Newsletter- Pastor's Paragraphs | Zion Lutheran Church

Happy New Year!

It is 2026. It is a new year and many people will use that fact as an opportunity to set a new goal or commit to a new project. Maybe it’s a change in your diet with the hope of losing some weight or improving your overall health. Maybe you aspire to finally quit smoking or kick some other habit. Perhaps you have been putting off finishing some monumental task around the house and this is the year you promise yourself to get it done. Some of us will have success in our endeavor, while others may give up after the first week. I am reminded of the phrase I was taught as a child, ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again’.

For many Christians, the new year can be a chance to pledge to read the Bible from beginning to end. There are a lot of ‘Read the Bible in a Year’ plans out there. Some are better than others in my opinion. It is also true that what works for me may not work for you. It’s also true that the Bible is a very big book and all the plans can seem overwhelming, especially if you fall behind. So, I thought I would share some helpful tips that I have found over the years.

First, it really only takes about 10 minutes a day. When you first sit down and look at the vast number of pages, it can seem like you will have to read for an hour every day just to have a chance at getting through the whole Bible. But in truth, it only takes about ten minutes each day. So, it is not as time consuming task as it may seem.

Second, pick a convenient time that you can consistently keep. Don’t try to fit it in whenever you can at various times depending on the day or you will forget and become frustrated. Pick a time and stick with it. Make it part of your daily routine. I read each morning right after breakfast. Maybe for you, it’s at lunchtime or as part of your evening meal. I have found that connecting it to a mealtime helps because we tend to eat everyday around the same time.

Third, if you have to miss a day, don’t try to make it up the next day by doubling your reading. There is no pressure. No one is keeping score. If it takes you a year and two weeks because you missed a few days, that’s better than quitting because you felt discouraged by not keeping to a strict schedule. We can be very hard on ourselves. You are reading to be with God, not just to check off a box and say you did it.

Fourth, although all of Scripture is the inspired Word of God and helpful for our understanding and faith; some parts are more helpful than others. Let’s be honest, most people could skip the last ten chapters of Exodus where the tabernacle is described in painstaking detail and not miss anything. There are parts that can seem pointless. You have a choice here. There are plans out there that only cover about 80% of the Bible, purposefully skipping over passages like this; or doing your best to just ‘push through’ those days and look forward to when more exciting passages will return.

Fifth, it really helps to read out loud, even if it is quietly to yourself. At least try it. Some claim it is because it involves more of the senses, others say it slows you down so you can process the information more effectively, but I believe it is because the Holy Spirit is associated with our breath and speech. By reading out loud, the Word and Spirit are both actively present.

Finally, there is no one right plan. Some simply start with Genesis and end with Revelation. They follow the canonical order as printed in the Bible. The church put the books together in a particular order for a reason, so there is some logic in following that order. However, it surprises many people to find out, the books of the Bible are not in chronological order. That means as you begin to read Numbers or Leviticus, you’ll be reading about things that happened during the Exodus, but were not recorded in the book of Exodus. The books of Kings and Chronicles repeat a lot of the same material and the prophets are speaking during specific events during those times. So, some people prefer a chronological reading plan. That’s OK too. I would say, I do not like the plans that have you read a little bit from the Old Testament and then a portion of the New all in the same day. I found that confusing and harder to follow the storyline.

The important part is that you spend time with God’s Word. It’s not to learn. It’s not a Bible Study. It’s not even a devotional time. You don’t sit with a friend and talk to learn more about them or to later discuss with someone else the conversation you had. The Bible is not an object to master or dissect. It’s a time of prayer, of togetherness. An intimate walk or a quiet night on the couch enjoying each other’s company. Too often people read the Bible as if it is a text book or instruction manual. But if you approach the Bible as a letter from a friend you haven’t seen in a long time and look forward to seeing soon, then it will change how you read it. It becomes precious and you savor the time reading it.

There is no one right plan out there. Try one. Then next year, try another. Most importantly, don’t forget why you are reading the Bible. It’s simply to spend time with God, just as you would with a spouse, a child, or a dear friend. It’s a conversation. We spend a lot of time as Christians talking to God. This is a time when God talks to us through his Word. Read and listen, but most of all, enjoy the conversation and time together with the God you love.

Pastor