According to research conducted by Lifeway Research, a mere 9% of Americans have read the Bible more than once[1]. This alarming statistic highlights the prevalence of Biblical illiteracy among Christians, which is likely responsible for many misconceptions about God and a lack of connection to the faith. Another study conducted by Barna Research revealed that one of the primary reasons why teenagers and young adults abandon the Christian faith is due to a shallow experience of Christianity[2]. This was attributed, in part, to the inadequate teaching and infrequent discussions about the Bible[2]. How can we as Christians be more pro-active about understanding who God really is and continue believing what we say we believe? The solution, quite simply, lies in reading our Bibles. However, this does not mean merely skimming through selected passages or turning to it only when we are feeling down. Rather, we must dedicate ourselves to reading the entire Bible on a regular basis. We must recognize that the Bible is not meant to be digested like SparkNotes or a reference manual, but as an all-encompassing narrative that continually nurtures our relationship with God, whom we claim to love. In this blog post, I aim to present you with several reasons why committing to reading the entire Bible annually is worth considering.

1. You will gain a more thorough understanding of who God is and what He is like.

• If you identify as a Christian, it is likely that you believe in the Bible's infallibility, inerrancy, and divine inspiration as the word of God. These books, written by individuals inspired by the Holy Spirit, contain narratives, poetry, prophecy, and prose that serve as our most reliable means of connecting with our Creator. Merely reading sections of the Bible without connecting the dots can cause us to miss out on the complete image of God's character and His nature. It is only by reading the entire Bible that we can fully grasp the cohesive and magnificent portrait it paints of God, His nature, and His divine plan for humanity. Claiming to love a God we hardly know becomes untenable when He has provided us with a remarkable masterpiece that reveals His immense love for us. If we fail to take the time to truly learn about God from His inspired Word, we shouldn't be surprised if doubt about Him and His identity creeps in.

2. You will gain an understanding about what God wants/expects from you. 

• Many individuals may go through their entire lives without ever discovering their true purpose. However, for Christians, the Bible serves as a reliable guide to understand what God intends for us. Since we are created in His image, it is His desire that our lives reflect His nature and bring Him glory. To truly comprehend God's character, a comprehensive study of the entire Bible is necessary. With a deeper understanding of who God is, we can then begin to express His likeness in our own unique ways. This is the exciting and intriguing part of a believer's journey - not merely deciphering God's desires for us, but rather discerning how to fulfill our God-given purpose. The Bible unveils not only direct commands but also valuable insights, examples, and guidance through its narratives and poetic expressions. Through these, we gain a clearer understanding of how to live our lives and bring glory to God.

3. You will understand the New Testament better.

• Reading the entire Bible will undoubtedly help you to recognize the numerous connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. They are not separate from one another; instead, they work in unison to convey a comprehensive narrative about the nature of God. From a conservative standpoint, the New Testament writers make reference to the Old Testament at least 200 times, while some scholars argue that as many as 2000 passages in the New Testament can be seen as allusions to the Old Testament[3]. It is important to acknowledge that the New Testament authors and the individuals they write about, including Jesus, were primarily familiar with the Old Testament. Thus, in order to fully comprehend the intended message of the New Testament writers within their appropriate context, we must devote time to reading and understanding the Old Testament as well.

4. The Old Testament will become more digestible and relatable.

• Many individuals I have spoken with express reluctance to read the Old Testament due to its depiction of ancient practices, atrocities, and cultural norms. They struggle to understand how any of it can be relevant in today's society or how it aligns with their perception of God. However, delving into the Old Testament can actually make it less daunting, strange, and irrelevant. Through reading, we come to realize that the dysfunctional patterns we observe in present-day society have always existed, affirming the age-old saying "There's nothing new under the sun." Moreover, the Old Testament contains vivid portrayals of God's true nature, such as the compassionate, gracious, and just God described in Exodus 34:6-7 which reads like this: “The Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.” Exploring the law and the prophets brings this verse to life and provides the evidence we need to confirm our belief that God is indeed good.

