Below you will find thirty Scriptures for your reading challenge. Hover over the listing with your mouse and verse will appear in the NIV translation.

Week 1

  • 1 | 2 Tim 3:16
  • 2 | Ps 119:165
  • 3 | Mk 4:24
  • 4 | Pr 30:5
  • 5 | Ps 56:4
  • 6 | Ps 119:11
  • 7 | Mt 24:35

Week 2

  • 8 | Heb 4:16
  • 9 | Eph 2:8
  • 10 | Titus 2:11
  • 11 | Rom 3:24
  • 12 | Ps 103:8
  • 13 | Ps 136:1
  • 14 | Lam 3:22

Week 3

  • 15 | Heb 11:6
  • 16 | Rom 10:17
  • 17 | Heb 11:1
  • 18 | Pr 3:5-6
  • 19 | 1 Cor 16:13
  • 20 | Luke 17:5
  • 21 | 1 Cor 2:5

Week 4

  • 22 | Phil 4:6
  • 23 | Rom 8:26
  • 24 | James 5:16
  • 25 | Mt 6:7
  • 26 | Jer 33:3
  • 27 | Col 4:2
  • 28 | 1 Thes 5:17

Week 5

  • 29 | 2 Tim 3:16
  • 30 | Ps 119:71

The challenge is for you to begin each day with a verse of Scripture and pause for a moment of prayer. As you read through the verses above, follow the prayer guides below for each week’s Scriptures.

  • Week 1
  • Week 2
  • Week 3
  • Week 4
  • Week 5

Spend a moment each day this week thanking God for giving us His Words to live by. Ask Him for help and guidance as you strive to live a life pleasing to Him.

This week take a moment each day to thank God for His gracious loving spirit. Praise Him that He loves you enough pay the penalty for your weaknesses and sins.

During your prayer time this week, ask God to strengthen and deepen your faith. Ask Him for opportunities to talk about your faith with others.

Ask God to help teach you to pray on a deeper level. Thank Him that He listens and cares for you.

This week thank God for the time you have had to share with Him through His Word and through prayer. Ask God to bless your life because of it.

The numbers are staggering. 85% of the world’s 2.2 million evangelical churches are led by pastors with little-to-no theological training. Let’s resolve to take the positive steps to read it, connect it, wrangle it, build it and share it.

While every Christian should be concerned about the lack of knowledge of the Bible in the churches, church leaders must be biblically literate and adept. Paul urged Titus to “hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9 NIV).

Here is a positive step we can take toward biblical literacy.

Read It

The survey found a couple of other preferences. The most likely to have never read the Bible were Millennials, while those over the age of 70 were the most frequent readers. Of readers over the age of 50, 91% preferred a print edition of the Bible as opposed to other formats.

Noticing the differences between an expressed interest in reading the Bible and actually doing it, the logical question asks, “Why?” What could be the possible frustrations and disengagement toward Bible reading?

I Don’t Understand the Language.

The Bible is difficult for some to understand either because its vocabulary is more advanced or more specialized than the reader is accustomed.

  • Today the Scripture is translated into several different English reading levels. Choose a translation or a paraphrase that best meets your vocabulary needs.
  • In addition to vocabulary differences, Bibles are produced to help meet your reasons for reading. Study Bibles, devotional Bibles, picture Bibles, and doctrinal explanations within the Bible help meet your needs in reading.
  • In this section of Step One, there is a detailed explanation of how the Bible is translated. You will learn about the difference between a paraphrase and a translation. You will also read about how the translators seek to bring the ancient languages into English and why the versions vary so much in vocabulary.

I Don’t Know Where to Start.

Opening the Bible can be an overwhelming challenge, especially since it is not like any other book on your shelf.

  • You don’t have to start on page one. The Bible is a collection of 66 different books and one way to start reading is to read through one of the books.
  • Start by learning about Jesus. He is the heart and soul of the message of Christianity. The first four books of the New Testament – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – present accounts of His life. Some of the stories are found in more than one book. Other stories are unique to the author. Matthew and John were written by an apostle – the twelve men who followed the rabbi during His ministry on earth.
  • In this section of Step One, there are three different reading plans to help you get started on your Bible reading journey.

I Don’t Really See the Benefits.

