Challenge 2012: Crave the Word of God

As I do each new year, I challenged my church to love the Word of God. This year, I preached on the command in 1 Peter 2:2: "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may group up into salvation." God commands us to intensely crave His Word.

I showed from the context of this command that Peter is referring to the inspired Scriptures and the gospel they proclaim. I showed how Peter lifts up the value and power and benefits of God's Word at the end of chapter 1. And I laid out some practical encouragements to consume a lot of Bible in 2012.

You can listen to that sermon here. Join me in praying that God would give us this passionate longing for the Bible this year.

Pick a Plan, Any Plan

Plan now to saturate yourself in God's Word in 2012. Don't neglect this most important of spiritual disciplines.

Justin Taylor has your one-stop "shop" for Bible Reading Plans.  Pick a plan any plan. (link fixed)

Personally, I really enjoyed reading through the Bible at my own pace in 2011 with the "plan" that just allows you to check off what you read. Taylor doesn't link to the one I used. It is here.

Bible Reading Checklist

If you want to read the Bible at your own pace and have some flexibility in which books you read when, here is a chart that may help. It basically just lists each book with the chapters so that you can check off what you have read. You could alternate back and forth between Old and New Testaments. Or you can read the Old Testament books in historical order.

There is no one perfect plan. The key is to have a plan. You should know before each day what you are planning to read. Don't just open the Bible each morning and randomly pick somewhere to read. Read entire books at a time.