Year of the bible

The Authorised Version of the Bible was published in 1611 for use in every church in the realm. Today it stands alongside the works of Shakespeare as one of the most important literary foundations of our culture. There are many ways to approach the reading of the Bible and I am suggesting a simple challenge: to read the whole of the New Testament during 2011. The programme is easy. The number of chapters in the New Testament is the same as the number of weekdays in the year. One chapter a day, with weekends to catch up, should get us all through together by the end of the year. By all means use the Authorised Version if you like, but I will be using a modern translation, such as the Revised English Bible or the New Revised Standard Version. If you would like to challenge me back, how about this? On the back of this leaflet is your own “What’s all that about, then?” page. If you would like any passage that you have read explaining further, write down the reference and give it to me. I will try to produce something to offer in response, probably in a sermon. The most important bit of all is to be part of a group, all reading, and struggling with, the same parts of the New Testament at the same time. My hope might well be that you find out what it’s all about in conversation with others, before you even need to ask me!