Let’s consider several benefits which will help you understand the worth of Scripture and the value gained when you read it.

  • The Word of God stirs and strengthens faith. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17 NIV).
  • The Word of God encourages us with hope. “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NIV).
  • The Word of God is the source of wisdom. Wisdom is the insight and sense of how to live in a way that accomplishes our goals.
  • The Word of God gives us critical warnings. The book not only points us to the right path, but sounds warnings when we are about to travel the wrong one.
  • The Word of God leads us to understand the heart of the Father. The more we read, the more we learn about God.

Here are several verses of Scripture that reinforce the value and importance of the biblical literacy.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

2 Timothy 3:16 MESSAGE

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5 NKJV

Proverbs 30:5 NLT

Proverbs 30:5 MESSAGE

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130 NKJV

Psalm 119:130 NLT

Psalm 119:130 MESSAGE

Let’s join together and make progress toward improving our biblical literacy.

studies, words

Do you start the year making new year’s resolutions? Are you good at keeping them? A majority of us say we make them. A whopping 73.7% of men, and 74.26% of women plan to make resolutions in the coming year. An even more impressive figure, 141.1 million Americans, or roughly 55% of the people, say that keeping the resolutions are within their reach. Was daily Bible study on your list?

For many of those with a faith background, there is a passion to also make resolutions for a deeper spiritual commitment during the coming year. Many of us attempt to read through the Bible in a year, to improve our church attendance, or even to increase our giving, but often we fall short of those goals. May I encourage you this year to join with us in forming some habits to improve the way we study and understand the Bible? I have put together a daily plan of Bible reading that will help you build a way of understanding the historical context of Scripture, making appropriate applications of the Scripture, all the while forming good habits of daily Bible reading.

Your habit could drastically improve your biblical literacy.

Research has shown that it takes about 21 days to form a habit. Then to make it a real life-style change, continue the habit for another 90 days. Several psychologists refer to this as the 21-90 rule. If we start reading from the Bible now, in just over 100 days, we will begin forming the habit of daily Bible study. The days are not tied to the calendar, so you can start today! Are you up for the challenge? Invite your friends to join in.

The First 21 Days

We will start our journey slow and easy. We will read one verse each day, think about how the verse applies to our life, and ask God to bless us in the reading and hearing of His Word. The main version of the Bible listed will be the New International Version.

Links provided make twelve other [popup_anything id=”5951″] available to you, including a Spanish version. English versions are available as either [popup_anything id=”5944″].

By participating, you are creating several important components that will make your habit last. We will build fellowship with each other by offering our thoughts in the reply tab at the bottom of this page. Each day, you can answer the thought question yourself, or you can comment and respond to the post of someone else. Not only are you learning to read Scripture for daily Bible study, but you are reflecting on it and communicating your understanding of it to others. You are building your own understanding of your personal [popup_anything id=”5943″] of the Bible.

week one

Day Scripture NIV Scripture NASB Scripture MSG Daily Thought Question
Day One Psalm 111:10 Psalm 111:10 NASB Psalm 111:10 MESSAGE What does it mean to fear the Lord? How is that the beginning of wisdom?
Day Two Romans 1:16 Romans 1:16 NASB Romans 1:16 MESSAGE How can you show that you are not ashamed of the gospel?
Day Three Isaiah 40:31 Isaiah 40:31 NASB Isaiah 40:31 MESSAGE How does the Lord renew your spiritual strength?
Day Four John 3:16 John 3:16 NASB John 3:16 MESSAGE John 3:16 may be the most well-known verse in the Bible. Will you explain what it means to you?
Day Five John 4:24 John 4:24 NASB John 4:24 MESSAGE What does it mean to worship God in spirit?
Day Six Romans 1:20 Romans 1:20 NASB Romans 1:20 MESSAGE What can you learn about God by looking at His creation?
Day Seven Psalm 90:2 Psalm 90:2 NASB Psalm 90:2 MESSAGE What do you learn about God from this Psalm?

