09/19/2006
Bible Reading - Help Needed!
So, reading the Bible from start to finish. A bit of a toughie, I must admit...
I am reading it, not to convert, but to better understand my in-laws. (You can read more about that HERE.)
But, I am at Leviticus now and all the rules and punishments and blood on altars do not make for motivational reading. So, I have decided to continue reading it in chronological order, BUT, I am also going to "Skip Ahead" and read parts that are recommended to me.
This is where the lovely ladies and gentlemen from Blog Land come in to the picture. I need your help!
What is your favourite chapter/passage. What part made you laugh or cry? What is the part that means most to you? And why?
I will read that part, and do my very best to have a good think and write a post on it and what I think of it.
Thanks!
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Hey! Like before I recommend John and Romans. Job is a great Old Testament story about sticking through very rough times!
Kilikina
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Posted by: Kilikina | 09/19/2006
Hmm....I would like Kilikina advise you to give John and Romans a good read through. John gives a good overview of Christ and what he did. Romans is the "doctrinal" book -- explains WHY things are important. Gives the reasoning behind the how to's.
My favourite book to read is James. Keeps me grounded in what is really important. OH watching what I say and what I do. And WHY i should do that. :)
My favourite verse in 1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Those verses remind me of WHO I am, and WHOSE I am and what has been done for me.
Posted by: annette | 09/19/2006
Oh....if I could be so bold as to suggest something... if you really want to understand your in-laws better...attend their church. :) Also... you could ask God (yes I know.. a bold move) but you could ask him as you read the bible to open your eyes so you can really see and understand what they see and understand from God's word. Then you would more probably understand where they are coming from.
Happy reading (and yes, I too find Leviticus AND Numbers to be hard books to slog through).
Posted by: annette | 09/19/2006
I'll have to get back to you on this one. I need to thumb through my bible for specifics. :)
Posted by: overwhelmed! | 09/19/2006
So far you have received excellent advice. If you believe there are "gods" (powers that be) as you pointed out in your other post then praying and asking for help understanding shouldn't be too much of a stretch of imagination.
If you want to read straight through, read through the New Testament first. For a non-Jewish, non-believer the Old Testament is a long, hard haul. If you feel you need Old Testament reading sart with Psalms and Proverbs and throw in some Job. Here I would say you should be willing to do a little bit of skipping. I love Job. Love it. However, it is a bit long winded. The rest of the Old Testament explains God's plan and how we got to the New Testament.
As for the New Testament, John and Romans are an excellent place to start. Reading straight through the New Testament is also an eye-opening approach. You will start with four points of view of the life of Jesus and move into what happened after He rose again. It is very do-able (I just read it through with my kids, ages 4, 6, 8 and they loved it.)
As for favorite verses: Joshua 1:9 (I love the Old Testament, especially Joshua and Genesis), Psalm 1:2-3, Psalm 42:11, Jeremiah 29:11, John 3:16, Lamentations 3: 21-33. I have many more favorites but these are some that I cling to.
May I also suggest that over the coming weeks you stop in to my blog on Fridays to check out how some of these Christian bloggers ended up Christian and why. We are starting this Friday with our Testimonies (how God got ahold of us.) It might help you understand where we (and your in-laws) are coming, at least a little bit. The amazing thing you will see is that He opens the eyes of each of us in different ways, based on our own needs.
Posted by: Heather | 09/20/2006
Thanks Ladies! I have started reading Job last night.
Will gather my thoughts on it and write a post.
I also think I will take Heather's advice and start with the New Testament. The Old Testament is just too, well, old. Even my MIL says that it was written for the people of those times and that the really "get it" parts are in the New Testament. She still thinks the Old Testament is important though but thinks it will be easier to start with the New.
Heather, I will be sure to drop by yours on Friday. Thanks for the invite!
Posted by: Mieneke | 09/20/2006
I can't give you any advice on that one, but I applaud you for taking the measures to step outside your comfort zone and read it (based on what I know about your history and your beliefs). That takes guts. I can't wait to read your impressions - I've only skimmed and looked up specific things for specific reasons.
Posted by: Sabine | 09/21/2006
I'm so excited that you are reading through the Bible! It's something you will not regret! I so very much love Philippians because it is so joyful. It makes me want to give up everything and live my life totally and completely for Christ. I also love James. Very simple yet it's got a lot of meat. My favourite story is Ruth, just because it is so beautiful. Keep going! Never stop! I am also trying to finish reading the Bible (3 more books to go!) and I am so glad I've used my time to do so!
You are blessed!
Posted by: robynn | 10/01/2006
Thanks Sabine! :-) I'm happy to say it's getting easier. My friend was over from the Netherlands, so I did not get a lot of reading in, but I almost finished the book of Job. Will write a post on that soon. Love and light!
Hi Robynn, thanks for dropping by! Sounds like Ruth would be a nice book to read next! So, after Job, it's Ruth.
Posted by: Mieneke | 10/02/2006
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