Happy New Year! Christ Church is kicking off 2013 by committing to read through the entire Bible in one year. Check out our webpage introducing you to this exciting journey that we are taking together. There you can find a number of different ways to find a Bible reading plan that suits you.

We will also keep you updated here on the Christ Church blog on resources that can help you along the way.

A great place to find some study materials is The Lamppost Library here on the church campus. They have new Bible study resources to assist you with understanding certain passages or grasping the major themes and aspects of entire books and sections of Scripture.

As you read through the Bible in the coming year, you might find these books particularly helpful, all of which can be found in the library.

These deal with the big picture:

• The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004)

Perhaps the most readable, most enjoyable overview of the grand biblical story and our place within it.

• The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament by Sandra L. Richter (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2008)

Extremely readable and helpful introduction to the Old Testament, but it is about the whole biblical story spanning across both the Old and New Testaments.

• The Grand Sweep: 365 Days from Genesis Through Revelation : A Bible Study for Individuals and Groups by J. Ellsworth Kalas (Nashville: Abingdon, 1996)

Daily readings and studies all the way through the Bible.

• A Hop, Skip, and a Jump Through the Bible by J. Ellsworth Kalas (Nashville: Abingdon, 2007)

A very concise overview of the entire biblical text.

These provide some more information on specific sections and books in the Bible:

• How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)

• A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009)

• Introducing the New Testament: A Historical, Literary, and Theological Survey by Mark Allan Powell (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009)

Use Twitter hashtag #cumcbible13 to share your thoughts and insights!

While you are planning your Bible reading, remember that the Christ College spring semester begins January 16. The elective course “How to Study the Bible” is being offered by Shane Stanford, Dr. Stan May, and Iva May. It would be a wonderful complement to your daily Bible reading. Click here for more information.