Read Through the Bible in 2013

Here is a schedule that will get you through the Bible in a year.  The schedule is based on reading some from the New Testament, Old Testament, and Psalms each week.

Week Beginning	Old Testament	Psalms	New Testament
1/6/2013	Genesis 1-19	Psalm 1-5	John 1-4
1/13/2013	Genesis 20-33	Psalm 6-8	John 5-7
1/20/2013	Genesis 34-50	Psalm 9-11	John 8-10
1/27/2013	Exodus 1-20	Psalm 12-16	John 11-15
2/3/2013	Exodus 21-40	Psalm 17-18	John 16-19
2/10/2013	Leviticus 1-14	Psalm 19-20	John 20-21
2/17/2013	Leviticus 15-27	Psalm 21-23	Acts 1-5
2/24/2013	Numbers 1-18	Psalm 24-26	Acts 6-10
3/3/2013	Numbers 19-36	Psalm 27-30	Acts 11-15
3/10/2013	Deuteronomy 1-17	Psalm 31-32	Acts 16-19
3/17/2013	Deuteronomy 18-34	Psalm 33-35	Acts 20-24
3/24/2013	Joshua 1-12	Psalm 36-37	Acts 25-28
3/31/2013	Joshua 13-24	Psalm 38-39	Matthew 1-5
4/7/2013	Judges 1-21	Psalm 40-41	Matthew 6-10
4/14/2013	Ruth, 1 Samuel 1-10	Psalm 42-44	Matthew 11-14
4/21/2013	1 Samuel 11-31	Psalm 45-47	Matthew 15-18
4/28/2013	2 Samuel 1-12	Psalm 48-50	Matthew 19-22
5/5/2013	2 Samuel 13-24	Psalm 51-54	Matthew 23-26
5/12/2013	1 Kings 1-11	Psalm 55-57	Matthew 27-28
5/19/2013	1 Kings 12-22	Psalm 58-60	Romans 1-5
5/26/2013	2 Kings 1-12	Psalm 61-63	Romans 6-11
6/2/2013	2 Kings 13-25	Psalm 64-67	Romans 12-16
6/9/2013	1 Chronicles 1-14	Psalm 68-69	1 Corinthians 1-6
6/16/2013	1 Chronicles 15-29	Psalm 70-71	1 Corinthians 7-12
6/23/2013	2 Chronicles 1-17	Psalm 72-73	1 Corinthians 13-16
6/30/2013	2 Chronicles 18-36	Psalm 74-76	2 Corinthians 1-6
7/7/2013	Ezra 1-10	Psalm 77-78	2 Corinthians 7-13
7/14/2013	Nehemiah 1-13	Psalm 79-81	Mark 1-5
7/21/2013	Esther 1-10	Psalm 82-85	Mark 6-9
7/28/2013	Job 1-21	Psalm 86-88	Mark 10-12
8/4/2013	Job 22-42	Psalm 89	Mark 13-16
8/11/2013	Proverbs 1-10	Psalm 90-91	Galatians 1-6
8/18/2013	Proverbs 11-20	Psalm 92-94	Ephesians 1-6
8/25/2013	Proverbs 21-31	Psalm 95-97	Philippians 1-4, Colossians 1-4
9/1/2013	Ecclesiastes 1-12	Psalm 98-101	1 Thessalonians 1-5, 2 Thess. 1-3
9/8/2013	Song of Songs 1-8	Psalm 102-104	1 Timothy 1-6
9/15/2013	Isaiah 1-16	Psalm 105	2 Timothy 1-4, Titus 1-3, Philemon
9/22/2013	Isaiah 17-33	Psalm 106	Luke 1-3
9/29/2013	Isaiah 34-49	Psalm 107	Luke 4-6
10/6/2013	Isaiah 50-66	Psalm 108-110	Luke 7-9
10/13/2013	Jeremiah 1-14	Psalm 111-115	Luke 10-12
10/20/2013	Jeremiah 15-28	Psalm 116-118	Luke 13-17
10/27/2013	Jeremiah 29-43	Psalm 119	Luke 18-20
11/3/2013	Jeremiah 44-52, Lamentations 1-5	Psalm 120-123	Luke 21-24
11/10/2013	Ezekiel 1-16	Psalm 124-127	Hebrews 1-7
11/17/2013	Ezekiel 17-32	Psalm 128-131	Hebrews 8-13
11/24/2013	Ezekiel 33-48	Psalm 132-134	James 1-5
12/1/2013	Daniel 1-12	Psalm 135-137	1 Peter 1-5, 2 Peter 1-3
12/8/2013	Hosea 1-14, Joel 1-3, Amos 1-9	Psalm 138-140	1 John 1-5, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
12/15/2013	Obadiah, Jonah 1-4, Micah 1-7, Nahum 1-3	Psalm 141-144	Revelation 1-7
12/22/2013	Habbakkuk 1-3, Zephaniah 1-3, Haggai 1-2	Psalm 145-146	Revelation 8-14
12/29/2013	Zechariah 1-14, Malachi 1-4	Psalm 147-150	Revelation 15-22

