It’s not a pretty picture. Most Christ followers don’t read their bibles much and when they do it’s inconsistent at best. Barna research reveals that there is a real need for biblical understanding …

• 82% of Americans believe that the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is in the Bible. It isn’t.
• 52% thought that the Book of Jonah was not in the Bible. It is.
• 52% believed that Jesus committed sins.
• 58% do not know that Jesus Christ preached the Sermon on the Mount. In all fairness, He was the one who was most selected, but Billy Graham came in a close second and is catching up each year that the survey is conducted!
• 48% think that the Book of Thomas is in the Bible. What’s really scary is that 12% of them indicate that they are actually reading the Book of Thomas in their Bibles!
• 12% (25 million Americans) actually believe that Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.

Though it may sound like a lot at first, 30 chapters is optimum. Many of us have read our Bibles each week begrudgingly because we knew we should or feel guilty about not doing it because we feel it’s our religious duty. What if we could just read for pure love of it and begin to see the spiritual benefits right away. When you commit to a large amount of Scripture each week it fundamentally changes you and your attitude. I can’t explain it, but a high volume of Scripture becomes something you enjoy, whereas before a chapter a day seemed a burden. Join me today and become one of those Christ followers who is in love with the greatest book ever written … the Bible!

Here is the schedule – read 5 chapters a day for 6 days. Take Sunday off and then start on Monday with another 5 chapters each day. If you miss a day (like me sometimes) read more the next. Email me at jerry@thefellowship.org and let me know that you have taken the 30 Chapter Challenge.

Some of you have asked what I am reading over the next 10 weeks . . .

• I am reading the book of Philippians (4 chapters, 104 verses) Monday-Saturday and one chapter of Proverbs each day Monday-Saturday.
• I’m also reading from different versions every week.
• You can read what I am reading or start reading in Matthew and read 5 chapters a day Monday-Saturday until you get through the entire New Testament by week 9 because there are only 260 chapters in the whole New Testament. Take the next week and start again or read through any portion you want. Imagine that, reading through the whole New Testament in the next 10 weeks.

On the journey together,

Jerry L. Edmonson, Lead Pastor
The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch

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