Phil Benedict

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

United Indian Mission

Greeley, Colorado

These guides are designed to help you to study, to learn, to understand, and to live what God teaches us in his Word, the Bible. God gave us the Bible to teach us how to know and to walk with Him. We can enjoy God’s blessings forever, rather than experiencing his judgement. His Word is eternally true. Take time to carefully read and think about the Scriptures used in this guide. Meditate on them and the truths they teach. Learn to love God and his Word. Regularly ask God for a right understanding of Scriptural truths and then make them part of you. Absorb them. If you go over the material too quickly without much thought, it will have little or no lasting impact on your life. Commit yourself to making Biblical truths the foundation of your life and to putting them into practice every day of your life.

Many people begin a life of walking with God, but as time passes, they find that their commitment has dimmed. There is no longer any excitement or joy in their walk. This doesn’t mean that they no longer know God, but they are certainly feeling spiritually dry and unproductive. They may also be unhappy and deeply discouraged. However, others who begin a walk with God are, after many years, still strongly committed and enjoying a satisfying and productive spiritual life.

What makes the difference?

The reasons for this are not always clear. However, one thing is clear. Those who are committed and productive in their walk with God learn to regularly absorb the Word of God (the Bible) into their daily walk with God, while those who become dry and unproductive do not make absorbing and applying the Word of God a regular part of their lives. For a Bible reading and/or study program to be effective, it must be much more than just a habit or academic pursuit. We must regularly submit to and apply its teaching to our daily lives, and we must commit ourselves to serving God who is the author of the Bible.

What are some reasons why some people have a long productive walk with God and others seem to fall by the wayside?

What do individuals who have a long term productive walk with God have in common?

Are you satisfied with your walk with God?

4. Watch what you put into your mind. Read and listen to what will encourage your walk with God.

These four things are as important to our spiritual life as air, food and water are to our physical life. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to each of these so you can get started right.

Which of these three things listed above do you need to work on?

In Christian circles we sometimes use terms like "quiet time" or "devotions" to refer to the time we set apart each day to spend with God in Bible reading and prayer. Following are suggestions for an effective daily quiet time and an approximately eighteen month Bible reading program for new Christians. These are followed by some basic guidelines on prayer and church.

1. Start your quiet time by finding a time and place where, as much as is possible, you can clear your schedule and be alone and uninterrupted for about thirty to forty-five minutes or so. Once you figure out the time and place, keep this time as if you had a daily appointment to meet with God.

2. Now, as much as possible, clear your mind of everything else that would distract you or interfere with your time with God.

3. Think back over the last few hours or days. Confess any known sin that you have not already confessed.

4. Read and pray Psalm 139:23-24.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

5. Now carefully and thoughtfully read the passage of Scripture in your reading schedule. The two year reading program for new Christians is an excellent place to start.

6. You may want to ask yourself questions about the passage you read such as...

a. What are the major truths in this Scripture passage?

b. What are the instructions or principles for living?

c. Are there any direct or implied promises or warnings?

d. What can I learn about God?

7. Spend some time meditating on what you have read and learned. Pray through the passage with thanksgiving and commitment. Worship and praise God in relation to the truths you learn from this passage. This time of meditation can be a precious time of allowing God to speak to you, deepening your love for Him, and giving you understanding and insights that will sustain and strengthen you.

To quietly and unhurriedly think about or to ponder Biblical truths, asking God for understanding and submitting to his direction in your life.

8. Now, seeking the Spirit's direction, determine what actions or attitudes in your life need to be changed and brought into line with what you have learned from His Word. Then determine that with his strengthening, you will make those changes.

9. Now spend time praying about current needs and those items on your prayer list.

Note: You may wish to jot down any blessings or insights you received. It is amazing how quickly we forget things. By writing them down it also helps us to have them available to share with others who can be encouraged and benefit from what we have learned.

Do you have a regular quiet time with the Lord?

If you do, how can you make it better?

The Word of God leads us to faith in God and through it we learn how to live a God honoring life. Through the Bible we gain understanding, encouragement, and strength, and it leads us to growth, fruitfulness, and peace. To neglect God’s Word leads to fruitlessness and frustration.

Remember, it is not enough to simply read and study to gain more knowledge. God expects us to be submissive and obedient to his Word. Unwillingness to submit and to let Jesus Christ be the Lord of our life brings defeat and gives Satan a foothold in our life. Be willing to change attitudes and behavior patterns as the Holy Spirit brings to your attention areas of your life that need changing.

