Cover to Cover: Transforming Lives Through Bible Reading

That's my story. It's what happened to me at 43, as Andrew mentioned, Becky and I were happily agnostic. But one day I felt unsettled in my disbelief, which made me mad. I liked my disbelief. It was very comfortable. And I wanted to go back to my disbelief. So I set out to read the bible in ninety days. But instead of disbelieving, one night I realized that something happened. I was believing everything I was reading. I'm a long time insomniac. But that night, I fell asleep and had the soundest sleep I'd had in decades. And I woke the next morning a changed man. [00:54:20] (49 seconds)  #BibleChangedMe

We haven't read the bible before, we've gossiped about the bible, all of a sudden we're reading it and we're in his word every day for a hundred days. Your knowledge will pick up and does. Knowledge to commitment, Commitment to discipleship. Discipleship to daily walk. One of the one of the main things that happens so often with people who've never read the bible before and then come do this, is they go they've been sitting in pews for years, sometimes decades. Now they do this reading and their faith goes from lukewarm to hot, really on fire. So it's it's wonderful to see. It's a wonderful part of the process. Dimension number two is your relationship with those around you. [00:55:25] (51 seconds)  #KnowledgeToDiscipleship

Many of us have seen a compound interest graph. You know the one that shows what happens when you deposit a $100 today in interest in an interest bearing account? How it compounds day after day, year after year, until after a few decades, your deposit has become a small fortune. Similarly, in 2024, this church made a huge deposit in your relationship with God. That's the kind of thing that affects the church and the people in it forever, which makes it so important that you read the bible with your church again. All of it. [00:57:51] (39 seconds)  #CompoundFaith

``God gave us the gift of his word, and most of us have at least respected it over time. But at some level, most of us have also treated it like an unwanted unwanted present. Think back to just a few weeks ago. Imagine that a loved one handed you a gift at Christmas beaming with expectation. But you look at it, tear a corner off the wrapping, see what the gift is, and then once identified, set it aside, perhaps to be enjoyed another day. Imagine the disappointment of the gift giver. That's what most Christians do with the bible. We sample it here and there, perhaps wallow in a favorite hotspot or two, but decline to explore further. [00:58:59] (53 seconds)  #TreasureGodsWord

So in just a few weeks, the church will be giving you a new opportunity to read the entire bible as a community. How should you respond? Let me first address the first time readers. Don't hesitate. Just do it. Sign up. This will be the best opportunity you'll ever have to do this reading. You can't really depend on the church doing it again. There's a lot of effort that goes into doing this for you. Your church is mobilizing in a powerful way to help you do this life changing reading. Don't miss this chance. Yes. Life will happen during this period, but you'll be amazed at how God will bless you as you rearrange your life just a little bit to do all of this reading. [01:05:20] (50 seconds)  #ReadTogetherNow

Finally, a note for those who started in 2024 but didn't finish. That happens. People who don't make it the first time regularly come back a little wiser and their chance of success is even greater than before. In life, failure often precedes success. You can do this. What if you've already done it the second time? If you did this in 2024, some may be thinking, I did it last time. Maybe I'll sit it out this time. To which I say, the second time is better. [01:06:53] (39 seconds)  #SecondTimeBetter

For me, reading the bible in three months, the first time was a fire hose experience. I loved it, but there was a lot coming at me and in trying to keep up with it was really impossible. So I read it again And I found it so much better, so much more enjoyable the next time. I could connect the dots better. I was more knowledgeable about the reading, so much less overwhelmed. There are 3,500 names in the bible. The second time through, I was wise enough to realize I didn't really have to try to keep up with them. I was impacted by the message much more, and my relationship with him deepened in the process. It was a far more joyful experience. [01:07:32] (46 seconds)  #DeeperOnSecondRead

James Edward Webster of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 2. The obituary goes on to recount a wonderful life of career, church, family, and community, including this. After reading the bible in ninety days for the first time starting in January 2008, James read the bible 64 times and started his sixty fifth reading on July 1. Most of us will not read the bible as many times as mister Webster, But we can be sure that he gained value and comfort and joy each and every time that he did the reading. And we will too. [01:08:20] (49 seconds)  #LegacyOfScripture