 

 

week two

Day Scripture NIV Scripture NASB Scripture MSG Daily Thought Question
Day Eight Hebrews 4:12 Hebrews 4:12 NASB Hebrews 4:12 MESSAGE How is God’s word alive and active in your life?
Day Nine Psalm 119:105 Psalm 119:105 NASB Psalm 119:105 MESSAGE How does God’s word provide light and direction to the path that you walk?
Day Ten Romans 15:4 Romans 15:4 NASB Romans 15:4 MESSAGE Name a lesson that you have learned from the pages of the Old Testament.
Day Eleven Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB Proverbs 3:5-6 MESSAGE What does it mean to trust God with all your heart?
Day Twelve 1 Thessalonians 5:16 1 Thessalonians 5:16 NASB 1 Thessalonians 5:16 MESSAGE What does it mean to “pray continually?” Is that really possible?
Day Thirteen Psalm 119:11 Psalm 119:11 NASB Psalm 119:11 MESSAGE Will you memorize Psalm 119:11 as you start to hide God’s Word in your heart?
Day Fourteen James 1:22 James 1:22 NASB James 1:22 MESSAGE Is there a verse in the Bible that you have listened to but not obeyed? What should be your first step toward obedience?

week three

 

Day Scripture NIV Scripture NASB Scripture MSG Daily Thought Question
Day Fifteen 2 Corinthians 5:17 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB 2 Corinthians 5:17 MESSAGE What is new about you since you have become a Christian?
Day Sixteen Galatians 2:20 Galatians 2:20 NASB Galatians 2:20 MESSAGE What does living by faith in the Son of God mean to you?
Day Seventeen Colossians 3:9-10 Colossians 3:9-10 NASB Colossians 3:9-10 MESSAGE What part of the “new self” have you put on that marks your new life in Christ?
Day Eighteen Romans 6:4 Romans 6:4 NASB Romans 6:4 MESSAGE What imagery of baptism stands out the most to you? Why?
Day Nineteen Psalm 133:1 Psalm 133:1 NASB Psalm 133:1 MESSAGE In what way is it possible for Christians to actually be united?
Day Twenty Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42 NASB Acts 4:42 MESSAGE To what aspect of the Christian faith would you consider yourself “devoted?” What does it mean to you to be devoted?
Day Twenty-One 1 Thessalonians 5:11 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB 1 Thessalonians 5:11 MESSAGE What Christian in your life is an encouragement to you? Who do you encourage in the faith?

 

From My Notebook

There are many reasons that we read and study the Bible. It is vitally important that we select a version that matches your reason for reading and study together with your vocabulary and understanding of the Bible. Selecting the right biblical translation can support your Bible reading goals.

Select a version of the Bible that matches your vocabulary and understanding of the Bible.

Formal TranslationDynamic TranslationIdiomatic TranslationParaphrase
NASBNIVMSGLIVING
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

 

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

 

 

16 The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. 17 It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.

 

 

Biblical translation takes the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages and offers an English equivalent. There are three main philosophies of translation: formal translation (word-for-word), dynamic translation (thought-for-thought or phrase-for-phrase) and idiomatic translation (dynamic translation plus idiom equivalence).  All three of these are translations, relying on an English rendering of the original languages. Scholars, theologians and linguists spend lengths of time producing translations.

A paraphrase takes an accepted English translation and rewords it into another English equivalent. A paraphrase spends no time consulting with the original languages. If you are asked to write a verse of the Bible using your own words, you are making a paraphrase of that verse. The old Living Bible and the old Good News for Modern Man provide examples of a biblical paraphrase.

People often miscategorize and misunderstand The Message version of the Bible by Eugene Peterson. Many – including scholars – assume Peterson took an English version of the Bible such as the KJV or the NIV and reworded it. Peterson was a linguistic scholar and used the original languages.

Why was The Message written? The best answer to that question comes from Peterson himself: “While I was teaching a class on Galatians, I began to realize that the adults in my class weren’t feeling the vitality and directness that I sensed as I read and studied the New Testament in its original Greek. Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language. I knew that the early readers of the New Testament were captured and engaged by these writings and I wanted my congregation to be impacted in the same way. I hoped to bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn’t read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become ‘old hat.'”

There is no “right or wrong” approach to biblical translations. Different methods attempt to achieve different goals. The danger in any translation that moves away from a word-for-word approach is simply that the translators may bring in their own personal bias or theological position to the text. The danger in a true paraphrase is that the individuals involved are not Greek and Hebrew scholars. A true paraphrase takes a difficult to read English version and simplifies the text.