Thoroughly Equipped in 2013

2 Timothy 3: 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.

Would you be willing to read through the Bible with me in 2013?  If the Bible was given to us so we could be thoroughly equipped, then if we neglect it we will be ill-equipped and unprepared.

Here’s what I’d like to ask you to do:

·         Form a habit of daily Bible reading of 3 or 4 chapters each day.

·         Answer a few questions each day from a study sheet designed to get you to think about and apply what you’ve read.

·         Read the whole Bible in 2013.

Here’s what I’ll do:

·         Provide a study sheet each week.  The purpose of the study sheet is to get you to think about what you’ve read, what it means, and how to apply it in life.  I don’t want you to believe things just because you heard them in church, but because you know what the Bible says.

·         Make the study sheet available at church and online.

·         Base the message at Prayer Watch each Sunday morning on a passage from that week’s reading.

·         Provide small group Bible studies where we can dig a little deeper.

The schedule I’d like to use is based on reading some from the New Testament, some from the Psalms, and some from the rest of the Old Testament each week.  The reasons for doing it this way are:

·         The Old Testament is much larger than the New Testament, but the New Testament has more direct application to our lives.  If you read the Bible cover to cover, you will spend most of the year in the Old Testament.  Reading the New Testament and the Old Testament at the same time gives us the benefit of both throughout the year.

·         Psalms come from the heart of people inspired by God.  They are worth thinking over as you read them.  For this reason, we’ll spread them out over the year, reading a few each week, rather than reading through them all at once.

Did you know?

·         You can read the Bible every year for your whole life and you will always be finding something new or seeing a new way to apply it.

·         As you read, there will be some parts of the Bible you may find hard to understand, but the Lord will help you get something from it.

·         There are 1189 chapters in the Bible.  This is about 3 ¼ per day for a year.  Reading the whole Bible all at once might seem overwhelming, but reading 3 or 4 chapters a day is achievable if you form the habit.

·         Reading 3 or 4 chapters per day will only take 10 to 15 minutes.  You may well spend more than that thinking about it or re-reading it.

·         If your eyesight or reading ability is limited, you can listen to the Bible.  There are several versions and different narrators available that you can listen to online for free here: http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/

The Source of Conflict

James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?

• How frequently are you personally involved in fights and quarrels? How do your desires contribute to conflict?

2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.

• What does James tell us we should do instead of fight?
• Why would God not do something that we haven’t asked for?

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

• What would be an example of something you could ask for with wrong motives?

4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

• What does it mean to be a friend of the world? What is wrong with it?

5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

• Verse 5 can be hard to understand. Here is how it is worded in the Amplified Bible, "Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?" This shows us that God’s attitude toward unfaithfulness toward him is somewhat like a man or woman whose spouse has been unfaithful. Why does God feel so strongly toward us?

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

• Why would God oppose the proud?

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

• What two things do you need to do for the devil to flee?

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

• How does a person come near to God? What do you need to do to come near to God?

9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

• Why does this verse teach us to grieve?

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

• What must you do to humble yourself before God?

Wisdom in Action

James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

• What is wisdom? Why does it produce a good life and humility?

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

• What is selfish ambition and why is it wrong?
• In what area of your life are you most tempted to have selfish ambition?
• Do you harbor envy toward anyone?

15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.

• Why could something that is of the devil ever be mistaken for wisdom?
• The two kinds of wisdom; true wisdom and a false wisdom of the devil, come from two different ways of looking at life. How can you nurture a godly wisdom and a life that reflects it?

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

• What are some examples of disorder and evil that come from envy and selfish ambition?

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

• Why does heaven’s wisdom produce healthy attitudes toward others?
• Who does God want us to be submissive toward?
• What does it mean to be impartial? Why is this important?

18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

• What do you have to do to be a peacemaker? Are you?

Taming the Tongue

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

• What does it mean to "presume" to be a teacher?
• When should you teach?
• Parents are commanded to teach (see Deuteronomy 4:7). What attitude should you have toward the things you teach your children?

2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

• Why does this passage put so much emphasis on what we say? What impact do your words have on others?