5. You will be better equipped to identify scriptures used out of context and false doctrines.

• In today's technological age, it's becoming increasingly easy for anyone on platforms like YouTube to present themselves as experts on various subjects, often without facing much questioning. Even some pastors are turning to artificial intelligence to generate their sermons. While I'm not against the use of AI (in fact, I used it to enhance my grammar and sentence structure for this blog post), completely replacing our own intelligence with artificial intelligence, especially when it comes to interpreting God's Word, is not a good idea. It's crucial, now more than ever, for us to become familiar with the Bible using our God-given brains and critical thinking skills. This will help us avoid being misled by teachings and doctrines that may contain partial truths or misinterpretations of scripture presented in a relatable manner. By regularly immersing ourselves in the Old and New Testament, we will be better equipped to discern the promptings of the Holy Spirit when He warns us about listening to or being taught something that isn't quite right. Furthermore, we'll be able to recognize when popular scriptures are being manipulated or used to promote ideas that deviate from God's true intentions. We might even find ourselves re-learning things we were previously taught by well-meaning Bible teachers who misunderstood certain passages. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to develop our understanding of God and His Word, rather than relying solely on others to do it for us.

6. You will be able to identify the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all of Scripture

• It is indeed true that the entire Bible directs our attention to Jesus Christ. By reading the Bible multiple times, whether in canonical or chronological order, one will inevitably realize that the Old Testament foreshadows the New Testament and anticipates Jesus as the Messiah. Furthermore, the Old Testament also points to Jesus as the fulfillment of numerous prophecies. By thoroughly studying the Bible, one should gain a greater certainty that Jesus is indeed God.

7. You will improve your confidence to share the gospel.

• Confidence in sharing the gospel grows as you frequently read the entire Bible. This deepens your understanding of God's character and increases your knowledge of Jesus Christ and his divine nature. Familiarity with how the Old and New Testament scriptures relate to each other enables you to confidently articulate the gospel message. We should all strive to fulfill Jesus' command to be "fishers of men" and make disciples. This involves sharing the gospel so that people can choose to receive salvation and helping one another grow in faith by studying and applying God's word in our lives.

8. Your prayer life will improve.

•  Many of us have encountered difficulties in finding the right words to pray at some point in our lives. However, being acquainted with the entire scripture can assist us in feeling more at ease when conversing with God, as it provides a deeper and more personal comprehension of His nature. Moreover, reading the entire Bible expands our range of scripture to draw from during prayer, particularly on days when it is challenging to formulate our own words.

9. You’ll develop the most important discipline of all time for daily life.

• Contrary to common belief, engaging in daily exercise, eating healthy, or reading self-help literature are not the most crucial habits to develop. For believers, the most important daily habit is consuming and reflecting on God's Word. Throughout scripture, there are numerous passages emphasizing the significance and benefits of meditating on God's Word. It is pleasing to God (Psalm 19:14), brings blessings to those who engage in it (Psalms 1:1-2), and leads to prosperity (Joshua 1:8). By dedicating time to study God's Word every day, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Just imagine the transformative impact it could have on our lives if we could consistently embrace this discipline.

Conclusion and Call to Action

If you have reached the end of this blog, it might be difficult to find a reason not to embark on a journey through the Bible with The Transparent Tribe in 2024. To participate, simply click the link below and join our Bible in a Year group reading plan on The Bible App. You will be able to read the Bible alongside fellow women who also desire a deeper relationship with God. The Transparent Tribe provides a safe space to ask challenging questions about the Bible and openly share your thoughts without judgment. Moreover, you can become a part of the Transparent Tribe by subscribing to our email list, which will keep you updated on group Bible studies, blog posts, and notifications about exciting sales on Bible Study tools from the Daily Grace Company. We sincerely hope you will join us, as reading the entire Bible is an experience you won't regret.

References

1. Lifeway Research. (2017, April 25). Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It. Retrieved from  https://research.lifeway.com/2017/04/25/lifeway-research-americans-are-fond-of-the-bible-dont-actually-read-it/

2. Barna Group. (n.d.). Six Reasons Young Christians Leave Church. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/six-reasons-young-christians-leave-church/

3.  How many Old Testament references are in the New Testament? - Christian Questions Bible Podcast." Christian Questions. Retrieved from  https://christianquestions.com/bible-questions/how-many-old-testament-references-are-in-the-new-testament/