Jesus, the Master Teacher, sometimes asked probing questions: "Have you not read?" (Matthew 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31); "Did you never read in the Scriptures?" (Matthew 21:42). If they had read the scriptures, they must have read them with little profit. If the Lord's questions were appropriate in the 1st Christian century, are these questions not also appropriate in the 21st century? What is your practice relative to Bible reading or study? Or, "Did you never read in the Scriptures?"

Bible reading & study promotes spiritual development. Some Christians make it a priority to read the Bible through annually. Are you reluctant to begin such a systematic reading of the Bible? Do you wonder how to begin such a project? Well, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Let's break it down:

CHAPTERS - The entire Bible (OT & NT) contains 1,189 chapters (almost 1,200). By reading 100 chapters per month (3 chapters a day & 5 chapters on Sunday), you can read the entire Bible through in 1 year. The NT contains 260 chapters. For an in-depth study, Guy Woods suggests studying 1 chapter of the NT per week for 15 minutes a day. You can master about _ the NT in 2 years and complete the entire NT in 5 years.

PAGES - Most editions of the Bible contain about 1,200 pages. By reading 100 pages per month (3 pages a day & 5 pages on Sunday), you can complete the entire Bible in 1 year.

TIME - The Bible has been read aloud in 71 hours at a pulpit rate. By reading 6 hours per month (360 minutes per month, or about 15 minutes a day) you can read the Bible through in 1 year. Do you think you can spare 15 minutes a day? (A lady once read the Bible 3 hours a day for 30 days and easily read it through in 1 month!)

Whether you pace yourself by months, weeks, days, books, chapters, verses, hours, or minutes-the important matter is to read & study your Bible. Select a daily method and go for it! Systematically cultivate a time & place for your daily Bible reading habit. Printed Bible reading schedules can help. (Different types of reading schedules are available in our foyer today). Motivate one another in such good works (cf. Heb. 10:24).

Paul instructed Timothy to give attention to reading (1 Timothy 4:13). Reading & studying increases our knowledge & understanding (Ephesians 3:4). The person who hears Jesus' words & does them is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). God's library of wisdom is in store for you! Christian growth & spiritual strength are the results. Just take time daily to read & apply God's word to your heart & life (cf. Revelation 1:3). In 2006, let's "WALK THRU THE BIBLE."