Thursday, December 26, 2024

2025 Bible Reading & Spiritual Practices Plan

2025 Bible Reading & Spiritual Practices Plan

as organized by Randy Roper at the  Edmond Church of Christ

The Legacy Reading Plan

https://www.equip.org/articles/legacy-reading-plan/

Our personal Bible reading plan for 2025 provides flexibility while also challenging us to incorporate specific spiritual practices into our regular rhythms and routines of life. Instead of set readings each day, there are specific books of the Bible to read each month plus a few Proverbs and Psalms to reach each week. Read at your own pace. Along with the readings, there are some specific spiritual practices recommended during each quarter of the year. As you draw near to God this year, open your eyes and heart to see the great things He will do.

2025 Bible Reading & Spiritual Practice Plan

WINTER
The Pentateuch & Hebrew Poetry
(249 chapters)

Psalms – 3 per week
Proverbs – 1 chapter per day
JANUARY

Genesis
Exodus
FEBRUARY

Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
 MARCH

Job
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Media Fast (at least once per quarter)
SABBATH    once a month
SABBATH    once a month SABBATH    once a month

SPRING
Old Testament History
 (249 chapters)

Psalms – 3 per week
Proverbs – 1 chapter per day
APRIL

Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 and 2 Samuel
MAY

1 and 2 Kings
1 and 2 Chronicles
 JUNE

Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Confession (at least once per quarter)
SOLITUDE  once a month
SOLITUDE  once a month SOLITUDE  once a month

SUMMER
Old Testament Prophets
(250 chapters)

Psalms – 3 per week
Proverbs – 1 chapter per day
JULY

Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
AUGUST

Ezekiel
Daniel
SEPTEMBER

Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Food Fast (at least once per quarter)
EXAMEN    once a month
EXAMEN    once a month EXAMEN    once a month


FALL
New Testament
(260 chapters)

Psalms – 3 per week
Proverbs – 1 chapter per day

OCTOBER

John
1, 2, 3 John
Revelation
NOVEMBER

Romans
1 &2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 & 2 Thessalonians
1 &2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 &2 Peter
Jude

DECEMBER

Matthew
Mark
Luke
Acts
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Meditation & Discernment (at least once per month)
SABBATH                        
once a month
HOSPITALITY                     
once a month
SLOWING / SIMPLIFYING
once a month


 

The L-E-G-A-C-Y Reading Plan Explained

Make no mistake. Reading through the Bible—particularly in a year’s time—is a daunting proposition. Thus, the Legacy Reading Plan is strategically designed to empower you to “eat the elephant” one book at a time. The format is specifically formulated to make your time in the Bible the best it can be. There’s no time like the present to engage. Consideration of the principles identified in the acronym L-E-G- A-C-Y provide a memorable framework around which reading the Bible may well become an addictive and intoxicating habit.

LOCATION. Do you have a secret place, a location where you can shut out the noise of the world and hear the voice of your heavenly Father as He speaks to you through the majesty of His Word? For some, that place may be the sauna; for others, a study. The point is we all desperately need a place away from the invasive sounds of the world so we can hear the sounds of another place, the sound of another Voice. So begin your Legacy Reading Plan by locating your secret place.

ESSENCE. The Legacy Reading Plan is unique in that it requires you to process books of the Bible rather than piecing together bits of books. The goal is to comprehend the essence of what God is communicating by reading each book as a whole. The exceptions are Psalms and Proverbs. Psalms constituted a hymnbook or devotional guide for ancient Israel and can do so for you as well. And because Proverbs is replete with principles for successful daily living, you may find it helpful to read a chapter of Proverbs each day, progressing through the entire book once a month.

GENRE. To understand Scripture in the sense in which it is intended, it is important to pay special attention to the genre we are reading. In other words, to interpret the Bible as literature, it is crucial to consider the kind of literature we are reading. Just as a legal brief differs from a prophetic oracle, there is a difference in genre between Leviticus and Revelation. Genre is particularly significant when considering writings that are difficult to categorize, such as Genesis, which is largely a historical narrative interlaced with symbolism and repetitive poetic structure.