There is no clear cut right way to begin a Bible reading program. We are all individuals and all of us are different from each other. However, no matter who we are, we must commit ourselves to faithfully reading and absorbing the Word of God. If we don’t, we will join those who lose their spiritual productivity and the joy of walking with God.

The following Bible reading program is based on the idea of repetitive reading. Instead of reading a lot of Scripture, you read the same section of the Bible for several days. The reason for this is simple. Most of us do not understand everything we read the first time through. This is especially true of the Bible. It is rich in depth. The more we read a section of the Bible, the more we understand it and can put it into practice.

You are certainly free to read more than what is suggested in the following Bible reading schedule, but this is a good pattern to use as the core of your Bible reading/study program.

Week 1. John 3:16-21 (chapter 3, verses 16-21) Read these verses every day for one week.

As you read think about what you read. Ask God for a right understanding of these verses.

If you have questions, ask someone who should know. Do not accept everybody’s answer as absolute truth. There are a lot of wrong or poor answers given when asking questions about the Bible. It is a good idea to be skeptical if an answer just doesn’t seem right.

Week 2. Read 1 John 1:5-10 and 1 John 2:1-6 every day for one week. As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we need to regularly confess our sin. We do this to keep our walk with God fruitful, productive and satisfying. When we sin we do not lose our salvation, but there is a loss of our joy and productivity. As soon as you sin, confess it and get back on track with God.

Week 3. Psalm 1 Read this chapter every day for a week. This is not a difficult part of the Bible. Read it and learn. Think about what you read.

Week 4. Read Psalm 32 every day for a week. Each day after you have read it, quietly sit back and think about what you have read. Thank God for the truths that you learn.

After you have read this Psalm for two or three days, begin answering the following questions.

From verses 1 and 2, who is blessed (happy)?

From verses 3 and 4, what is the result of not confessing sin (keeping silent)?

From verse 5, what happens when we confess our sin?

From verse 6, what should Godly people do?

From verse 7, what two things does God promise?

From verse 8, what does God promise?

From verse 9, what should we not be like?

From verse 10, what difference is there between the wicked and those who trust in God?

From verse 11, what should believers do?

Every day thank God for saving you and for the things He is doing in your life. Talk to God about yourself, your family, your friends, and others you know.

Week 5. Read Psalm 33 every day for a week. Again, each day after you have read it, quietly sit back and think about what you have read. Thank God for the truths that you learn.

Again, after you have read it for two or three days, begin answering the following questions:

From verses 1-3. Most of us don’t have harps and lyres, but what can we do to show our joy and give God praise?

From verse 4, what does it say about the Word of God?

From verse 5, what does God love?

From verses 6 through 9, what is God’s relationship to the earth?

From verse 8, what should our attitude toward God be?

From verse 9, who controls the people and nations on earth?

From verse 10, how long will God’s plan stand?

From verses 12 through 15, who does the Lord watch?

From verses 16 through 19, what will not save a nation? Who delivers us in times of trouble?

From verses 20 through 22, what does it mean to "wait" on God?

Who is our hope in?

What should we do while we wait?

Week 6. Read Psalm 34 every day for a week. Follow the same pattern that you followed in weeks one and two. Take time to think about what you read. This time, as you read it verse by verse, you make up the questions in your own mind and then think about the answers. From this Psalm ask yourself questions that have to do with what God does for his people and what our response should be. Don’t forget to take time to talk to the Lord and thank God for all the things you learn.

Week 7. Now read Psalm 139 every day for a week. Again, take time to think and meditate about what you have read. This is a very personal Psalm. It covers how deeply the God of the universe knows and cares about you personally. He protects and leads you. He not only knows you, but He designed you personally and has a purpose for you. The last two verses are a beautiful prayer of submission to the God who knows you so well. Again, after you have read it for two or three days, begin asking yourself questions about what is said and thanking God for the truths you discover.

8. Genesis, chapters 1-3. (This will take about two weeks) Read one chapter a day. Obviously this will take three days by reading one chapter a day. After you read all three chapters, start with chapter one again and read all three chapters again. Repeat this process until you have read all three chapters at least four times. These are very important chapters. They are the foundation on which all of the rest of the Bible is built. These chapters should be understood exactly as they are written. We don’t need to try to change anything to accommodate modern "scientific" theories.

