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connecting with the Bible. The truth? Most of us have a hard time connecting with the Bible. We have more Bibles than ever. And more ways to access Scripture. Yet as a society, we are engaging the Bible less than we did a generation ago. Every day, more and more of us give up reading the Bible. Source: Gallup

The number of Bible readers has fallen by one fifth in a single generation’s time. Most of us want to hear God speak. But according to one survey, 4 out of 5 churchgoers aren’t getting enough help understanding the Bible. That’s like 700 people giving up on the Bible every day. Source: Gallup

4 out of 5 of us don’t get the help we need understanding Scripture. Maybe you’re one of the 4 out of 5. Maybe you’ve tried to make sense of the Bible. Maybe you’ve given up trying. The question is: what’s keeping us from engaging God’s Word? don’t get the help we need understanding Scripture. Source: REVEAL

What’s keeping us from engaging God’s word? It’s not like we don’t have enough Bibles. It’s not like we don’t know we ought to be reading God’s Word. So it begs the question: what’s stopping us? Source: Gallup

We read in fragments. Maybe it’s because we read a verse here or a chapter there, but rarely the whole story. We treat the Bible like a vending machine dispensing neatly packaged nuggets of wisdom. How many of us would sit down to our favorite film and watch only a few scenes, out of order, no less? Yet this is what many of us do with the Bible.

We read without context. Maybe it’s because we read without context. We know the Bible is an ancient book written by ancient scribes who lived in a world completely different from ours. But let’s be honest: connecting the Bible to our world is harder than we think.

We read in isolation. Maybe it’s because we read by ourselves. We have “quiet times” and “personal Bible studies.” Those are great, but our Bible experience shouldn’t begin and end with “me.” Most of the books were originally written to communities; that’s how they were meant to be experienced.

There’s a better way to read. We’re about to embark on a very different kind of Bible reading campaign. We want to have a fresh experience with the Bible so we can fall more deeply in love with its message.

Read big. Read real. Read together. Instead of reading in fragments, we’re going to recapture a panoramic view of the entire New Testament. We’ll glimpse more of the context of our story. Best of all, we’ll experience God’s Word in community. Read big. Read real. Read together.

We’re about to participate in a revolutionary Bible reading initiative called Community Bible Experience. For eight weeks, we’ll immerse ourselves in every word of the New Testament.

This campaign was created by Biblica, a ministry that’s been helping people connect with the Bible for over 200 years.

with a different kind of Bible. It starts with a different kind of Bible. Community Bible Experience starts with a different kind of Bible—one that’s uniquely designed to be read from beginning to end.

No artificial formatting Natural section breaks New book order We’ll be reading from a presentation of Scripture called The Books of the Bible. Unlike traditional Bibles, The Books of the Bible doesn’t has chapter or verse numbers, cross references, or red lettering. It’s formatted so you can see the natural divisions within each book.

A Bible designed to be read from beginning to end. The Books of the Bible designed to be read from start to finish, as Scripture was originally intended.

fresh approach to the Bible. But it’s also a fresh approach to the Bible. But Community Bible Experience is also a different approach to the Bible.

1 2 Read the entire New Testament in 8 weeks. Instead of reading in bits and pieces, we’re going to read whole books. We’ll experience the New Testament in its entirety. And we’ll share the journey in community, gathering once a week in small groups to reflect on our reading— to share what inspires, surprises, puzzles, or challenges us. 2 Share the journey together.

Here’s how it works . . . How it works . . .

Read or listen… 12(ish) pages a day For eight weeks, you’ll read an average 12 pages a day, five days a week (Monday through Friday). Some days might be a bit longer or shorter, because we’re going to follow the natural section breaks within Scripture, instead of ending each day at some arbitrary point.

Read or listen… All it takes is around 30 minutes a day. The average day’s reading takes around 20 minutes to complete. That’s less time than it takes to watch a sitcom. And if reading isn’t your thing, you can listen to an audio version of the New Testament instead. Either way, I encourage you to carve out time— give up something small for the eight weeks, if you have to—to make this journey a priority.

Share the journey… More “book club” than “Bible study” When we gather in small groups each week, we’re going to have a different kind of conversation about the Bible. Think of your gatherings more like a “book club” than a traditional Bible study. You don’t have to come with all the “right” answers; you just have to come ready to share what you’re experiencing as you read.

Remember… We’re reading big. (And we’re in this together.) As we go on this journey together, remember: we’re reading big. Our goal isn’t necessarily to capture every detail but to glimpse the big-picture story of redemption. And remember: we’re in this together. I encourage you to make the most of this opportunity to experience this rich and profound portion of the Bible.

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