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

• James gives two examples of small things that have big importance. How have your words impacted others in a positive or negative way?

5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

• These verses describe the tongue as potentially destructive. What are some examples of damage that has been done by the tongue?

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

• If no man can tame the tongue, what hope is there for us to control our tongue? Has God helped you control your tongue? How?

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

• Why is it wrong to praise God and curse men? What should we be saying about other people?

11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

• James uses two examples (springs and trees) that can be counted on to produce the same thing all the time. What do you need to do to become a reliable source of words that are true, helpful, and God-honoring?

Faith and Works

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

• How would you answer the questions that James brings up here?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

• When have you been in a position where you needed to do something to help someone, not just wish them well?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Why must faith be accompanied by action?

• How does this compare to the teaching of Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.?

18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

• How do your actions demonstrate what you believe?

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

• Why does James use demons as an example?

20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

• How did Abraham’s actions demonstrate his faith?
• What does it mean for his faith to be credited to him as righteousness?

24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

• What does it mean to be justified? Why does James say we are justified by what we do?

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

• How does Rahab demonstrate faith, action, and God’s mercy?

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

• What value is dead faith? What do you conclude from this passage?

Don’t Show Favoritism

James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

• Why shouldn’t someone who believes in Jesus show favoritism?
• What does it mean to show favoritism?

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

• When have you been in a situation like the one James describes in verse 2? How did you handle it?
• What are the evil thoughts that would lead to favoritism?

5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

• How does God want us to view the poor?

6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

• What reasons does James give us for not viewing the rich as better than others?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

• Why is it important that we love others? What hindrances do you find in yourself to loving others?

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

• Why is breaking one part of the law the same as breaking it all?
• How quick or slow are you to obey God when you become aware of what He wants?

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

• How will you speak and act if you consider that you will be judged?

13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

• What opportunities do you have for showing mercy? What are you doing about it?

Doers of the Word

James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

• What makes a person quick to listen?
• What makes a person slow to anger?

20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

• Does anger have any benefit? Why doesn’t it bring about righteousness?

21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

• What do you have to do to get rid of moral filth?
• What does it mean to humbly accept the word? When you read the Word of God, do you humbly accept it?

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

• How does a person deceive themselves? What must you do not to fall into self deception?

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

• In what way is God’s Word like a mirror?

25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

• What do you have to do to look intently into God’s Word?
• What will happen if you obey God’s Word?

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

• A rein is used to keep an animal from going wherever it wants. What are the consequences of letting your tongue loose to say whatever comes to mind?
• How do you put a rein on your tongue?

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

• Why does God care about widows and orphans? Who has God put on your heart that needs assistance? What are you doing about it?

The Source of Temptation

James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

• These two commands seem to be the opposite of each other, depending on a person’s circumstances. Why would God give us these seemingly opposite commands?

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

• What attitude toward life does God want us to have? What attitude should we have toward wealth?

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

• Why is it important for us to persevere under trial? What is the “crown of life”?
• What is your attitude toward trials?

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

• If being tested is good for us, why won’t God ever tempt anyone to do evil?

14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

• This verse teaches us that temptation originates with our own evil desire. How can our desire be purified? What is the difference between an evil desire and a pure one?

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

• How does sin produce death?
• How can we avoid deception?

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

• Do you think of God as the source of all good gifts? How does this affect the way you live and the choices you make?

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

• How and when did God give us birth through the word of truth?
• What does it mean to be the firstfruits of God’s creation?

Facing Trials

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

• Two of Jesus’s disciples were named James (James, son of Zebedee and James, son of Alpheus), but another man named James, a brother of Jesus, was leader of the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of this letter. Who is he writing to when he mentions the twelve tribes scattered among the nations?

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

• Why can we have joy in trials?
• What would it take for you to face trials with joy?
• Which of these most closely describes your attitude toward trials?

1. I know God is at work in my life, so I have joy in my trials.
2. Life it tough, but I can handle it.
3. This will pass, and I’ll get back to having joy.
4. I don’t know why my life is so much harder than everyone else’s.

• What is perseverance? Why is it valuable?

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• What does it mean to be mature and complete?
• If we are going to go to heaven someday in a new body, in a place with no pain, death, or sorrow, why do we need to become mature and complete in this life?
• How can your maturity help someone else?

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

• How will God respond if you ask Him for wisdom?

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

• This verse teaches us to believe when we are praying for wisdom in the midst of trials. What is it we are supposed to believe?
• Where do we get the confidence to believe?

7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

• Why is it unreasonable to expect God to answer prayer if we are unstable in our faith?

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

• What does is mean to be double-minded?
• How can you become single-minded?