9. (This will take about two months.) Now we are going to a longer passage of Scripture in the New Testament. The book of Mark has 16 chapters. The length of the chapters vary. Read one chapter a day. Afer you have read all 16 chapters, start over again and read it all the way through again. Then read it all the way through a third and a fourth time. The purpose of this reading is to get to know the Lord Jesus Christ better. Jesus is not only our Savior, He is also our example of living that we are to follow. If we are to be like Him, we need to know Him as well as possible. Reading the book of Mark through three times will help us to know Him better and to begin to live more like Him. Again, as you read, think and meditate about what you read.

10. (About four or five months) Now read the Book of John. John has 21 chapters. It is a little "deeper" book and you may need to go a little slower. There are some very long chapters. You may wish to take two or even three days to read and think about some of the chapters. You will not understand everything, but keep on reading anyway. As you move along in your reading, you will understand more and more all the time. Read the whole book at least three times. The book of John emphasizes the truth that Jesus is God. After you finish reading John through at least twice, you should have an even greater appreciation of Jesus, who is God himself, and have a deeper commitment to serve Him.

11. (About one month) Now to a shorter book. The book of 1 John has only six short chapters. Read a chapter a day. Carefully think about what you read. Repeat this process until you have read the book through at least four times. 1 John is a sobering book. It makes us examine our own way of life and ask ourselves if we really know God and are we living a life pleasing to Him. 1 John tells us that if we are living a sinful lifestyle, then we really don’t know Him. There are many tests given for us to use to evaluate our lives. This book should cause us to deepen our commitment to walking with Him. Don’t move through this book quickly. Spend a lot of time thinking and meditating about what you read.

12. (About two months) Now back to the Old Testament and the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. Genesis is an entirely different kind of a book. It is historical in nature. It tells of man’s beginnings and where we came from. Genesis is fifty chapters long. Read a chapter a day. Genesis is an important book, but for now you only need to read it through once. You may wish to come back to later. A basic understanding of Genesis will help you to understand what God is like, and it will also help you to understand much of the New Testament.

13. (About one month) Now back to the New Testament and the book of Ephesians. Ephesians is a short book with only six short chapters that are loaded with good teaching and practical instructions for life. Read a chapter a day and be ready to spend a lot of time meditating. Read through the entire book at least five times.

14. (About three months) Now for the book of Romans. Romans is sixteen chapters long. It is a "heavier" book than many others. Don’t hurry through it. Sometimes you may wish to spend two or three days in one chapter. You should read it though at least three times. Romans gives us the foundation of truth upon which our faith is built. You may wish to buy a commentary to help you understand some of the passages. John MacArthur’s commentary on Romans is a good one to keep handy as you read this book.

15. (About two months) The book of Proverbs is an entirely different kind of a book. Through the use of proverbs or wise sayings, Solomon, under the inspiration of God, gives advice on how to live. While some of the verses or proverbs tie into the verse before or after it, most of the verses are individual proverbs. Proverbs covers almost every conceivable topic. You will never digest all of this book. There is simply too much there. If you have school age children, this is an excellent book to read to them. In a very natural way it allows you to discuss with them right conduct in almost every part of life. There are thirty-one chapters. Read it at least once. You may wish to read it through again.

16. (About two months) Now let’s go to the books of 1 and 2 Peter. These books together have eight chapters. These are very practical books giving instruction on various aspects of our walk with God. These are not long chapters, but read just a single chapter a day and spend plenty of time thinking and meditating on the contents of each chapter. These are books that will have to be read at least four or five times through to begin to digest the contents. You will greatly benefit from the reading of these books.

17. (About two months) 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Like 1 and 2 Peter, these two books combined have eight chapters. Follow the same pattern given for 1 and 2 Peter. Read one chapter a day. Spend lots of time thinking and meditating, and stay in these two books until you have read the entire books through at least four or five times. These books will give you a lot of hope and peace about what God has in store for us in the future.

18. (About two months) Revelation. Revelation chapters 4-22 deal with the future. It is not easy reading and you will most likely be a little confused after reading it. Don’t expect to understand it all. Read the book through once or twice. It will give you some idea of the judgement that unbelieving people will face.

Now on your own you can continue studying the Bible. God gave us every part of the Scripture and each part has a purpose. Studying Scripture is a life time pursuit and it is part of our lifetime growing process. Continue studying and applying the Word, and you will have a productive and satisfying life time walk with God.

Why is it helpful to read a passage of Scripture several times before going on to the next chapter?

