Read the Bible For Life: Series Introduction

Beginning on Sunday, September 11, 2011, we at Bethany Church will begin a new adventure. At each of our campuses, we will be challenging one another to read through the Bible in a year. To guide us through this process, we will follow a series designed by Dr. George Guthrie, called, "Read the Bible for Life."

Read the Bible For Life Video Introduction

In a Forward to the series Reader's Guide, David Platt, a pastor whose church used this series, explains why he regards this study to be a vital part of the congregation's spiritual life:

Indeed, the Bible contains one grand story of one global God who is saving His people through one glorious gospel. We need to know this story. We need to see, understand, and comprehend how all of the pages of Scripture come together in one overarching plot. Such knowledge, penetrating both our hearts and our minds, is essential for growing in Christlikeness.

We need to experience this story. It's not just about people thousands of years ago. It's about you, me, and the people God is drawing to Himself all around us.

We need to tell this story. When we know and experience this story, we are compelled to give our lives to proclaiming this story to the ends of the earth.(George H. Guthrie, Read the Bible for Life: Reader's Guide to the Bible, Chronological Reading Plan, Nashville: Lifeway Press, 2011)

As a church, we will be devoting ourselves to Bible Study on four different levels:

Read the Bible For Life Clear Pathways Classes Video

• We will read from the Bible on a daily basis, following a schedule provided in a Reader''s Guide. This guide organizes the books of the Bible chronologically, so we read the biblical story as it unfolds historically. The guide also provides daily study questions as well as weekly questions for Small Groups to study the readings together. We will offer these guides at cost to each of our campuses. Click here to access the Daily Reading Plan.
• Our sermons each Sunday will highlight one of our reading that week, as we see the biblical story unfold. These sermons will be available on our Live Worship Online page and then later in our Service Archives.
• Our Midweek Crosspoint Program will offer courses on studying the Bible, at a level appropriate to various levels of interest.
  • Exploring Classes, for those who desire an entry level approach to Scripture. We offer two Exploring level Classes:
    • Alpha, an introduction to the basics of the Christian faith. (Raymond and Greenland Campus)
    • Introduction to the Bible(Greenland Campus)
  • Growing Classes. for those with some biblical background, but those who desire a deeper understanding
    • Read the Bible for LIFE (Raymond and Greenland)
    • Financial Peace University (Greenland)
  • Influencing Class, for those with a reasonable grasp of Scripture who desire to address more difficult and challenging questions
    • Who Wrote Our Bible (Greenland)
• Finally, we have created an online Read the Bible For Life Forum where readers can ask and respond to questions about their Bible reading. Our pastors and directors will respond to these questions as often as possible.

For more information you can check out the Read the Bible for Life web site.