Develop a Bible Reading Habit

Every year in our church, we present Bibles to our 3rd grade students. I have the great joy of teaching a three-week class to these students and their parents before we do the official presentation and blessing of Bibles in worship. The purpose of the class is to help make sure that kids are familiar with all the tools their Bible has to help them, give them practice navigating their Bible, and help them become familiar with all of the different books in the Bible and what they are about.

This is one of the best things I do all year.

I love to see the kids get excited about the things they are reading and discovering. For some of these kids, this is their first “grown-up” Bible, and this makes them feel very proud. They are eager to look up stories and explore Bible reading tools and maps. The enthusiasm they show is contagious.

After each class there are almost always quiet conversations with parents who timidly admit that they too learned a lot. They confess that they haven't studied the Bible as much as they feel they should, and that they have always been embarrassed to go to the “adult” bible studies because of their lack of knowledge. It is a great reminder that everyone needs to start somewhere.

Even if you have been a faithful student of the Bible, it is easy to fall out of the habit of regularly getting into God's word.

Here are a few tips to get you or your family started:

1. Set up a Bible reading plan – There are lots of different plans for reading the Bible. You can find a daily Bible reading plan in your Bible or online. Our first inclination when reading a book is to start at the beginning and read cover-to-cover. Many people who try to do this with the Bible get stuck early on in lists of genealogies and Old Testament Laws. Find a reading plan that is the most helpful for you.
2. Set aside time daily to read your Bible – Set a goal and a time of day that works best for you and/or your family for daily reading. This might be early morning, over your lunch break, after dinner, or maybe after everyone is in bed.
3. Find a partner or group to join you in your challenge – Join a Bible study or find a friend who can read the same text as you. This gives you accountability and a place to discuss the things you are reading and may have questions about. Do grandparents live far away? Have them join your family at least once a week in reading scripture and doing a discussion via phone/Skype or Facetime. Technology can be your friend here.
4. Pick one book to focus on – If you already have basic biblical knowledge, pick one book to focus on and dig a little deeper.

Any other tips you would like to share?