As you move along in your Bible reading/study program, you may wish to broaden your reading patterns. Following are some suggestions. The two year program uses approach one. Approaches two and three also have their place in our commitment to know and live the Word of God. However, don’t take on more than you can follow through with. It is much better to do less and be faithful and consistent over a long period of time than to over commit and drop out altogether.

Ask God to give you greater understanding as you read. Spend time thinking about what you read. Even when you don’t understand it all, keep reading anyway. The more you read and think, the more you will understand.

Pick out a part of Scripture (a chapter, several chapters, or an entire book) that you can concentrate on and get to know and understand. Read all or part of this section every day for an extended period of time (two weeks, a month, or perhaps even longer). Instead of reading a lot of Scripture, you read the same section of the Bible for several days. The reason for this is simple. Most of us do not understand everything we read the first time through. This is especially true of the Bible. It is rich in depth. The more we read a section of the Bible, the more we understand it and can put it into practice.

If the passage you choose to read repetitively can be read in one day, then read it all for several days in a row. If the passage is too long to read in one day, divide it up into sections that can be read in one day and then read through it a section per day. Then reread the entire passage (a section a day) several more times.

Begin reading through the entire Bible. If you average two chapters a day, it will take you just over a year and a half to read through the entire Bible. This reading approach will give you a basic understanding of God and a broad overview of Scripture. You will not understand or grasp all you read and in places you may feel overwhelmed or get bogged down. Keep on reading anyway. You may wish to alternate between reading Old Testament and New Testament books.

It may not be the best to use only this approach in your reading and study of the Word. Approach

One should be the foundation of your Bible reading program. Once you have Approach One going and you want to absorb more, then a through the Bible reading program can be very beneficial.

Divide the passage you are reading in Approach One into paragraphs. Some Bibles already have paragraphs marked. Each day, very carefully read one of these paragraphs several times. By concentrating on shorter passages of Scripture for longer periods of time, you develop better and better understanding of that passage. Again, it is probably not a good idea to use only this approach to Scripture. Approach One gives a broader approach to studying the Word.

Prayer is simply talking to God. It is a natural part of our walk with Him. We regularly thank Him and we bring Him our requests. Individuals who love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ pray about everything, confident that God hears, He cares, and that He is able to act. We really don’t need to get hung up on whether we are doing it "right". Read the following suggestions and then just begin to pray. God hears us and He knows our hearts and thoughts. You will find your prayer life will become a blessed time of fellowship and communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 ...pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

As Psalm 139 teaches, God is with us at all times. Develop a habit of talking to Him throughout the day. You don’t need to close your eyes or be in any certain posture. Talk to Him about everything. Thank Him for both your blessings and also what you see as bad things that happen.

Talk to God about your problems and your worries and let Him take care of them. Tell Him about the things you need. When you have decisions to make, ask Him for direction. Pray for your family and friends. Talk to Him about anything and everything!!!

Have you developed a habit of talking to God throughout the day?

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

This is time that we set aside to be alone with God and devote all our attention to Him. This is a time of Bible reading, meditation, prayer, and communion with God. This may be part of our "quiet time" or "devotions". What we call it is not important. What is important is that we regularly spend this time alone with God. Many have found it useful to have a prayer list. The value of a prayer list is that we are regularly reminded to pray for things that we might otherwise forget. There are some things you will want to pray about every day---your immediate family, your pastor, your close friends, etc. As your prayer list grows longer, you may wish to divide it up into separate requests for each day of the week.

Why is it important to spend time alone with God each day?

It has been said that families that pray together stay together. Husbands and wives need to pray together. It deepens their trust in the Lord and their love for each other. We must also teach our children to pray. Having family Bible reading and prayer together is an absolute must in bringing up our children to love and serve the Lord.

Why is family prayer important?

The book of Acts records the beginning of the church. It records that the early Christians met together for prayer many times. God is pleased when His people get together and pray. To pray out loud in front of other people is a scarey step for many new Christians. Just remember that you are talking to God, not to everybody else. Your heart’s desire is more important than what you say or how you say it. Other Christians will be thrilled and encouraged by your prayer, even if you feel awkward and nervous.

In this lesson we have covered some very important things. If you get started right it can be a tremendous boost to your growth as a child of God. If your Bible reading and prayer begin to slide, your walk with God will be unhappy and unproductive. Make the determination now that you will be faithful in your personal Bible reading and prayer.

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December, 1999