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4 Year Study
Introducing the Holy Bible
For those new to the Holy Bible, there are 66 books in all. Each book has a name. For ease of reference, each book is divided by chapters and chapters are broken down into verses. A reference to Genesis 1:1, for example, would signify the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 1. Genesis 1:1 reads "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Verse 2, which naturally follows verse 1, reads "Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters." As is the case with Genesis 1:2, a single verse may contain several sentences. However, you will also find the case where a single verse is actually a part of a much larger sentence. In this bible study, we will read one entire chapter or more each day. Therefore, you will be reading all the verses contained in that chapter.
Furthermore, a few books are referenced with a number before a name, such as 1 Peter. In such instances, there is a second book with the same name, 2 Peter. When the bible study plan designates 1 Peter 1 for the daily reading, be sure to read the first chapter of first Peter (1 Peter 1), not the first chapter of second Peter (2 Peter 1).
Studying the Holy Bible
Use different versions of the Holy Bible and different study notes to ascertain the instructions contained in God's Word. We also encourage you to use other sources to complement your readings. For instance, church libraries typically have some material. Also, you can visit your local Christian bookstore (e.g. Lifeway) for a Holy Bible with helpful study notes. Or contact the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for several helpful guides. We also encourage you to listen to your local Christian radio station, such as the Bible Broadcasting Network radio station (you can also listen over the Internet and you can choose from several different languages!).
As you complete the readings for each day, mark the checkboxes provided on your printed copy of the online lists of chapter readings. In addition, you can download an ASCII-formatted printable version (filename = Godsword.txt) of the entire set of reading lists which includes the one-year reading, the four-year study, and the four-year focus. Now, let us get started.
Getting Started
Over the course of the four year study, you will read every word of the Holy Bible. First, we will begin with sessions designed to be two weeks in length. During these sessions, we will read verses related to certain topics, such as becoming a Christian, prayers, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the men and women of the Holy Bible.
Then, after six months of two-week sessions, we will venture onto another six-month study of the more important teachings from each book. We will revisit some of the significant chapters read during the first six months. The first year is stocked with the more meaningful lessons from God's Word.
Then, we embark on a three-year journey to read every word of the Holy Bible. Most days, we will read one chapter. However, some days are devoted to reading multiple chapters. After these three years, we encourage you to embark on the four year study again and again so you can be well versed in the Holy Bible.
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