Let's Put Everything Together: A Comprehensive 6-Year Bible Study Plan
Perhaps you have faithfully read through the articles on this website (and we sincerely hope they have been of help to you) but you are asking yourself the question, "Okay, this is all great -- but how do I put it all together and make it work?" That's a good question -- and it deserves an answer. With all the detail we have presented to you about various types of Bible study methods, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point -- and I'm sure you're wondering how you could ever pull all of this together.
Surprisingly, once you get started you'll find that it's not at all difficult to work out an overall strategy for the study of the entire Bible. Many people in the faith have gone on before you and have done this -- and you can do it too. All you need is a plan, so I am going to give you mine. All of the essential details are contained in the following table --
A COMPREHENSIVE 6-YEAR BIBLE STUDY PLAN (Each line -- reading across the table -- represents a single year of this plan. Do one Bible book study, one doctrinal study, and one practical study each year.)
As you can see by looking at this table, your study will be broken up into six, one year periods. During each year of your study, you will take up a book by book study of a particular section of the Bible (year one is the Pentateuch, year two is the historical OT books, etc.) -- you will supplement this with a doctrinal study and also a study of a practical subject. For example, during your first year you will study the Pentateuch (the first of five books of the Old Testament, as they are commonly arranged in English Bibles), you will also study the subject of "Creation," and also the subject of "Faith." More detailed comments follow below.
Recommendations Regarding Your Bible Book Study
Obviously, you are going to need to devote a larger share of your study time to your Bible book studies -- you have a lot of material to cover, even when you break the entire Bible up and study it over a six-year period. In a year of 12 months, you should devote at least eight or nine of those months to your Bible book study. The remaining three or four months can be devoted to your doctrinal study and your practical study. In some cases, you may find it possible to do your doctrinal study in one month, and your practical study in one month -- allowing you 10 months for the Bible book studies. Experience will teach you the proper balance that you should have -- and it will also be dictated by how thoroughly you wish to study.
The Advantages of Having a Plan
There are wonderful advantages that will come your way if you have an overall strategy for studying the Scriptures. For one thing, you'll be able to know that you're making progress as you work through your study program. Secondly, when unexpected events happen in your life -- things that cause you to have to delay your studies -- you'll know exactly where you need to begin, exactly where you left off. Thirdly, if you know the future direction of your studies you will be able to plan (and budget!) for the purchase of study tools like Bible study software and commentaries. This will even give you a chance to research and comparison shop for the best books for you to buy. (By the way, if you are looking for more information on good Bible study tools, check out our sister site, www.Bible-Study-Tools.org We sell no products there, that site just has valuable information and reviews to help you.)
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