AUTHOR. Just as it is essential to read through books rather than bits of the Bible, so it is helpful to read biblical authors sequentially. As such, the Legacy Reading Plan is grouped by author. This is helpful because even though biblical authors wrote “as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21), their personalities and proclivities are clearly evident in their writings. For example, only John identifies Jesus as the Word, or Logos (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13). Likewise, John alone identifies Jesus as the true witness (John 5; Revelation 2), and it is John who most exploits the Mosaic requirement of two witnesses (John 8:17–18; Revelation 2).

CONTEXT. Context has an impact on how you think of one set of biblical books in relation to another. For this reason, the Epistles are read prior to the Synoptic Gospels in the Legacy Reading Plan. The didactic (teaching) principles of the Epistles provide a theological context that will help you better understand the gospel narratives. Moreover, because the book of Revelation draws heavily upon the imagery of the Hebrew prophets, the reading of Revelation is placed in close proximity to the Old Testament prophets. And because the Gospels recount the birth and ministry of Christ, the Synoptics and the Book of Acts are assigned to the final month of the reading plan.

YEAR. The overarching objective of the Legacy Reading Plan is to read through the Bible once a year, every year, for the rest of your life. The reading calendar is naturally segmented into seasons and those seasons, into months. The sample layout has you starting in January, but whatever time of year you start, your focus will first be on the Pentateuch and poetry (249 chapters); second, the historical books (249 chapters); next, the prophets (250 chapters); and, finally, the New Testament (260 chapters). Each of these seasons is further broken down into months. The goal of the first month is to read through Genesis and Exodus and in the last month, the Synoptic Gospels and Acts. At times you will find yourself naturally reading ten chapters at a time and at other times, one or two. More importantly, you will read the Bible just as you read other literature, not just a paragraph here or a half a chapter there.

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SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

 MEDIA FAST

 Pull away from your screens, and/or from a specific type of media, for a set time 
and recenter yourself on God.


 SABBATH

 Designate several hours, or possibly an entire day, for rest and renewal in the 
presence of God. Protect this time from distractions.


 FOOD FAST

 Jesus is the "Bread of Life." Designate a period of time to practice self-denial by 
abstaining from food. Let your hunger pangs draw you into prayer, meditation, and 
scripture.


 EXAMEN

 Look for God in your life by reviewing your day in prayer. Steps may include (a) still 
yourself before God, (b) review your day with gratitude, (c) express sorrow where 
you fell short, and (d) respond with a sense of renewal and peace.


 CONFESSION 

Healing happens through the community acts of confession and prayer (James 
5:16). What are you hiding that needs to be confessed? Bring the shadowy parts of 
your life into the light by confessing to trusted others.


 SOLITUDE 

Rather than seeking escape through meaningless or even unhealthy ways, be 
intentional about removing yourself from others for the purpose of pursuing God. 
Meet God in the wilderness through scripture, prayer, worship, etc.


 MEDITATION & DISCERNMENT

 Remove distractions and focus on listening to God. Consider doing a form of 
Lectio Divina (google it) or memorize scripture. Ask God for wisdom and give Him 
time and space to empower you with a sense of discernment.


 HOSPITALITY

 In scripture, table fellowship provides opportunities for people to experience the 
Father's warm welcome. Be intentional about hosting people for the purpose of 
blessing them with nothing in return.


 SLOWING/SIMPLIFYING

 We need much less than we think. Practice walking in faith and simplicity by doing 
without and/or getting rid of some things that likely clutter your life and faith.


 DAILY PRAYER

 “Lord, you have done GREAT THINGS in the past.

 Please continue to do GREAT THINGS in our day.”


https://groups.google.com/g/the-daily-bible

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2025 Bible Reading & Spiritual Practices Plan

2025 Bible Reading & Spiritual Practices Plan as organized by Randy Roper at the  Edmond Church of Christ Download 2025 Bible Reading Pl...