned in practice.
We should read the Word with the idea of allowing God to speak to us and then STUDY it with the idea of saturating ourselves with Scriptural principles.
First read the scriptures after praying Gods blessing upon it and read it believing and trusting that God will deliver a message to your heart.
Study does not require a library full of books! Just the BOOK and an open mind to learn it. I like Bro. Clouds idea of having a good reference Bible,a Strongs Concordance,PENCIL(not pen,unlike most I found that I dont like marking up my Bible with unerasable Fallible human notes) for notations in your Bible,and a notebook(I use mine MOSTLY for jotting down scripture refs. and words to look up later). These are really the only tools a Biblebelieving ,God fearing person needs to get started.
You will find as you go along that you will prOBably want at least one commentary ,a Vines Greek OT AND NT Dictionary,maybe more as God leads Tbinkley

[Tbinkley]

For several years, because I have had plenty of time being a full time pastor;
I read 5 chapters in Psalms - to keep my heart right
I read 1 chapter in Proverbs - to keep my mind right
I read 1 chapter in Acts - to keep my feet moving
I also read straight through 3 chapters / day
Total of 10 chapters. Then what ever I study for messages

brodave ,I REALLY like this study plan of yours. I know so many pastors who dont put in nearly that much personal reading in a day .And that bothers me severly ,for how can and are us lay people supposed to be faithful in Scripture study when pastors dont dedicate themselves to the WORD personally ?
I like also the way you seperate THAT MUCH personal devotion from actual message study ,THIS is how a preacher should spend his day! Just read Acts 6 ! May God Bless , Tbinkley

[pastorrvbc]

I started in 1999 reading it through once a year. Then in 2001, I started reading it through twice a year, with one reading in the morning and one at night. I read about 2-3 chapters of O.T. and 1 chapter of N.T. There is a plan that I use from a devotional book I have, but it is Gen-Mal and Matt-Rev everytime.

This year, I've determined to read straight through, from Gen-Rev, in 60 days. I also read 1 chapter of Psalms, 1 chapter of Proverbs, and 1 chapter of Acts everyday as well. This has been a huge blessing so far! I'm not sure what I will do after I get through it in 60 days. Perhaps read through it again in another 60 days.

This is, of course, on top of personal study. I simply study whatever God has laid on my heart, usually topical, but sometimes expository. Sometimes it will be something I heard in a sermon or here on OB.

[John81]

I read through the whole Bible each year, doing it a bit differently each year, along with further reading and study of the Bible.

This year I'm reading through the OT at night and the NT first thing in the morning.

I read the Bible at other times too, but that's my "through the Bible in a year" plan for this year. I also read sections, books of the Bible and through studies throughout the year. Of course, I also read the Scripture which is being preached on as well as what we are studying in adult Sunday school and Bible study.

[1Timothy115]

For normal, everyday readings of the Bible, how exactly do you read it? Do you read it cover to cover? Follow a reading plan? Old Testament in the AM, New Testament in the PM? Just open the Bible randomly and read wherever you land?

I normally read it cover to cover for daily reading.

Cover to cover. Each day in the morning. No set plan just over and over. I'm presently in John.