Should you read the Bible? The Presbyterian Church in Canada states: “Yes. The regular reading and study of scripture, together with the hearing of the word in public worship, are some of the richest joys of Christian commitment” (A Catechism for Today, Presbyterian Church in Canada, 2006).
That being the case, Knox in Dunnville, Ont., decided to focus some time on scripture. We began on the first Sunday of Advent in 2009 and ended a year later with a potluck lunch, when accomplishments were celebrated.
Organizing a congregational Year of the Bible is not difficult. Create a list of options to present to your congregation. Make the list long and varied, keeping in mind people of all age groups, all levels of commitment, and all levels of reading ability. The purpose is to give the Bible a higher profile for the year. Options include:
• Read the entire Bible
• Read the New Testament
• Read the Old Testament
• Attend a Bible study during Advent
• Use a daily Bible reading guide, such as These Days from the WMS Book Room, or another daily devotional reading
• Attend a Bible study during Lent
• Read a commentary on one book of the Bible
• Watch Walking the Bible DVD
• Read the book Walking the Bible
• Pray for the participants
• Memorize Bible verses
• Attend an adult Bible study
• Opening Doors to Discipleship—
an online Bible course, available at openingdoorstodiscipleship.com.
• Participate in a 12 – month Book of the Bible Club for informal, group Bible study
• Read a Bible storybook (or have it read to you)
• Do a Bible survey as found in the Life Application Study Bible
• Read materials from the church library relevant to the Bible
• Listen to an audio Bible
The Year of the Bible committee should present the idea with this accompanying list to session for approval, including a time frame of one year, beginning at a suitable time. One possibility is to begin as we did, at the beginning of the church year with Advent, and finish at the end of the church year, one year later. This allows promotion time in the fall, when people are returning to a more routine way of life. In early October, present the concept to the congregation from the pulpit during the sermon time. The sermon can include important reasons for reading the Bible, as well as explanations of the various options. Encourage participants to spend some money, such as buying a newer translation or some related material as this can make the whole experience seem more valuable. Also in October, roughly two months prior to the beginning of the year, collect pledges—have people sign up for options they think they might want to participate in. Fellowship time after the church service can be an opportune time for signing pledges. Have everyone sign two identical pledge sheets, one for the organizing committee, the other one to take home. Since some of the options such as the monthly book club and Bible studies require some preparatory work and organizing, the committee needs to be aware of people’s interests. Also, this lead time provides an opportunity for the congregation to ask questions. Include pledge cards in the Sunday morning bulletin for a few weeks. Bible reading plans are readily available on the internet, in the back pages of some study Bibles, on electronic Bible programs, and there are also Bibles available that are set up with one – year reading plans. It takes a reader of average skill level 20 – 30 minutes every day of the year to read through the entire Bible.
Once you begin the Year of the Bible, it is important to follow up with participants on a regular basis. An informal survey done during a worship service might help clear up any confusion, as well as encourage others who might have similar questions. This is also a good time to remind people that even with the best intentions, we fall behind on our commitments, and that it is never too late to restart or get back on track. It is good to have session members talk to their families of faith (elder districts) on a more individual level. Remind the congregation of The Year of the Bible regularly during the year to maintain its high profile, and to encourage perseverance.
Celebrate all of the accomplishments at the end of the year! A potluck lunch on the last day of the church calendar year is one option. Welcome everybody, whether they participated or not. Encourage some of the people who read the entire Bible to share their experiences. Celebrate the accomplishments of all.
