Bishop’s Bible challenge – starting this Lent

Bishop Paul is laying down a new challenge for people to ‘take-up’ this Lent.

He is encouraging everyone to join in ‘The Bible Challenge’ – a special project encouraging people to read the Bible each day during the year.

Bishop Paul said: “Instead of thinking what to give up this Lent, I would like to encourage everyone to consider engaging with the Bible in a fresh way. Studies reveal that reading the Bible each day, or even reading scripture four or more times a week can have a transformational effect on people’s lives. The Bible Challenge has a range of options for people, from reading suggestions for children to focusing on the Psalms or reading the whole Bible – there is something for everyone.”

Some of the Bible Challenge options for 2012 are listed below:
.  Read the entire Bible 
.  Read the New Testament 
.  Read the Psalter (150 Psalms) during Lent 
.  Read the Gospel of Mark in a slow, meditative fashion 
.  Read The Message by Eugene Petersen – a wonderful rendering of the New Testament in ordinary language
.  Read The Story by Zondervan – a seamless collection of Bible stories that reads like a gripping novel 
.  Families with children are encouraged to read The Spark Story Bible, The DK Children’s Illustrated Bible or The Big Picture Story Bible. 
.  Teenagers will want to read the New International Version Teen Study Bible

If you decide to read the entire Bible, please see the ‘Read the Bible in a Year’ programme on the link below:
Read the Bible in a Year

Bishop Paul will be taking up the challenge himself. He explained: “I hope many of you will join me in this Bible Challenge and let us know how you are getting on. I will be joining in with comments on my blog and through facebook and twitter, so anyone linked into new media may want to add their own responses via the diocesan facebook page. Our website will also include some information on the challenge with links to the Bible Challenge website and resources. It would be good to hear how you are getting on, so if you do decide to join please let us know, by letter or email and we can keep in touch with you during the year. I’m quite excited to see what impact this challenge will have on our churches and how we might all be transformed by God as we join together in this project.”

There is also a reading plan on the Bible challenge website http://theceterforbiblicalstudies.org/the-bible-challenge-options-for-2012/ which lists what chapters of the Bible to read each day.  Short meditations to accompany each day’s readings will also be posted on the site written by archbishops, bishops, biblical scholars, theologians, cathedral and seminary deans, clergy and noted lay leaders from around the world to assist your reading.